Нейромант
Chapter 1
22longrifle,andCasewould’vepreferredleadazideexplosivestothesimpleChinesehollowpointsShinhadsoldhim.Still,itwasahandgunandnineroundsofammunition,andashemadehiswaydownShigafromthesushistallhecradleditinhisjacketpocket.Thegripswerebrightredplasticmoldedinaraiseddragonmotif,somethingtorunyourthumbacrossinthedark.He’dconsignedthecobratoadumpcanisteronNinseianddry-swallowedanotheroctagon.
ThepilllithiscircuitsandherodetherushdownShigatoNinsei,thenovertoBaiitsu.Histail,he’ddecided,wasgone,andthatwasfine.Hehadcallstomake,biztotransact,anditwouldn’twait.AblockdownBaiitsu,towardtheport,stoodafeaturelessten-storyofficebuildinginuglyyellowbrick.Itswindowsweredarknow,butafaintglowfromtheroofwasvisibleifyoucranedyourneck.AnunlitneonsignnearthemainentranceofferedCHEAPHOTELunderaclusterofideograms.Iftheplacehadanothername,Casedidn’tknowit;itwasalwaysreferredtoasCheapHotel.YoureacheditthroughanalleyoffBaiitsu,whereanelevatorwaitedatthefootofatransparentshaft.Theelevator,likeCheapHotel,wasanafterthought,lashedtothebuildingwithbambooandepoxy.Caseclimbedintotheplasticcageandusedhiskey,anunmarkedlengthofrigidmagnetictape.
Casehadrentedacoffinhere,onaweeklybasis,sincehe’darrivedinChiba,buthe’dneversleptinCheapHotel.Hesleptincheaperplaces.
