Нейромант
Chapter 1
Hewatchedwhilemottledbrownfingersstrippedthepaperfromone.Sheheldthethingupforhimtoexamine,adullsteeltubewithaleatherthongatoneendandasmallbronzepyramidattheother.Shegrippedthetubewithonehand,thepyramidbetweenherotherthumbandforefinger,andpulled.Threeoiled,telescopingsegmentsoftightlywoundcoilspringslidoutandlocked.`Cobra,’shesaid.
BeyondtheneonshudderofNinsei,theskywasthatmeanshadeofgray.Theairhadgottenworse;itseemedtohaveteethtonight,andhalfthecrowdworefiltrationmasks.Casehadspenttenminutesinaurinal,tryingtodiscoveraconvenientwaytoconcealhiscobra;finallyhe’dsettledfortuckingthehandleintothewaistbandofhisjeans,withthetubeslantingacrosshisstomach.Thepyramidalstrikingtiprodebetweenhisribcageandtheliningofhiswindbreaker.Thethingfeltlikeitmightclattertothepavementwithhisnextstep,butitmadehimfeelbetter.
TheChatwasn’treallyadealingbar,butonweeknightsitattractedarelatedclientele.FridaysandSaturdaysweredifferent.Theregularswerestillthere,mostofthem,buttheyfadedbehindaninfluxofsailorsandthespecialistswhopreyedonthem.AsCasepushedthroughthedoors,helookedforRatz,butthebartenderwasn’tinsight.LonnyZone,thebar’sresidentpimp,wasobservingwithglazedfatherlyinterestasoneofhisgirlswenttoworkonayoungsailor.ZonewasaddictedtoabrandofhypnotictheJapanesecalledCloudDancers.
