Нейромант

           AndRatzwasthere,andLindaLee,WageandLonnyZone,ahundredfacesfromtheneonforest,sailorsandhustlersandwhores,wheretheskyispoisonedsilver,beyondchainlinkandtheprisonoftheskull.

           Goddamndon’tyoumove.

           Wheretheskyfadedfromhissingstatictothenoncolorofthematrix,andheglimpsedtheshuriken,hisstars.

           `Stopit,Case,Igottafindyourvein!’

           Shewasstraddlinghischest,ablueplasticsyretteinonehand.`Youdon’tliestill,I’llslityourfuckingthroat.You’restillfullofendorphininhibitors.’

           Hewokeandfoundherstretchedbesidehiminthedark.

           Hisneckwasbrittle,madeoftwigs.Therewasasteadypulseofpainmidwaydownhisspine.Imagesformedandreformed:aflickeringmontageoftheSprawl’stowersandraggedFullerdomes,dimfiguresmovingtowardhimintheshadebeneathabridgeoroverpass...

           `Case?It’sWednesday,Case.’Shemoved,rollingover,reachingacrosshim.Abreastbrushedhisupperarm.Heheardhertearthefoilsealfromabottleofwateranddrink.`Here.’Sheputthebottleinhishand.`Icanseeinthedark,Case.Microchannelimage-ampsinmyglasses.’

           `Mybackhurts.’

           `That’swheretheyreplacedyourfluid.Changedyourblood,too.Blood’causeyougotanewpancreasthrownintothedeal.Andsomenewtissuepatchedintoyourliver.Thenervestuff,Idunno.Lotofinjections.Theydidn’thavetoopenanythingupforthemainshow.’Shesettledbackbesidehim.`It’s2:43:12AM,Case.Gotareadoutchippedintomyopticnerve.