Нейромант

           Helayonhissideandwatchedherbreathe,herbreasts,thesweepofaflankdefinedwiththefunctionaleleganceofawarplane’sfusilage.Herbodywasspare,neat,themuscleslikeadancer’s.

           Theroomwaslarge.Hesatup.Theroomwasempty,asidefromthewidepinkbedslabandtwonylonbags,newandidentical,thatlaybesideit.Blankwalls,nowindows,asinglewhite-paintedsteelfiredoor.Thewallswerecoatedwithcountlesslayersofwhitelatexpaint.Factoryspace.Heknewthiskindofroom,thiskindofbuilding;thetenantswouldoperateintheinterzonewhereartwasn’tquitecrime,crimenotquiteart.

           Hewashome.

           Heswunghisfeettothefloor.Itwasmadeoflittleblocksofwood,somemissing,othersloose.Hisheadached.HerememberedAmsterdam,anotherroom,intheOldCitysectionoftheCentrum,buildingscenturiesold.Mollybackfromthecanal’sedgewithorangejuiceandeggs.Armitageoffonsomecrypticforay,thetwoofthemwalkingalonepastDamSquaretoabarsheknewonaDamrakthoroughfare.Pariswasablurreddream.Shopping.She’dtakenhimshopping.

           Hestood,pullingonawrinkledpairofnewblackjeansthatlayathisfeet,andkneltbesidethebags.ThefirstoneheopenedwasMolly’s:neatlyfoldedclothingandsmallexpensive-lookinggadgets.Thesecondwasstuffedwiththingshedidn’trememberbuying:books,tapes,asimstimdeck,clothingwithFrenchandItalianlabels.