Человек в высоком замке

           Sunglaredpasttheblindontotheheapofclothesthathadfallentothefloor.Hisglasses,too.Wouldhesteponthem?Trytogettobathroombyotherroute,hethought.Crawlorroll.Hisheadachedbuthedidnotfeelsad.Neverlookback,hedecided.Time?Theclockonthedresser.Eleven-thirty!Goodgrief.Butstillhelay.

           I’mfired,hethought.

           Yesterdayhehaddonewrongatthefactory.SpoutedthewrongkindoftalktoMr.Wyndam-Matson,whohadadished-infacewithSocrates-typenose,diamondring,goldflyzipper.Inotherwords,apower.Athrone.Frink’sthoughtswanderedgroggily.

           Yes,hethought,andnowthey’llblacklistme;myskillisnouse—Ihavenotrade.Fifteenyears’experience.Gone.

           AndnowhewouldhavetoappearattheLaborers’JustificationCommissionforarevisionofhisworkcategory.SincehehadneverbeenabletomakeoutWyndam-Matson’srelationshiptothepinocs–thepuppetwhitegovernmentatSacramento—hecouldnotfathomhisex-employer’spowertoswaytherealauthorities,theJapanese.TheLJCwaspinocrun.Hewouldbefacingfourorfivemiddle-agedplumpwhitefaces,ontheorderofWyndam-Matson’s.Ifhefailedtogetjustificationthere,hewouldmakehiswaytooneoftheImport-ExportTradeMissionswhichoperatedoutofTokyo,andwhichhadofficesthroughoutCalifornia,Oregon,Washington,andthepartsofNevadaincludedinthePacificStatesofAmerica.Butifhefailedsuccessfullytopleadthere…

           Plansroamedhismindashelayinbedgazingupattheancientlightfixtureintheceiling.