Нейромант

           `Youlookfuckingawful,’Mollysaidcheerfully.

           Casetriedthewine.Theaftermathofthebetaphenethylaminemadeittastelikeiodine.

           Thelightsdimmed.

           `LeRestaurantVingtimeSicle,’saidadisembodiedvoicewithapronouncedSprawlaccent,`proudlypresentstheholographiccabaretofMr.PeterRiviera.’Scatteredapplausefromtheothertables.Awaiterlitasinglecandleandplaceditinthecenteroftheirtable,thenbegantoremovethedishes.Soonacandleflickeredateachoftherestaurant’sdozentables,anddrinkswerebeingpoured.

           `What’shappening?’CaseaskedArmitage,whosaidnothing.

           Mollypickedherteethwithaburgundynail.

           `Goodevening,’Rivierasaid,steppingforwardonasmallstageatthefarendoftheroom.Caseblinked.Inhisdiscomfort,hehadn’tnoticedthestage.Hehadn’tseenwhereRivierahadcomefrom.Hisuneasinessincreased.

           Atfirstheassumedthemanwasilluminatedbyaspotlight.

           Rivieraglowed.Thelightclungaroundhimlikeaskin,litthedarkhangingsbehindthestage.Hewasprojecting.

           Rivierasmiled.Heworeawhitedinnerjacket.Onhislapel,bluecoalsburnedinthedepthsofablackcarnation.Hisfingernailsflashedasheraisedhishandsinagestureofgreeting,anembraceforhisaudience.Caseheardtheshallowwaterlapagainstthesideoftherestaurant.