Нейромант

           Inhismind’seye,akindoftime-lapsephotographytookplace,revealingthethingasthebiologicalequivalentofamachinegun,hideousinitsperfection.Alien.Hepulledthetrigger,forgettingtopresstheignition,andfuelhissedoverthebulging,writhinglifeathisfeet.

           Whenhedidhittheignition,itexplodedwithathump,takinganeyebrowwithit.Fivefloorsabovehim,fromtheopenwindow,heheardMarlenelaughing.

           Hewokewiththeimpressionoflightfading,buttheroomwasdark.Afterimages,retinalflares.Theskyoutsidehintedatthestartofarecordeddawn.Therewerenovoicesnow,onlytherushofwater,fardownthefaceoftheIntercontinental.

           Inthedream,justbeforehe’ddrenchedthenestwithfuel,he’dseentheT-AlogoofTessier-Ashpoolneatlyembossedintoitsside,asthoughthewaspsthemselveshadworkeditthere.

           Mollyinsistedoncoatinghimwithbronzer,sayinghisSprawlpallorwouldattracttoomuchattention.

           `Christ,’hesaid,standingnakedinfrontofthemirror,`youthinkthatlooksreal?’Shewasusingthelastofthetubeonhisleftankle,kneelingbesidehim.

           `Nah,butitlookslikeyoucareenoughtofakeit.There.Thereisn’tenoughtodoyourfoot.’Shestood,tossingtheemptytubeintoalargewickerbasket.Nothingintheroomlookedasthoughithadbeenmachine-madeorproducedfromsynthetics.Expensive,Caseknew,butitwasastylethathadalwaysirritatedhim.