Нейромант
Chapter 2
Likehe’sgonnapaythesenerveboysforfixingyouwiththeprogramhe’sgivingthemtotellthemhowtodoit.He’llputthemthreeyearsaheadofthecompetition.Yougotanyideawhatthat’sworth?’Shehookedthumbsinthebeltloopsofherleatherjeansandrockedbackwardonthelacqueredheelsofcherryredcowboyboots.ThenarrowtoesweresheathedinbrightMexicansilver.Thelenseswereemptyquicksilver,regardinghimwithaninsectcalm.
`You’restreetsamurai,’hesaid.`Howlongyouworkforhim?’
`Coupleofmonths.’
`Whataboutbeforethat?’
`Forsomebodyelse.Workinggirl,youknow?’
Henodded.
`Funny,Case.’
`What’sfunny?’
`It’slikeIknowyou.Thatprofilehe’sgot.Iknowhowyou’rewired.’
`Youdon’tknowme,sister.’
`You’reokay,Case.Whatgotyou,it’sjustcalledbadluck.’
`Howabouthim?Heokay,Molly?’Therobotcrabmovedtowardthem,pickingitswayoverthewavesofgravel.Itsbronzecarapacemighthavebeenathousandyearsold.Whenitwaswithinameterofherboots,itfiredaburstoflight,thenfrozeforaninstant,analyzingdataobtained.
`WhatIalwaysthinkaboutfirst,Case,ismyownsweetass.’Thecrabhadalteredcoursetoavoidher,butshekickeditwithasmoothprecision,thesilverboot-tipclangingonthecarapace.Thethingfellonitsback,butthebronzelimbssoonrightedit.
Casesatononeoftheboulders,scuffingatthesymmetryofthegravelwaveswiththetoesofhisshoes.Hebegantosearchhispocketsforcigarettes.`Inyourshirt,’shesaid.
