Человек в высоком замке

           Tagomisaid,seeinghimremovehisglassesandrubhisforehead."Eyemusclescausingpain.Pardonme."Bowing,helefttheroom.

           WhatIneedissleep,Baynesthought.Anight’srest.OrisitthatI’mnotfacingthesituation?Shrinking,becauseitishard.

           WhenMr.Tagomireturned—carryingaglassofwaterandsomesortofpill—Mr.Baynessaid,"Ireallyamgoingtohavetosaygoodnightandgettomyhotelroom.ButIwanttofindoutsomethingfirst.Wecandiscussitfurthertomorrow,ifthat’sconvenientwithyou.Haveyoubeentoldaboutathirdpartywhoistojoinusinourdiscussions?"

           Mr.Tagomi’sfaceregisteredsurpriseforaninstant;thenthesurprisevanishedandheassumedacarelessexpression."Therewasnothingsaidtothateffect.However—itisinteresting,ofcourse."

           "FromtheHomeIslands."

           "Ah,"Mr.Tagomisaid.Andthistimethesurprisedidnotappearatall.Itwastotallycontrolled.

           "Anelderlyretiredbusinessman,"Mr.Baynessaid."Whoisjourneyingbyship.Hehasbeenonhiswayfortwoweeks,now.Hehasaprejudiceagainstairtravel."

           "Thequaintelderly,"Mr.Tagomisaid.

           "HisinterestskeephiminformedastotheHomeIslandsmarkets.Hewillbeabletogiveusinformation,andhewascomingtoSanFranciscoforavacationinanycase.Itisnotterriblyimportant.Butitwillmakeourtalksmoreaccurate."

           "Yes,"Mr.Tagomisaid."Hecancorrecterrorsregardinghomemarket.Ihavebeenawaytwoyears."

           "Didyouwanttogivemethatpill?"

           Starting,Mr.