Нейромант

           Attheedgeofthemeadowtheycametorailingedcliffside,wildflowersdancingintheupdraftfromthecanyonthatwasDesiderata.Michletossedhershortdarkhairandpointed,sayingsomethinginFrenchtoRoland.Shesoundedgenuinelyhappy.Casefollowedthedirectionofhergestureandsawthecurveofplaninglakes,thewhiteglintofcasinos,turquoiserectanglesofathousandpools,thebodiesofbathers,tinybronzehieroglyphs,allheldinsereneapproximationofgravityagainsttheendlesscurveofFreeside’shull.

           TheyfollowedtherailingtoanornateironbridgethatarchedoverDesiderata.MichleproddedhimwiththemuzzleoftheWalther.

           `Takeiteasy,Ican’thardlywalktoday.’

           Theywerealittleoveraquarterofthewayacrosswhenthemicrolightstruck,itselectricenginesilentuntilthecarbonfiberpropchoppedawaythetopofPierre’sskull.

           Theywereinthething’sshadowforaninstant,Casefeltthehotbloodsprayacrossthebackofhisneck,andthensomeonetrippedhim.Herolled,seeingMichleonherback,kneesup,aimingtheWaltherwithbothhands.That’sawasteofeffort,hethought,withthestrangelucidityofshock.Shewastryingtoshootdownthemicrolight.

           Andthenhewasrunning.Helookedbackashepassedthefirstofthetrees.Rolandwasrunningafterhim.Hesawthefragilebiplanestriketheironrailingofthebridge,crumple,cartwheel,sweepingthegirlwithitdownintoDesiderata