Нейромант
Chapter 2
`Youwanttoanswermyquestion?’HefishedawrinkledYeheyuanfromthepackandshelititforhimwithathinslabofGermansteelthatlookedasthoughitbelongedonanoperatingtable.
`Well,I’lltellyou,theman’sdefinitelyontosomething.He’sgotbigmoneynow,andhe’sneverhaditbefore,andhegetsmoreallthetime.’Casenoticedacertaintensionaroundhermouth.`Ormaybe,maybesomething’sontohim...’Sheshrugged.
`What’sthatmean?’
`Idon’tknow,exactly.IknowIdon’tknowwhoorwhatwe’rereallyworkingfor.’
Hestaredatthetwinmirrors.LeavingtheHilton,Saturdaymorning,he’dgonebacktoCheapHotelandsleptfortenhours.Thenhe’dtakenalongandpointlesswalkalongtheport’ssecurityperimeter,watchingthegullsturncirclesbeyondthechainlink.Ifshe’dfollowedhim,she’ddoneagoodjobofit.He’davoidedNightCity.He’dwaitedinthecoffinforArmitage’scall.Nowthisquietcourtyard,Sundayafternoon,thisgirlwithagymnast’sbodyandconjurer’shands.
`Ifyou’llcomeinnow,sir,theanesthetistiswaitingtomeetyou.’Thetechnicianbowed,turned,andreenteredtheclinicwithoutwaitingtoseeifCasewouldfollow.
Coldsteelodor.Icecaressedhisspine.
Lost,sosmallamidthatdark,handsgrowncold,bodyimagefadingdowncorridorsoftelevisionsky.
Voices.
Thenblackfirefoundthebranchingtributariesofthenerves,painbeyondanythingtowhichthenameofpainisgiven...
Holdstill.Don’tmove.
