Нейромант

           ’

           Thelow,vaultedhallwaywaslinedwithdozensofmuseumcases,archaic-lookingglass-frontedboxesmadeofbrownwood.Theylookedawkwardthere,againsttheorganiccurvesofthehallway’swalls,asthoughthey’dbeenbroughtinandsetupinalineforsomeforgottenpurpose.Dullbrassfixturesheldglobesofwhitelightatten-meterintervals.Thefloorwasuneven,andasshesetoffalongthecorridor,Caserealizedthathundredsofsmallrugsandcarpetshadbeenputdownatrandom.Insomeplaces,theyweresixdeep,thefloorasoftpatchworkofhandwovenwool.

           Mollypaidlittleattentiontothecabinetsandtheircontents,whichirritatedhim.Hehadtosatisfyhimselfwithherdisinterestedglances,whichgavehimfragmentsofpotteryantiqueweapons,athingsodenselystuddedwithrustednailsthatitwasunrecognizable,frayedsectionsoftapestry.

           `MyJohnny,see,hewassmart,realflashboy.StartedoutasastashonMemoryLane,chipsinhisheadandpeoplepaidtohidedatathere.HadtheYakafterhim,nightImethim,andIdidfortheirassassin.MoreluckthananythingelsebutIdidforhim.Andafterthat,itwastightandsweet,Case.’Herlipsbarelymoved.Hefeltherformthewords,hedidn’tneedtohearthemspokenaloud.`Wehadaset-upwithasquid,sowecouldreadthetracesofeverythinghe’deverstored.Ranitalloutontapeandstartedtwistingselectedclients,ex-clients.Iwasbagman,muscle,watchdog.Iwasrealhappy.Youeverbeenhappy,Case?Hewasmyboy.