Нейромант

           AsmallEurasianinorangecoverallssteppedthroughandgoggledatthem.Heopenedhismouth,butnothingcameout.Heclosedhismouth.Caseglancedatthemonitor.Blank.

           `Who?’themanmanaged.

           `TheRastafariannavy,’Casesaid,standingup,thecyberspacedeckbangingagainsthiship,`andallwewant’sajackintoyourcustodialsystem.’

           Themanswallowed.`Isthisatest?It’saloyaltycheck.Itmustbealoyaltycheck.’Hewipedthepalmsofhishandsonthethighsofhisorangesuit.

           `No,mon,thisarealone.’MaelcumcameupoutofhiscrouchwiththeRemingtonpointedattheEurasian’sface.`Youmoveit.’

           Theyfollowedthemanbackthroughthedoor,intoacorridorwhosepolishedconcretewallsandirregularfloorofoverlappingcarpetswereperfectlyfamiliartoCase.`Prettyrugs,’Maelcumsaid,proddingthemanintheback.`Smelllikechurch.’

           Theycametoanothermonitor,anantiqueSony,thisonemountedaboveaconsolewithakeyboardandacomplexarrayofjackpanels.Thescreenlitastheyhalted,theFinngrinningtenselyoutatthemfromwhatseemedtobethefrontroomofMetroHolografix.`Okay,’hesaid,`Maelcumtakesthisguydownthecorridortotheopenlockerdoor,stickshiminthere,I’lllockit.Case,youwantthefifthsocketfromtheleft,toppanel.There’sadaptorplugsinthecabinetundertheconsole.NeedsOno-Sendaitwenty-pointintoHitachiforty.