Нейромант

           Hemighthavecalledhername,buthe’dneverbesure.

           Afterimageofasinglehair-finelineofredlight.Searedconcretebeneaththethinsolesofhisshoes.

           Herwhitesneakersflashing,closetothecurvingwallnow,andagaintheghostlineofthelaserbrandedacrosshiseye,bobbinginhisvisionasheran.

           Someonetrippedhim.Concretetorehispalms.

           Herolledandkicked,failingtoconnect.Athinboy,spikedblondhairlitfrombehindinarainbownimbus,wasleaningoverhim.Abovethestage,afigureturned,knifeheldhigh,tothecheeringcrowd.Theboysmiledanddrewsomethingfromhissleeve.Arazor,etchedinredasathirdbeamblinkedpastthemintothedark.Casesawtherazordippingforhisthroatlikeadowser’swand.

           Thefacewaserasedinahummingcloudofmicroscopicexplosions.Molly’sfletchettes,attwentyroundspersecond.Theboycoughedonce,convulsively,andtoppledacrossCase’slegs.

           Hewaswalkingtowardthestalls,intotheshadows.Helookeddown,expectingtoseethatneedleofrubyemergefromhischest.Nothing.Hefoundher.Shewasthrowndownatthefootofaconcretepillar,eyesclosed.Therewasasmellofcookedmeat.Thecrowdwaschantingthewinner’sname.Abeervendorwaswipinghistapswithadarkrag.Onewhitesneakerhadcomeoff,somehow,andlaybesideherhead.

           Followthewall.Curveofconcrete.Handsinpockets.Keepwalking.Pastunseeingfaces,everyeyeraisedtothevictor’simageabovethering