Нейромант

           CasemanagedtofallbeforeRivieracouldlevelthefletcherforaclearshot.Thedartswhinedpasthisnecklikesupersonicgnats.Herolled,seeingHideopivotthroughyetanotherstepofhisdance,therazoredpointofthearrowreversedinhishand,shaftflatalongpalmandrigidfingers.Heflickeditunderhand,wristblurring,intothebackofRiviera’shand.Thefletcherstruckthetilesameteraway.

           Rivierascreamed.Butnotinpain.Itwasashriekofrage,sopure,sorefined,thatitlackedallhumanity.

           Twintightbeamsoflight,rubyredneedles,stabbedfromtheregionofRiviera’ssternum.

           Theninjagrunted,reeledback,handstohiseyes,thenfoundhisbalance.

           `Peter,’3Janesaid,`Peter,whathaveyoudone?’

           `He’sblindedyourcloneboy,’Mollysaidflatly.

           Hideoloweredhiscuppedhands.Frozenonthewhitetile,Casesawwhispsofsteamdriftfromtheruinedeyes.

           Rivierasmiled.

           Hideoswungintohisdance,retracinghissteps.Whenhestoodabovethebow,thearrow,andtheRemington,Riviera’ssmilehadfaded.Hebent-bowing,itseemedtoCase-andfoundthebowandarrow.

           `You’reblind,’Rivierasaid,takingastepbackward.

           `Peter,’3Janesaid,`don’tyouknowhedoesitinthedark?Zen.It’sthewayhepractices.’

           Theninjanotchedhisarrow.