Нейромант

           Thefloodlightneverwavered.

           Thebackofthefallenman’sjacketheavedandburst,bloodsplashingthewallanddoorway.Apairofimpossiblylong,rope-tendonedarmsflexedgrayish-pinkintheglare.Thethingseemedtopullitselfupoutofthepavement,throughtheinert,bloodyruinthathadbeenRiviera.Itwastwometerstall,stoodontwolegs,andseemedtobeheadless.Thenitswungslowlytofacethem,andCasesawthatithadahead,butnoneck.Itwaseyeless,theskingleamingawetintestinalpink.Themouth,ifitwasamouth,wascircular,conical,shallow,andlinedwithaseethinggrowthofhairsorbristles,glitteringlikeblackchrome.Itkickedtheragsofclothingandfleshasideandtookastep,themouthseemingtoscanforthemasitmoved.

           TerzibashjiansaidsomethinginGreekorTurkishandrushedthething,hisarmsspreadlikeamanattemptingtodivethroughawindow.Hewentthroughit.Intothemuzzle-flashofapistolfromthedarkbeyondthecircleoflight.FragmentsofrockwhizzedpastCase’shead;theFinnjerkedhimdownintoacrouch.

           Thelightfromtherooftopvanished,leavinghimwithmismatchedafterimagesofmuzzle-flash,monster,andwhitebeam.Hisearsrang.

           Thenthelightreturned,bobbingnow,searchingtheshadows.Terzibashjianwasleaningagainstasteeldoor,hisfaceverywhiteintheglare.Heheldhisleftwristandwatchedblooddripfromawoundinhislefthand.