Человек в высоком замке

           WhydoyouthinkIsentittoyou?Icouldperceiveitsfakery,beingqualifiedbyyearsoftraining.Suchasthisisararity,anoddity.Actuallyajoke.Aprank."Hebrokeoff,panting."Thankyouforconfirmingmyownobservations.Youwillbillme.Thankyou."Herangoffatonce.

           Then,withoutpausing,hegotouthisrecords.Hebegantracingthegun.Howhaditcometohim?Fromwhom?

           Ithadcome,hediscovered,fromoneofthelargestwholesalesuppliersinSanFrancisco.RayCalvinAssociates,onVanNess.Atoncehephonedthem.

           "LetmetalktoMr.Calvin,"hesaid.Hisvoicehadnowbecomeatriflesteadier.

           Presentlyagruffvoice,verybusy."Yes."

           "ThisisBobChildan.AtA.A.H.Inc.OnMontgomery.Ray,Ihaveamatterofdelicacy.Iwishtoseeyou,privateconference,sometimetodayinyourofficeoretcetera.Believeme,sir.Youhadbetterheedmyrequest."Now,hediscovered,hewasbellowingintothephone.

           "Okay,"RayCalvinsaid.

           "Tellnoone.Thisisabsolutelyconfidential."

           "Fouro’clock?"

           "Fouritis,"Childansaid."Atyouroffice.Goodday."Heslammedthereceiverdownsofuriouslythattheentirephonefellfromthecountertothefloor;kneeling,hegathereditupandreplaceditinitsspot.

           Therewashalfanhouraheadbeforeheshouldstart;hehadallthattimetopace,helpless,waiting.Whattodo?Anidea.HephonedtheSanFranciscoofficeoftheTokyoHerald,onMarketStreet.

           "Sirs,"hesaid,"pleasetellmeifthecarrierSyokakuisintheharbor,andifso,howlong.