Нейромант

           Inthefifth,behindthearmoredgauntletofaheavyvacuumsuit,shefoundthekey.Itwaslikeadullbrasscoinwithashorthollowtubebraisedagainstoneedge.SheturneditslowlyinherhandandCasesawthattheinteriorofthetubewaslinedwithstudsandflanges.ThelettersCHUBBweremoldedacrossonefaceofthecoin.Theotherwasblank.

           `Hetoldme,’shewhispered.`Wintermute.Howheplayedawaitinggameforyears.Didn’thaveanyrealpower,then,buthecouldusetheVilla’ssecurityandcustodialsystemstokeeptrackofwhereeverythingwas,howthingsmoved,wheretheywent.Hesawsomebodylosethiskeytwentyyearsago,andhemanagedtogetsomebodyelsetoleaveithere.Thenhekilledhim,theboywho’dbroughtithere.Kidwaseight.’Sheclosedherwhitefingersoverthekey.`Sonobodywouldfindit.’Shetookalengthofblacknyloncordfromthesuit’skangaroopocketandthreadeditthroughtheroundholeaboveCHUBB.Knottingit,shehungitaroundherneck.`Theywerealwaysfuckinghimoverwithhowold-fashionedtheywere,hesaid,alltheirnineteenth-centurystuff.HelookedjustliketheFinn,onthescreeninthatmeatpuppethole.AlmostthoughthewastheFinn,ifIwasn’tcareful.’Herreadoutflaredthetime,alphanumericssuperimposedoverthegraysteelchests.`Hesaidifthey’dturnedintowhatthey’dwantedto,hecould’vegottenoutalongtimeago.Buttheydidn’t.Screwedup.Freakslike3Jane.That’swhathecalledher,buthetalkedlikehelikedher.