Нейромант
Chapter 1
He’doperatedonanalmostpermanentadrenalinehigh,abyproductofyouthandproficiency,jackedintoacustomcyberspacedeckthatprojectedhisdisembodiedconsciousnessintotheconsensualhallucinationthatwasthematrix.Athief,he’dworkedforother,wealthierthieves,employerswhoprovidedtheexoticsoftwarerequiredtopenetratethebrightwallsofcorporatesystems,openingwindowsintorichfieldsofdata.
He’dmadetheclassicmistake,theonehe’dswornhe’dnevermake.Hestolefromhisemployers.HekeptsomethingforhimselfandtriedtomoveitthroughafenceinAmsterdam.Hestillwasn’tsurehowhe’dbeendiscovered,notthatitmatterednow.He’dexpectedtodie,then,buttheyonlysmiled.Ofcoursehewaswelcome,theytoldhim,welcometothemoney.Andhewasgoingtoneedit.Because-stillsmiling-theyweregoingtomakesureheneverworkedagain.
TheydamagedhisnervoussystemwithawartimeRussianmycotoxin.
StrappedtoabedinaMemphishotel,histalentburningoutmicronbymicron,hehallucinatedforthirtyhours.
Thedamagewasminute,subtle,andutterlyeffective.
ForCase,who’dlivedforthebodilessexultationofcyberspace,itwastheFall.Inthebarshe’dfrequentedasacowboyhotshot,theelitestanceinvolvedacertainrelaxedcontemptfortheflesh.Thebodywasmeat.Casefellintotheprisonofhisownflesh.
