Нейромант

           `Killthefuckers,’shesaid,hereyesdullwithrageandthestillheatoftheroom,`burn’em.’Drunk,CaserummagedinthesourclosetforRollo’sdragon.RollowasMarlene’sprevious-and,Casesuspectedatthetime,stilloccasional-boyfriend,anenormousFriscobikerwithablondlightningboltbleachedintohisdarkcrewcut.ThedragonwasaFriscoflamethrower,athinglikeafatangleheadflashlight.Casecheckedthebatteries,shookittomakesurehehadenoughfuel,andwenttotheopenwindow.Thehivebegantobuzz.

           TheairintheSprawlwasdead,immobile.AwaspshotfromthenestandcircledCase’shead.Casepressedtheignitionswitch,countedthree,andpulledthetrigger.Thefuel,pumpedupto100psi,sprayedoutpastthewhite-hotcoil.Afive-metertongueofpalefire,thenestcharring,tumbling.Acrossthealley,someonecheered.

           `Shit!’Marlenebehindhim,swaying.`Stupid!Youdidn’tburn’em.Youjustknockeditoff.They’llcomeuphereandkillus!’Hervoicesawingathisnerves,heimaginedherengulfedinflame,herbleachedhairsizzlingaspecialgreen.

           Inthealley,thedragoninhand,heapproachedtheblackenednest.Ithadbrokenopen.Singedwaspswrenchedandflippedontheasphalt.

           Hesawthethingtheshellofgraypaperhadconcealed.

           Horror.Thespiralbirthfactory,steppedterracesofthehatchingcells,blindjawsoftheunbornmovingceaselessly,thestagedprogressfromeggtolarva,near-wasp,wasp.