Нейромант

           Shehadtokneeltoexamineit;ithadbeenprojectedfromthevantagepointofasmallchild.Noneoftheothershadhadbackgrounds;thefigures,uniforms,instrumentsoftorture,allhadbeenfreestandingdisplays.Butthiswasaview.

           Adarkwaveofrubbleroseagainstacolorlesssky,beyonditscrestthebleached,half-meltedskeletonsofcitytowers.Therubblewavewastexturedlikeanet,rustingsteelrodstwistedgracefullyasfinestring,vastslabsofconcretestillclingingthere.Theforegroundmightoncehavebeenacitysquare;therewasasortofstump,somethingthatsuggestedafountain.Atitsbase,thechildrenandthesoldierwerefrozen.Thetableauwasconfusingatfirst.MollymusthavereaditcorrectlybeforeCasehadquiteassimilatedit,becausehefelthertense.Shespat,thenstood.

           Children.Feral,inrags.Teethglitteringlikeknives.Soresontheircontortedfaces.Thesoldieronhisback,mouthandthroatopentothesky.Theywerefeeding.

           `Bonn,’shesaid,somethinglikegentlenessinhervoice.`Quitetheproduct,aren’tyou,Peter?Butyouhadtobe.Our3Jane,she’stoojadednowtoopenthebackdoorforjustanypettythief.SoWintermutedugyouup.Theultimatetaste,ifyourtasterunsthatway.Demonlover.Peter.’Sheshivered.`Butyoutalkedherintolettingmein.Thanks.Nowwe’regonnaparty.’

           Andthenshewaswalking-strolling,really,inspiteofthepain-awayfromRiviera’schildhood