Нейромант

           `Sure,’Casesaid,andsippedhisbeer.`Somebody’sgottabefunnyaroundhere.Surethefuckisn’tyou.’

           Thewhore’sgigglewentupanoctave.

           `Isn’tyoueither,sister.Soyouvanish,okay?Zone,he’saclosepersonalfriendofmine.’

           ShelookedCaseintheeyeandmadethesoftestpossiblespittingsound,herlipsbarelymoving.Butsheleft.

           `Jesus,’Casesaid,`whatkindacreepjointyourunninghere?Mancan’thaveadrink.’

           `Ha,’Ratzsaid,swabbingthescarredwoodwitharag,`Zoneshowsapercentage.YouIletworkhereforentertainmentvalue.’

           AsCasewaspickinguphisbeer,oneofthosestrangeinstantsofsilencedescended,asthoughahundredunrelatedconversationshadsimultaneouslyarrivedatthesamepause.Thenthewhore’sgigglerangout,tingedwithacertainhysteria.

           Ratzgrunted.`Anangelpassed.’

           `TheChinese,’bellowedadrunkenAustralian,`Chinesebloodyinventednerve-splicing.Givemethemainlandforanervejobanyday.Fixyouright,mate...’

           `Nowthat,’Casesaidtohisglass,allhisbitternesssuddenlyrisinginhimlikebile,`thatissomuchbullshit.’

           TheJapanesehadalreadyforgottenmoreneurosurgerythantheChinesehadeverknown.TheblackclinicsofChibawerethecuttingedge,wholebodiesoftechniquesupplantedmonthly,andstilltheycouldn’trepairthedamagehe’dsufferedinthatMemphishotel.

           Ayearhereandhestilldreamedofcyberspace,hopefadingnightly.