Нейромант

           Hisnosewasrunning;hewipeditonthecuffofhisjacket,thensearchedoneemptypocketafteranother.`Jesus,’hesaid,shouldershunched,tuckinghisfingersbeneathhisarmsforwarmth.`Jesus.’Histeethbegantochatter.

           ThetidehadleftthebeachcombedwithpatternsmoresubtlethananyaTokyogardenerproduced.Whenhe’dtakenadozenstepsinthedirectionofthenowinvisiblecity,heturnedandlookedbackthroughthegatheringdark.Hisfootprintsstretchedtothepointofhisarrival.Therewerenoothermarkstodisturbthetarnishedsand.

           Heestimatedthathe’dcoveredatleastakilometerbeforehenoticedthelight.HewastalkingwithRatz,anditwasRatzwhofirstpointeditout,anorange-redglowtohisright,awayfromthesurf.HeknewthatRatzwasn’tthere,thatthebartenderwasafigmentofhisownimagination,notofthethinghewastrappedin,butthatdidn’tmatter.He’dcalledthemanupforcomfortofsomekind,butRatzhadhadhisownideasaboutCaseandhispredicament.

           `Really,myartiste,youamazeme.Thelengthsyouwillgotoinordertoaccomplishyourowndestruction.Theredundancyofit!InNightCity,youhadit,inthepalmofyourhand!Thespeedtoeatyoursenseaway,drinktokeepitallsofluid,Lindaforasweetersorrow,andthestreettoholdtheaxe.Howfaryou’vecome,todoitnow,andwhatgrotesqueprops...