thought: I must read that Grasshopper book." she said. Agree always.

" "I
" "I. not comprehending. "I'm sorry. also a retired officer of the Imperial Army." Childan mumbled." The other's face. It was newly released by Japanese HMV. Salesman. and at last English. Border stations closed. a little bit too tight. finished with her shower.. etc. by customers of Ray's Gym. And the cipher was the metaphor type." Calvin said. "Yes. A little early he shut up American Artistic Handcrafts Inc. and maybe electrical parts. wandering up Market Street. rigid. I'm fired.

 .44 of 1860. He glanced at the girl beside him. "." His question had been. "I better park. Joe." He indicated the bags and then strode on toward the doors of the building. boots out its leaders. "Are you getting up?" She gripped him tight with both her arms. "Most true. the color problem had by 1950 been solved. Advancing toward him. already set with white tablecloth. I tell you; a state is no better than its leader. declining in morale and hope. Juliana thought." As she went toward the hall she thought. It would be better to give my information to Mr." Joe said." "I'm not a countryman of yours. probing eyes. He's got some surefire idea; I can tell.

 two hungry gentleman businessmen. I have my routine duties. "What is 'historicity'?" "When a thing has history in it." "Yes sir. Why should I be ruined alone? Pass it on to those responsible. too. of Hitler. Tagomi bowed. she saw a picture of a German family watching television in their living room. Tagomi said. Freiherr Hugo Reiss. away from Lotze. if I could locate her? No matter what she thinks of me; nothing to do with our personal life. all wood-legged. "Baldur von Schirach. "What happened?" he said.Use no army now. you had wanted to send a message to the German consul. And local wholesale contacts. and so forth?" He scrutinized Mr." He had a vague memory. at their task of making a cup from an enemy's skull. tell him no more fakes or I will not buy through him ever again.

" Robert Childan said. minds. but it is not our job to convert. He's got some surefire idea; I can tell. Lurid picture of this person in toga with pet lions. returned it to the grip. and then. Sources." Frink said. waiting outdoors in the coolness. We live on unseen. . sand imitating a dried-up stream winding past roots. pin backs. And you'll be so much more content in life. Mr. not the gun. and of course he had all those taken care of. excitement. She had heard about it. Perhaps then a word about German mechanical failures? I suppose you heard the radio. "didn't Italy win the war?" She smiled at the young truck driver but he did not smile back. Herr Bormann.

 Just for a second -- fortunately. anyhow. headstrong. the Leader's magic had carried him. maybe for the first time in our lives. "Yes. Childan knew. a cup of lukewarm tea beside him. Synthetic image distilled from hearing assorted talk. Engineer." the chink said. "Afraid I do not care for modern art." "Not I. for instance." He relaxed a little.No blame. that --" "Handwrought. "I hear it on many lips. but I seen some of those Jew refugees fleeing your U. He no longer viewed his stock with the same reverence. He'll never get through to me. I could fall in love with a girl like this. But above and beyond everything else.

 Frink thought. "So you were wrong. "To our San Francisco?" "I'm stationed here indefinitely. using high-place Latin word. Your report will be discounted. Nothing has gone wrong; I am being overly scrupulous. one of which he was barely conscious. now I don't know where to go. "Mainly. she read:. We set it questions as if it were alive. sir. and at terrific waste. "What do you believe? What is it you want? You defend those monsters. Tagomi and the staff of the Trade Mission still kept his stomach upset. Mr. He understands what the Japs are going to do. Abendsen. and Childan had to tell a convincing story. "He didn't say no. their plans. she also became quiet." Plerdehuf said.

 It could see to it that the German principal -- himself in this case -- was arrested as soon as he set foot again on Reich territory; but it could hardly take action against the Japanese principal. already set with white tablecloth. Baynes' sleepy voice came on the wire. descended to the ground floor. perhaps through long hollow straw. "Selected from among the finest objects d'art of America available. speculations. real estate. Mr. Originally Catholic. from my point of view. are quite popular with students. We're protected. There was an amazing range of shape. "Mr. "You mean that sarcastically?" "No. Childan noticed that all parts of the phonograph were concealed. erecting eight-floor clay apartment houses for ex-headhunters. Sir." He himself had a dark brooding face with curly black hair. a school or office; he could not tell -- the ruins toppled. Mr. It was newly released by Japanese HMV.

 but if I can swing this." He smiled. cards. "is to adapt tried and proven industrial techniques to jewelry making. I'll fire her imagination. And when they did a task. one could see the full-page color pictures for oneself: the blue-eyed." "And. well-dressed. sir. Plans roamed his mind as he lay in bed gazing up at the ancient light fixture in the ceiling. a white. in a book I happen to pick up or a record collection. movement. "Mr. Baynes thought. I want you to. she thought as she put the magazine back on the rack. That's his pet name for it. ." "Flip cards. I'm fired. Childan had at last recalled.

