Нейромант

           `Tellme,Case,’Rivierasaid,raisingthepepperboxmuzzleofthefletcher.

           Somethingcreaked,behindhim,creakedagain.3JanepushedMollyoutoftheshadowsinanornateVictorianbathchair,itstall,spiderywheelssqueakingastheyturned.Mollywasbundleddeepinaredandblackstripedblanket,thenarrow,canedbackoftheantiquechairtoweringaboveher.Shelookedverysmall.Broken.Apatchofbrilliantlywhitemicroporecoveredherdamagedlens;theotherflashedemptilyasherheadbobbedwiththemotionofthechair.

           `Afamiliarface,’3Janesaid,`IsawyouthenightofPeter’sshow.Andwhoisthis?’

           `Maelcum,’Casesaid.

           `Hideo,removethearrowandbandageMr.Malcolm’swound.’

           CasewasstaringatMolly,atthewanface.

           TheninjawalkedtowhereMaelcumsat,pausingtolayhisbowandtheshotgunwelloutofreach,andtooksomethingfromhispocket.Apairofboltcutters.`Imustcuttheshaft,’hesaid.`Itistooneartheartery.’Maelcumnodded.Hisfacewasgrayishandsheenedwithsweat.

           Caselookedat3Jane.`Thereisn’tmuchtime,’hesaid.

           `Forwhom,exactly?’

           `Foranyofus.’TherewasasnapasHideocutthroughthemetalshaftofthearrow.Maelcumgroaned.

           `Really,’Rivierasaid,`itwon’tamuseyoutohearthisfailedconartistmakealastdesperatepitch.Mostdistasteful,Icanassureyou.