Нейромант

           Therewasarectangularturquoisepoolcenteredtenmetersfromthefootofthestairway,itsunderwaterfloodstheapartment’sonlysourceoflight-oritseemedthatway,toCase,asMollytookherfinalstep.Thepoolthrewshiftingblobsoflightacrosstheceilingaboveit.

           Theywerewaitingbythepool.

           He’dknownthatherreflexesweresoupedup,jazzedbytheneurosurgeonsforcombat,buthehadn’texperiencedthemonthesimstimlink.Theeffectwasliketaperunathalfspeed,aslow,deliberatedancechoreographedtothekillerinstinctandyearsoftraining.Sheseemedtotakethethreeoftheminataglance:theboypoisedonthepool’shighboard,thegirlgrinningoverherwineglass,andthecorpseofAshpool,hisleftsocketgapingblackandcorruptabovehiswelcomingsmile.Heworehismaroonrobe.Histeethwereverywhite.

           Theboydove.Slender,brown,hisformperfect.Thegrenadeleftherhandbeforehishandscouldcutthewater.Caseknewthethingforwhatitwasasitbrokethesurface:acoreofhighexplosivewrappedwithtenmetersoffine,brittlesteelwire.

           HerfletcherwhinedasshesentastormofexplosivedartsintoAshpool’sfaceandchest,andhewasgone,smokecurlingfromthepockedbackoftheempty,white-enameledpoolchair.

           Themuzzleswungfor3Janeasthegrenadedetonated,asymmetricalweddingcakeofwaterrising,breaking,fallingback,butthemistakehadbeenmade.