Нейромант

           `Ifitprovestobeanunfoundedrumor,oldson,youcomebackinaweekorsoandI’llletyouinonalittlesomethingoutofSingapore.’

           `OutoftheNanHaiHotel,BencoolenStreet?’

           `Looselips,oldson!’Deanegrinned.Thesteeldeskwasjammedwithafortuneindebugginggear.

           `Beseeingyou,Julie.I’llsayhellotoWage.’

           Deane’sfingerscameuptobrushtheperfectknotinhispalesilktie.

           HewaslessthanablockfromDeane’sofficewhenithit,thesuddencellularawarenessthatsomeonewasonhisass,andveryclose.

           ThecultivationofacertaintameparanoiawassomethingCasetookforgranted.Thetricklayinnotlettingitgetoutofcontrol.Butthatcouldbequiteatrick,behindastackofoctagons.Hefoughttheadrenalinesurgeandcomposedhisnarrowfeaturesinamaskofboredvacancy,pretendingtoletthecrowdcarryhimalong.Whenhesawadarkeneddisplaywindow,hemanagedtopausebyit.Theplacewasasurgicalboutique,closedforrenovations.Withhishandsinthepocketsofhisjacket,hestaredthroughtheglassataflatlozengeofvatgrownfleshthatlayonacarvedpedestalofimitationjade.ThecolorofitsskinremindedhimofZone’swhores;itwastattooedwithaluminousdigitaldisplaywiredtoasubcutaneouschip.Whybotherwiththesurgery,hefoundhimselfthinking,whilesweatcourseddownhisribs,whenyoucouldjustcarrythethingaroundinyourpocket?

           Withoutmovinghishead,heraisedhiseyesandstudiedthereflectionofthepassingcrowd.

           There.

           Behindsailorsinshort-sleevedkhaki.