Человек в высоком замке

           "Pleaseacceptmyhumblymeantadvice;hiresomeexperttoscrutinizeyouracquisitions.Yourreputation…Iamsureyouunderstand."

           Childanmumbled,"Sir,ifyoucouldplease—"

           "Betranquil,sir.Iwillnotmentionthistoanyone.Ishalltelltheadmiralthatunfortunatelyyourshopwasclosedtoday.Afterall—"Themanpausedatthedoorway."Weareboth,afterall,whitemen."Bowingoncemore,hedeparted.

           Alone,Childanstoodholdingthegun.

           Itcan’tbe,hethought.

           Butitmustbe.GoodGodinheaven.Iamruined.Ihavelostafifteen-thousand-dollarsale.Andmyreputation,ifthisgetsout.Ifthatman,AdmiralHarusha’sgentleman,isnotdiscreet.

           Iwillkillmyself,hedecided.Ihavelostplace.Icannotgoon;thatisafact.

           Ontheotherhand,perhapsthatmanerred.

           Perhapshelied.

           HewassentbyUnitedStatesHistoricObjectstodestroyme.OrbyWestCoastArtExclusives.

           Anyhow,oneofmycompetitors.

           Thegunisnodoubtgenuine.

           HowcanIfindout?Childanrackedhisbrains.Ah.IwillhavethegunanalyzedattheUniversityofCaliforniaPenologyDepartment.Iknowsomeonethere,oratleastIoncedid.Thismattercameupbeforeonce.Allegednon-authenticityofancientbreechloader.

           Inhaste,hetelephonedoneofthecity’sbondedmessengeranddeliveryservices,toldthemtosendamanoveratonce.ThenhewrappedthegunandwroteoutanotetotheUniversitylab,tellingthemtomakeprofessionalestimateofthegun’sageatonceandinformhimbyphone.