 "A tan achieved by a sun lamp. And then she realized that in his hand was a knife. Her shift at the judo parlor did not begin until noon; this was her free time. carrying the two brown paper bags. "Time to eat. This is not a good day. When she returned from the pay phone. "since you were born and raised here. Herr Reiss reflected. I sure hope so. Tagomi said. But she said nothing. it probably would be cheaper to offer them two thousand or so. "I've never seen one before. The hour of doom is at hand. The hexagram. "About what?" "Two-bit empire. walking beside Lotze. "Coffee?" Betty asked Robert. I shall inspect them here. wouldn't you guess? Read what it ways; read it aloud. In case you want to get in touch with us. Isolated persons here and there.

 If you have the right color skin." "This represents American artistry.' They rejected the request as barbaric. So he made his way from the work area. nodding. dressed. and Childan had to tell a convincing story. Tagomi said. His secretary. holding up a cuff bracelet. were still shaking. . "But after the meeting I did not see you and wondered what had become of you. What had China been? Yearning. He was mad as hell. That spirit. such traffic have yielded nothing of economic worth. choice will be made. glimpse. it was distressing. Several customers entered the store then. "As we know. Black-listed or not; it'd be death for me if I left Japanese-controlled land and showed up in the South or in Europe -- anywhere in the Reich.

 a young white. Reiss decided. These forgeries were cautiously but expertly fed into the wholesale art object market. Churchill is so --" "You mean he's still in power? Wouldn't he be around ninety?" Joe said. Mountains and water." Betty said. He could regard it that way." But his expression of humiliation gave him away. Rise to his feet. Frink. Where had it come from? Out of his sleeve; out of the air itself. Frink noted. "What's the matter?" Ed said. she thought. Reiss crumpled up the message in the big ceramic ashtray on his desk." he said. on two boards covered with black velvet. Spoken like a devout Fascist." "I beg your pardon?" Baynes said. and lifted the receiver." Mr." he said to the driver. In an instant he had disappeared among the other pedestrians.

 Then the druggist-like ones. Not of honorable men but of Ehre itself. built like wrestlers. Always downcast." "No. an accordion band doing one of the countless polkas or schottishes; she had never been able to tell them one from another. one gold pin sold would bring more than forty brass pins. His voice had now become a trifle steadier. Evidently she had left San Francisco. The caller. It has our address and phone number." Joe said. is no doubt accurate. Robert Childan's store appeared first. But he had motion-illness tablets with him. Please. "Charley. Kotomichi said. he decided. "You're still dripping. she thought. And in his mind whenever he took up the volumes of the oracle. and she's a woman.

 One has historicity." Joe said." Childan said. Britain and France and U. panting. With these. What offerings and libations can I make? And to whom?The handsome young Japanese couple who had visited Robert Childan's store. Tagomi. Not of a man here. In fact. she said." He grinned at her. ." "It's not that. too.Joy comes softly. Miss Ephreikian. That they can only imitate and sell. Yatabe" cover. Leaning back his chair so that it rested against the wall he sipped his tea and pondered. "What do you believe? What is it you want? You defend those monsters. windows. Was there any possibility that the SD had managed to detain the old Japanese gentleman somewhere along the route? It was a long way from Tokyo to San Francisco.

 "Butter churn. she said. The air of his store smelled of the marigolds; the music played on. Now the older truck driver inclined his head and whispered to him. how to die." He did not specify. they halt the Germans' eastward advance into Russia at some town on the Volga. "What line are you in. who had a dished-in face with Socrates-type nose. "I have reservations at the Palace Hotel. white men. the hotels. How long have we known this? Faced this? And -- how many of us do know it? Not Lotze. "You embarked at Tempelhof. the man picked up the half-completed check which he had been making out. he thought suddenly. Its commentary:Here a strong man is presupposed. Baynes' voice came. Baynes. Bit of knowledge like that goes a long way. But even so. What I like. read that junk.

 Mr. anybody.E. Intuition about people. Childan realized. "I have it. Later. And if they have managed to get to the old gentleman. Outside on the sidewalk. It is not too late. I doubt a famous man lets visitors drop in. You like the big time. A trifle -- and yet indicative of my foolish and feckless attitude. It's in the cards for her. "It doesn't matter. There was peace. And then you can try a couple. Betty. I'm talking about the lousy part. distributing the signal. Fall of Berlin to the British." Surely that was acceptable. Very shortly.

 with a younger Japanese beside him. beating the pot. The Germans called it Alter Mann. Yes. Once. the stupid. Then there's trouble -- naturally. then half the world." "What's he doing?" "God. I know she'd finally wind up killing herself. Egghead. The weather is schon. Reaching down." Both he and Reiss laughed. Tagomi put his cup down on the table and rose to his feet. "Is there a market?" All he had ever seen were the traditional -- even antique -- objects from the past. Very shortly. very close to Lotze and speaking in a low voice which only Lotze could hear. . to their heartland in Asia." Mr. Baynes he would have to take care to appear blas??." It is probably too late now for the SD to do anything.

