Нейромант

           Thecorridor,withadoorateitherend,wasacrudeairlockpreservingthepressuredifferentialthatsupportedthedome.Fluorescentringswerescrewedtotheplywoodceilingatintervals,butmostofthemhadbeenbroken.Theairwasdampandclosewiththesmellofsweatandconcrete.

           Noneofthatpreparedhimforthearena,thecrowd,thetensehush,thetoweringpuppetsoflightbeneaththedome.Concreteslopedawayintierstoakindofcentralstage,araisedcircleringedwithaglitteringthicketofprojectiongear.Nolightbutthehologramsthatshiftedandflickeredabovethering,reproducingthemovementsofthetwomenbelow.Strataofcigarettesmokerosefromthetiers,driftinguntilitstruckcurrentssetupbytheblowersthatsupportedthedome.Nosoundbutthemutedpurringoftheblowersandtheamplifiedbreathingofthefighters.

           ReflectedcolorsflowedacrossMolly’slensesasthemencircled.Thehologramswereten-powermagnifications;atten,theknivestheyheldwerejustunderameterlong.Theknifefighter’sgripisthefencer’sgrip,Caseremembered,thefingerscurled,thumbalignedwithblade.Theknivesseemedtomoveoftheirownaccord,glidingwitharituallackofurgencythroughthearcsandpassesoftheirdance,pointpassingpoint,asthemenwaitedforanopening.Molly’supturnedfacewassmoothandstill,watching.

           `I’llgofindussomefood,’Casesaid.Shenodded,lostincontemplationofthedance.

           Hedidn’tlikethisplace.

           Heturnedandwalkedbackintotheshadows.Toodark.Tooquiet.’