Нейромант
Chapter 8
Hedidn’tlikethat.
`Hey,Aerol,’Casecalled,anhourlater,ashepreparedforapracticeruninthefreefallcorridor.`Comehere,man.Wannashowyouthisthing.’Heheldoutthetrodes.
Aerolexecutedaslow-motiontumble.Hisbarefeetstruckthesteelwallandhecaughtagirderwithhisfreehand.Theotherheldatransparentwaterbagbulgingwithblue-greenalgae.Heblinkedmildlyandgrinned.
`Tryit,’Casesaid.
Hetooktheband,putiton,andCaseadjustedthetrodes.Heclosedhiseyes.Casehitthepowerstud.Aerolshuddered.Casejackedhimbackout.`Whatdidyousee,man?’
`Babylon,’Aerolsaid,sadly,handinghimthetrodesandkickingoffdownthecorridor.
Rivierasatmotionlessonhisfoampad,hisrightarmextendedstraightout,levelwithhisshoulder.Ajewel-scaledsnake,itseyeslikerubyneon,wascoiledtightlyafewmillimetersbehindhiselbow.Casewatchedthesnake,whichwasfinger-thickandbandedblackandscarlet,slowlycontract,tighteningaroundRiviera’sarm.
`Comethen,’themansaidcaressinglytothepalewaxyscorpionpoisedinthecenterofhisupturnedpalm.`Come.’Thescorpionswayeditsbrownishclawsandscurrieduphisarmitsfeettrackingthefaintdarktelltalesofveins.Whenitreachedtheinnerelbow,ithaltedandseemedtovibrate.Rivieramadeasofthissingsound.Thestingcameup,quivered,andsankintotheskinaboveabulgingvein.
