Нейромант

           Freesideproduceditsownairandwater,butreliedonconstantshipmentsoffood,ontheregularaugmentationofsoilnutrients.TheVillaStraylightproducednothingatall.

           `Mon,’Maelcumsaidquietly,`getuphere,’sideme.’Caseedgedsidewaysonthecircularladderandclimbedthelastfewrungs.Thegangwayendedinasmooth,slightlyconvexhatch,twometersindiameter.Thehydraulicmembersofthetubevanishedintoflexiblehousingssetintotheframeofthehatch.

           `Sowhatdowe--’

           Case’smouthshutasthehatchswungup,aslightdifferentialinpressurepuffingfinegritintohiseyes.

           Maelcumscrambledup,overtheedge,andCaseheardthetinyclickoftheRemington’ssafetybeingreleased.`Youth’moninth’hurry...’Maelcumwhispered,crouchingthere.ThenCasewasbesidehim.

           Thehatchwascenteredinaround,vaultedchamberflooredwithbluenonslipplastictiles.Maelcumnudgedhim,pointed,andhesawamonitorsetintoacurvedwall.Onthescreen,atallyoungmanwiththeTessier-Ashpoolfeatureswasbrushingsomethingfromthesleevesofhisdarksuitcoat.Hestoodbesideanidenticalhatch,inanidenticalchamber.`Verysorry,sir,’saidavoicefromagridcenteredabovethehatch.Caseglancedup.`Expectedyoulater,attheaxialdock.Onemoment,please.’Onthemonitor,theyoungmantossedhisheadimpatiently.

           Maelcumspunasadoorslidopentotheirleft,theshotgunready.