Нейромант

           Maelcumsatdownhardandfumbledattheblackthingthatprotrudedfromhisarm.Heyankedatit.

           Hideosteppedoutoftheshadows,athirdarrowreadyinaslenderbamboobow.Hebowed.

           Maelcumstared,hishandstillonthesteelshaft.

           `Thearteryisintact,’theninjasaid.CaserememberedMolly’sdescriptionofthemanwho’dkilledherlover.Hideowasanother.Ageless,heradiatedasenseofquiet,anuttercalm.Heworeclean,frayedkhakiworkpantsandsoftdarkshoesthatfithisfeetlikegloves,splitatthetoesliketabisocks.Thebamboobowwasamuseumpiece,buttheblackalloyquiverthatprotrudedabovehisleftshoulderhadthelookofthebestChibaweaponsshops.Hisbrownchestwasbareandsmooth.

           `Youcutmythumb,mon,wi’secon’one,’Maelcumsaid.

           `Coriolisforce,’theninjasaid,bowingagain.`Mostdifficult,slow-movingprojectileinrotationalgravity.Itwasnotintended.’

           `Where’s3Jane?’CasecrossedtostandbesideMaelcum.Hesawthatthetipofthearrowintheninja’sbowwaslikeadouble-edgedrazor.`Where’sMolly?’

           `Hello,Case.’RivieracamestrollingoutofthedarkbehindHideo,Molly’sfletcherinhishand.`IwouldhaveexpectedArmitage,somehow.ArewehiringhelpoutofthatRastaclusternow?’

           `Armitageisdead.’

           `Armitageneverexisted,moretothepoint,butthenewshardlycomesasashock.