Нейромант

           Thecoolercontainedtheremainsofthreeten-kiloslabsofdryice,carefullywrappedinpapertodelayevaporation,andaspunaluminumlabflask.Crouchingonthebrowntemperfoamslabthatwasbothfloorandbed,CasetookShin’s.22fromhispocketandputitontopofthecooler.Thenhetookoffhisjacket.Thecoffin’sterminalwasmoldedintooneconcavewall,oppositeapanellistinghouserulesinsevenlanguages.CasetookthepinkhandsetfromitscradleandpunchedaHongkongnumberfrommemory.Heletitringfivetimes,thenhungup.HisbuyerforthethreemegabytesofhotRAMintheHitachiwasn’ttakingcalls.

           HepunchedaTokyonumberinShinjuku.

           Awomananswered,somethinginJapanese.

           `SnakeManthere?’

           `Verygoodtohearfromyou,’saidSnakeMan,cominginonanextension.`I’vebeenexpectingyourcall.’

           `Igotthemusicyouwanted.’Glancingatthecooler.

           `I’mverygladtohearthat.Wehaveacashflowproblem.Canyoufront?’

           `Oh,man,Ireallyneedthemoneybad...’

           SnakeManhungup.

           `Youshit,’Casesaidtothehummingreceiver.Hestaredatthecheaplittlepistol.

           `Iffy,’hesaid,`it’salllookingveryiffytonight.’

           CasewalkedintotheChatanhourbeforedawn,bothhandsinthepocketsofhisjacket:oneheldtherentedpistol,theotherthealuminumflask.

           Ratzwasatareartable,drinkingApollonariswaterfromabeerpitcher,hishundredandtwentykilosofdoughyfleshtiltedagainstthewallonacreakingchair.