Нейромант

           ’HetookagoldDunhillfromthesamepocketandcradleditinhispalm.`ThemanyoucallArmitageisalreadyincustody.’

           `Corto?’

           Theman’seyeswidened.`Yes.Howdoyouknowthatthatishisname?’Amillimeterofflameclickedfromthelighter.

           `Iforget,’Casesaid.

           `You’llremember,’thegirlsaid.

           Theirnames,orworknames,wereMichle,Roland,andPierre.Pierre,Casedecided,wouldplaytheBadCop,RolandwouldtakeCase’sside,providesmallkindnesses-hefoundanunopenedpackofYeheyuanswhenCaserefusedaGitane-andgenerallyplaycounterpointtoPierre’scoldhostility.MichlewouldbetheRecordingAngel,makingoccasionaladjustmentsinthedirectionoftheinterrogation.Oneorallofthem,hewascertain,wouldbekinkedforaudio,verylikelyforsimstim,andanythinghesaidordidnowwasadmissibleevidence.Evidence,heaskedhimself,throughthegrindingcome-down,ofwhat?

           Knowingthathecouldn’tfollowtheirFrench,theyspokefreelyamongthemselves.Orseemedto.Hecaughtenoughasitwas:nameslikePauley,Armitage,Sense/Net,PantherModernsprotrudinglikeicebergsfromananimatedseaofParisianFrench.Butitwasentirelypossiblethatthenameswerethereforhisbenefit.TheyalwaysreferredtoMollyasKolodny.

           `Yousayyouwerehiredtomakearun,Case,’Rolandsaid,hisslowspeechintendedtoconveyreasonableness,`andthatyouareunawareofthenatureofthetarget.