Человек в высоком замке

           Tagomiglanceddown,sawthathestillheldthepillandwater."Excuseme.Thisispowerful.Calledzaracaine.ManufacturedbydrugfirminDistrictofChina."Asheheldhispalmout,headded,"Non-habit-forming."

           "Thisoldperson,"Mr.Baynessaidashepreparedtotakethepill,"willprobablycontactyourTradeMissiondirect.Iwillwritedownhisnamesothatyourpeoplewillknownottoturnhimaway.Ihavenotmethim,butIunderstandhe’salittledeafandalittleeccentric.Wewanttobesurehedoesn’tbecome—miffed."Mr.Tagomiseemedtounderstand."Helovesrhododendrons.He’llbehappyifyoucanprovidesomeonetotalktohimaboutthemforhalfanhourorso,whilewearrangeourmeeting.Hisname,Iwillwriteitdown."

           Takinghispill,hegotouthispenandwrote.

           "Mr.ShinjiroYatabe,"Mr.Tagomiread,acceptingtheslipofpaper.Hedutifullyputitawayinhispocketbook.

           "Onemorepoint."

           Mr.Tagomislowlypickedattherimofhiscup,listening.

           "Adelicatetrifle.Theoldgentleman—itisembarrassing.Heisalmosteighty.Someofhisventures,towardtheendofhiscareer,werenotsuccessful.Doyousee?"

           "Heisnotwell-offanylonger,"Mr.Tagomisaid."Andperhapshedrawsapension."

           "Thatisit.Andthepensionispainfullysmall.Hethereforeaugmentsitbymeanshereandthere."

           "Aviolationofsomepettyordinance,"Mr.Tagomisaid."TheHomeGovernmentanditsbureaucraticofficialdom.Igraspthesituation.