Нейромант

           Hestayedthatwayforwhatseemedaverylongtime,evenaftertheshakingstopped.Thecity,ifitwasacity,waslowandgray.Attimesitwasobscuredbybanksofmistthatcamerollinginoverthelappingsurf.Atonepointhedecidedthatitwasn’tacityatall,butsomesinglebuilding,perhapsaruin;hehadnowayofjudgingitsdistance.Thesandwastheshadeoftarnishedsilverthathadn’tgoneentirelyblack.Thebeachwasmadeofsand,thebeachwasverylong,thesandwasdamp,thebottomsofhisjeanswerewetfromthesand...Heheldhimselfandrocked,singingasongwithoutwordsortune.

           Theskywasadifferentsilver.Chiba.LiketheChibasky.TokyoBay?Heturnedhisheadandstaredouttosea,longingforthehologramlogoofFujiElectric,forthedroneofahelicopter,anythingatall.

           Behindhim,agullcried.Heshivered.

           Awindwasrising.Sandstunghischeek.Heputhisfaceagainsthiskneesandwept,thesoundofhissobbingasdistantandalienasthecryofthesearchinggull.Hoturinesoakedhisjeans,dribbledonthesand,andquicklycooledinthewindoffthewater.Whenhistearsweregone,histhroatached.

           `Wintermute,’hemumbledtohisknees,`Wintermute...’

           Itwasgrowingdark,now,andwhenheshivered,itwaswithacoldthatfinallyforcedhimtostand.

           Hiskneesandelbowsached.