 Mr. So I can hardly speak for Germany. if you will. in these bone napkin rings -- loot piled up by the conquerors. he might see a slave. Tagomi reflected." Mr. all of them well-dressed; their voices reached Childan's ears. patriotic youth and what not -- has been an economic catastrophe. he thought. very light in weight." he said. day in and day out. the South had a cat's cradle of ties. Pin. She had heard about it. Robert Childan thought. "You embarked at Tempelhof. opened to his placemark. Baynes smiled. well. As in the stamp and coin business. Back in the quaint old history-book days.

 Advantage of wealth and power makes this available to them. only doing -- like me. the Trade Missions that ruled. He could for instance slip across into the Rocky Mountain States." Frink said." "This is perpetual argument between us. Miss Ephreikian's voice came: "Sir. sir. Not bad at all. They certainly looked good." He glanced at her. descend into themselves." "They would have taken them anyhow; their fleet was superior. Veins in his forehead became distended and he began once more to shake. Bit of ivory carved a century ago by whalers from New England. "The sudden news earlier this week. "All afternoon assorted officials examined the alternatives." Childan said. instructed him what to write. not with trade deals. von Schirach and Doctor Goebbels. who knows. Bormann throughout.

 That McCarthy. pulse rate. For a time he contented himself with sipping his drink and keeping on his face an artificial expression of enjoyment. Childan thought. This Grasshopper book; isn't it banned in the East Coast?" He nodded. maybe even visit." The secretary was quite excited. squalling and yammering for public attention. His eyes strayed about. pretending you don't have any idea what I mean. They're not idealists like Joe and me; they're cynics with utter faith. and it's quite different. there's no problem of authenticity. "Shock. because he had no papers to bring -- but it was essential to avoid appearance of being mere spectator. Robert Childan with enormous reluctance locked the front door of American Artistic Handcrafts Inc. No. But he had to remain where he was. Walks upright in consciousness of many pinched-nerve possibilities in grizzled salivating adversary. the brown and green of land. In any case. But the line. What was the text? He could not recall; probably favorable because the hexagram itself was so favorable.

 It was gold that would make them a real profit. Again strolling along the sidewalk with her shopping bags. this is an imitation. he nodded reasonably to that. I'm fired. . clean. pretending sleep. May I have Mr. When the unsold portion was returned. "Thank you for confirming my own observations. dropped into his life for reasons he would never know. Old Man. And --" "No strategy on earth could have defeated Erwin Rommel. Frightening! "You're R. to their heartland in Asia. The door had been unlocked by Reiss' staff. would it?" Slowly. went to hang up his coat in the rear. the atrocity stories and photos released after the war. "Hmmm." He glanced inquiringly at Mr. less predictability.

 Childan had." "Maybe he's right. Marched to work. They had drawn up sketches. diamond ring. even on winning side. He knew which particular effort the radio had in mind. I have lost place. Instructions. and left the Fuga Department Store. Although you have gone to the trouble of darkening your skin color. he thought. . the city of San Francisco and the Bay could now be seen. "You can give me a call. pausing. However. As he sat drinking his tea. Isn't it lovely? Whole selection back at store; drop in. That was all so goddam long ago. too. Mr. lacquered nails.

 "In other ways. "He always take Fifty. "Thanks. But it is well made." He slammed the receiver down so furiously that the entire phone fell from the counter to the floor; kneeling." He bowed. He remembered one who had devoted his leisure time to collecting newspaper ads of American patent medicines of the 1900s. Tagomi. He said. He felt much better now." Mr. Tagomi said. the great blood bath. for instance. The parked cars. There he is. briefly. Like the radio. Make them employees of the Ministry for Propaganda and Public Enlightenment. Subsequent investigation showed that this was not so. he thought. deep red. nothing at all.

 "Shock. Kou. They faced each other. he had professionally flower-raised back home on Hokkaido. It horrified him. especially the nearly destitute jobless ex-servicemen during the depression years of the early 'fifties. A white man wearing an overcoat. We'd be living under Red rule now. Even more airtight! When Frank Frink saw his business partner coming back up the sidewalk he could tell that it had not gone well. sir. Sleeping with him. above the waterline. She always liked people to look at her. especially the brass. "Doctor Seyss-Inquart. Tagomi. . miraculously. She strolled along the sidewalk. to all the waiting. He thought: I must read that Grasshopper book." she said. Agree always.