Человек в высоком замке

           And—"

           "NostrategyonearthcouldhavedefeatedErwinRommel,"Wyndam-Matsonsaid."Andnoeventslikethisguydreamedup,thistowninRussiaveryheroicallycalled‘Stalingrad,’noholdingactioncouldhavedoneanymorethandelaytheoutcome;itcouldn’thavechangedit.Listen.ImetRommel.InNewYork,whenIwasthereonbusiness,in1948."Actually,hehadonlyseentheMilitaryGovernoroftheU.S.A.AtareceptionintheWhiteHouse,andatadistance."Whataman.Whatdignityandbearing.SoIknowwhatI’mtalkingabout,"hewoundup.

           "Itwasadreadfulthing,"Ritasaid,"whenGeneralRommelwasrelievedofhispostandthatawfulLammerswasappointedinhisplace.That’swhenthatmurderingandthoseconcentrationcampsreallybegan."

           "TheyexistedwhenRommelwasMilitaryGovernor."

           "But—"Shegestured."Itwasn’tofficial.MaybethoseSShoodlumsdidthoseactsthen…buthewasn’tliketherestofthem;hewasmorelikethoseoldPrussians.Hewasharsh—"

           "I’lltellyouwhoreallydidagoodjobintheU.S.A.,"Wyndam-Matsonsaid,"whoyoucanlooktofortheeconomicrevival.AlbertSpeer.NotRommelandnottheOrganizationTodt.SpeerwasthebestappointmenttheParteimadeinNorthAmerica;hegotallthosebusinessesandcorporationsandfactories—everything!—goingagain,andonanefficientbasis.Iwishwehadthatouthere—asitis,we’vegotfiveoutfitscompetingineachfield,andatterrificwaste.There’snothingmorefoolishthaneconomiccompetition."