Нейромант

           Andfootsteps,unhurried,comingcloser.

           Passinghiscloseddoor.Pausingforthespaceofthreerapidbeatsofhisheart.Andreturning.One,two,three.Abootheelscrapedthematting.

           Thelastofhisoctagon-inducedbravadocollapsed.Hesnappedthecobraintoitshandleandscrambledforthewindow,blindwithfear,hisnervesscreaming.Hewasup,out,andfalling,allbeforehewasconsciousofwhathe’ddone.Theimpactwithpavementdrovedullrodsofpainthroughhisshins.

           Anarrowwedgeoflightfromahalf-openservicehatchframedaheapofdiscardedfiberopticsandthechassisofajunkedconsole.He’dfallenfaceforwardonaslabofsoggychipboard;herolledover,intotheshadowoftheconsole.Thecubicle’swindowwasasquareoffaintlight.Thealarmstilloscillated,louderhere,therearwalldullingtheroarofthegames.

           Aheadappeared,framedinthewindow,backlitbythefluorescentsinthecorridor,thenvanished.Itreturned,buthestillcouldn’treadthefeatures.Glintofsilveracrosstheeyes.`Shit,’someonesaid,awoman,intheaccentofthenorthernSprawl.

           Theheadwasgone.Caselayundertheconsoleforalongcountoftwenty,thenstoodup.Thesteelcobrawasstillinhishand,andittookhimafewsecondstorememberwhatitwas.Helimpedawaydownthealley,nursinghisleftankle.

           Shin’spistolwasafifty-year-oldVietnameseimitationofaSouthAmericancopyofaWaltherPPK,double-actiononthefirstshot,withaveryroughpull.Itwaschamberedfor.