Нейромант

           Theyacht,whichhadbeenassembledinorbit,hadneverbeenintendedforre-entry.Hersmooth,wasplikelinewassimplystyling,andeverythingaboutherinteriorwascalculatedtoaddtotheoverallimpressionofspeed.

           WhenMaelcumremovedhisbatteredhelmet,Casefollowedhislead.Theyhungthereinthelock,breathingairthatsmelledfaintlyofpine.Underit,adisturbingedgeofburninginsulation.

           Maelcumsniffed.`Troublehere,mon.Anyboat,yousmellthat...’

           Adoor,paddedwithdarkgrayultrasuede,slidsmoothlybackintoitshousing.Maelcumkickedofftheebonywallandsailedneatlythroughthenarrowopening,twistinghisbroadshoulders,atthelastpossibleinstant,forclearance.Casefollowedhimclumsily,handoverhand,alongawaist-highpaddedrail.`Bridge,’Maelcumsaid,pointingdownaseamless,creamwalledcorridor,`bethere.’Helaunchedhimselfwithanothereffortlesskick.Fromsomewhereahead,Casemadeoutthefamiliarchatterofaprinterturningouthardcopy.ItgrewlouderashefollowedMaelcumthroughanotherdoorway,intoaswirlingmassoftangledprintout.Casesnatchedalengthoftwistedpaperandglancedatit.

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           `Systemscrash?’TheZioniteflickedaglovedfingeratthecolumnofzeros.

           `No,’Casesaid,grabbingforhisdriftinghelmet,`theFlatlinesaidArmitagewipedtheHosakahehadinthere.