Нейромант

           HesawabeadofsweatarcoutfromtherainbowbraidedbandofthepurplecottonnettheZioniteworeoverhislocks.MaelcumsnatchedthehelmetfromCaseandringeditforhimsmoothly,thepalmsofhisglovessmackingtheseals.MicroLEDmonitorstotheleftofthefaceplatelitastheneckringconnectionsclosed.`NosehJapanese,’Maelcumsaid,overhissuit’stransceiver,`butcountdown’swrong.’Hetappedaparticularlineonthescreen.`Sealsnotintact,bridgemodule.Launchin’wi’lockopen.’

           `Armitage!’Casetriedtopoundonthedoor.Thephysicsofzero-gsenthimtumblingbackthroughtheprintout.`Corto!Don’tdoit!Wegottatalk!Wegotta--’

           `Case?Readyou,Case...’ThevoicebarelyresembledArmitage’snow.Itheldaweirdcalm.Casestoppedkicking.Hishelmetstruckthefarwall.`I’msorry,Case,butithastobethisway.Oneofushastogetout.Oneofushastotestify.Ifweallgodownhere,itendshere.I’lltellthem.Case,I’lltellthemallofit.AboutGirlingandtheothers.AndI’llmakeit,Case.IknowI’llmakeit.ToHelsinki.’Therewasasuddensilence;Casefeltitfillhishelmetlikesomeraregas.`Butit’ssohard,Case,sogoddamhard.I’mblind.’

           `Corto,stop.Wait.You’reblind,man.Youcan’tfly!You’llhitthefuckingtrees.Andthey’retryingtogetyou,Corto.IsweartoGod,they’veleftyourhatchopen.