Человек в высоком замке

           Andasupplyof—"

           "Idon’tbelieveeitherofthosetwolightersbelongedtoFranklinRoosevelt,"thegirlsaid.

           Wyndam-Matsongiggled."That’smypoint!I’dhavetoproveittoyouwithsomesortofdocument.Apaperofauthenticity.Andsoit’sallafake,amassdelusion.Thepaperprovesitsworth,nottheobjectitself!"

           "Showmethepaper."

           "Sure."Hoppingup,hemadehiswaybackintothestudy.FromthewallhetooktheSmithsonianInstitution’sframedcertificate;thepaperandthelighterhadcosthimafortune,buttheywereworthit—becausetheyenabledhimtoprovethathewasright,thattheword"fake"meantnothingreally,sincetheword"authentic"meantnothingreally.

           "AColt.44isaColt.44,"hecalledtothegirlashehurriedbackintothelivingroom."Ithastodowithboreanddesign,notwhenitwasmade.Ithastodowith—"

           Sheheldoutherhand.Hegaveherthedocument.

           "Soitisgenuine,"shesaidfinally.

           "Yes.Thisone."Hepickedupthelighterwiththelongscratchacrossitsside.

           "IthinkI’dliketogonow,"thegirlsaid."I’llseeyouagainsomeotherevening."Shesetdownthedocumentandlighterandmovedtowardthebedroom,whereherclotheswere.

           "Why?"heshoutedinagitation,followingafterher.

           "Youknowit’sperfectlysafe;mywifewon’tbebackforweeks—Iexplainedthewholesituationtoyou.Adetachedretina."

           "It’snotthat."

           "What,then?"

           Ritasaid,"Pleasecallapedecabforme.WhileIdress."