The Man In The High Castle

Tagomi is emotionally overwhelmed after killing two men. He wanders around San Francisco, wondering whether he will ever escape the "stink of death" (140). He does not know whether he can stop Operation Dandelion and he decries the state of the world. He decides to return the supposedly antique pistol to Childan as it possesses too much "subjective history" (141). At the store, however, Childan refuses to refund the fake antique. Instead, he offers Tagomi one of Edfrank's contemporary jewelry pieces that represent the "the new life of [Childan's] country" (142). Tagomi is uninterested in the trinkets but, intrigued by Childan's insistence that they contain some deeper meaning, agrees to buy one. Determined to find meaning in the silver pin, he takes "the squiggle of silver" (143) to a park. The small metal triangle has a strange effect on his thoughts. He begins to believe that the jewelry has an innate power. He sees the "body of yin, soul of yang. Metal and fire unified. The outer and inner; microcosmos in [his] palm" (145). Tagomi believes that the jewelry shows him a way out of his contradiction. At the moment when he seems on the cusp of a revelation about the nature of the world, a police officer passes by. Tagomi is distracted. He looks up at a world he does not recognize. The road and the cars seem different, while the white people in a diner seem to show him no deference or respect even though he is Japanese. He wonders whether he has slipped into an alternate reality or a "vision" (146). Tagomi rushes back to the park bench and soon, he seems back in his own world. Perturbed by his experience, he goes back to his office. He learns that Baynes and Tedeki have left. In a meeting with Hugo Reiss, the German apologizes for the attack by the Nazi secret police. Tagomi says that "guilt nonetheless is on [his] soul" (150) but knows that Reiss cannot offer him forgiveness. Reiss presents Tagomi with the documentation that will send Frank Frink back to the Nazi-controlled areas of the United States (where he will be executed). Tagomi refuses to sign the extradition order and, in doing so, he saves Frank's life. Reiss declares that Tagomi's behavior is not "the way civilized individuals conduct business" (151). Tagomi sends Reiss away and, almost immediately, suffers from a heart attack. His staff help him lie down as he clutches the silver pin, thinking that he will "never fully understand" (151).

Frank is shocked by the miraculous way that he has escaped "extermination" (152). Wishing that he truly understood the workings of the world, he returns to his workshop and resumes work on the Edfrank jewelry. 

Baynes takes on another identity (Conrad Goltz) and travels back to Germany. He reflects on the meeting with Tagomi and wonders whether he "accomplished" (154) anything. He believes he has done what he can to avoid a terrible war, but he knows that the fascist policies of Nazi Germany will inevitably result in a "final holocaust for everyone" (154) When he arrives back in Germany, he is met by a group of police officers. Their presence, he realizes, is for his protection. He hopes that this is a sign that Heydrich might win the power struggle against Goebbels. Alternatively, the men might be double agents. He rides away with them in a car, happy at least that he has done what he could to avoid a terrible future. He hopes that there will be "enough of us once more to build and hope and make a few simple plans" (156).

Juliana travels to Cheyenne and reads about Joe's death in a newspaper. According to the article, the suspect in Joe's murder is his wife. She hopes this means that the authorities do not know her true identity. Juliana finishes The Grasshopper Lies Heavy and decides to call Frank. However, he does not answer her call. Preparing for her meeting, Juliana uses an old pin to hold up her new dress and ensure that it is not "too risky" (157) or revealing. Juliana leaves to meet Abendsen. She is surprised that his home is not the supposedly heavily fortified castle but a "single-story stucco house" (158). Abendsen's wife Caroline invites Juliana into their home where they are hosting a party. Juliana is introduced to Hawthorne Abendsen, explains to her that he and his wife left the High Castle after he got trapped in an elevator and "developed a phobia" (159). These days, he explains, he does not care about German assassination plots. An awkward mood settles over the party as Juliana quizzes Abendsen about the book; he seems reluctant to answer her questions.

Juliana tries to coax the information from him by explaining how she foiled another assassination attempt against his life. She believes that she is "entitled" (161) to know how he wrote the book because she saved his life. Noticing her husband's reticence, Caroline tells Juliana that her husband wrote his novel using the I Ching. He asked the I Ching many questions, including asking about potential topics for his writing. Abendsen was merely following the directions of the I Ching. Juliana is confused. She wants to know why the I Ching would want to write the novel and "what are we supposed to learn" (162). To answer these questions, Juliana, Caroline, and Abendsen consult the I Ching. The answer they received is "inner truth" (162). According to this insight, the events described in The Grasshopper Lies Heavy are real. Japan and Germany did lose the war. Abendsen and Caroline find the answer awkward because it challenges their conception of reality. Abendsen does not know whether he can be sure of anything, so Juliana encourages him to "believe" (163). He refuses and the party is over. Juliana is unsure what she should do next. She debates whether she should find Frank; on reflection, she is not as anxious about the future as she previously was. Juliana leaves Abendsen's home, feeling at peace as she returns to her motel.