Нейромант

           `Onetime,Iwasalittlekid,weweresquatting.ItwasdownbytheHudson,andthoserats,man,theywerebig.It’sthechemicalsgetintothem.BigasIwas,andallnightonehadbeenscrabblingunderthefloorofthesquat.Rounddawnsomebodybroughtthisoldmanin,seamsdownhischeeksandhiseyesallred.Hadarollofgreasyleatherlikeyou’dkeepsteeltoolsin,tokeeptherustoff.Spreaditout,hadthisoldrevolverandthreeshells.Oldman,heputsonebulletinthere,thenhestartswalkingupanddownthesquat,we’rehangingbackbythewalls.

           `Backandforth.Gothisarmscrossed,headdown,likehe’sforgottenthegun.Listeningfortherat.Wegotrealquiet.Oldmantakesastep.Ratmoves.Ratmoves,hetakesanotherstep.Anhourofthat,thenheseemstorememberhisgun.Pointsitatthefloor,grins,andpullsthetrigger.Rolleditbackupandleft.

           `Icrawledundertherelater.Rathadaholebetweenitseyes.’Shewaswatchingthesealeddoorwaysthatopenedatintervalsalongthecorridor.`Thesecondone,theonewhocameforJohnny,hewaslikethatoldman.Notold,buthewaslikethat.Hekilledthatway.’Thecorridorwidened.Theseaofrichcarpetsundulatedgentlybeneathanenormouscandelabrumwhoselowestcrystalpendantreachednearlytothefloor.CrystaltinkledasMollyenteredthehall.THIRDDOORLEFT,blinkedthereadout.

           Sheturnedleft,avoidingtheinvertedtreeofcrystal.`Ijustsawhimonce.Onmywayintoourplace.