Нейромант

           She’dseennoonesincethetwoAfricansandtheircart,andforCasethey’dtakenonasortofimaginarylife;hepicturedthemglidinggentlythroughthehallsofStraylight,theirsmoothdarkskullsgleaming,nodding,whiletheonestillsanghistiredlittlesong.AndnoneofthiswasanythingliketheVillaStraylighthewouldhaveexpected,somecrossbetweenCath’sfairytalecastleandahalf-rememberedchildhoodfantasyoftheYakuza’sinnersanctum.

           07:02:18.

           Oneandahalfhours.

           `Case,’shesaid,`Iwannafavor.’Stiffly,sheloweredherselftositonastackofpolishedsteelplates,thefinishofeachplateprotectedbyanunevencoatingofclearplastic.Shepickedataripintheplasticonthetopmostplate,bladesslidingfrombeneaththumbandforefinger.`Leg’snotgood,youknow?Didn’tfigureanyclimblikethat,andtheendorphinwon’tcutit,muchlonger.Somaybe-justmaybe,right?-Igotaproblemhere.Whatitis,ifIbuyithere,beforeRivieradoes’-andshestretchedherleg,kneadedthefleshofherthighthroughModernpolycarbonandParisleather-`Iwantyoutotellhim.Tellhimitwasme.Gotit?JustsayitwasMolly.He’llknow.Okay?’Sheglancedaroundtheemptyhallway,thebarewalls.Thefloorherewasrawlunarconcreteandtheairsmelledofresins.`Shit,man,Idon’tevenknowifyou’relistening.’

           CASE.

           Shewinced,gottoherfeet,nodded.