Нейромант

           Sheshrugged.

           `Nowgodowntothefreightelevatorandbringupthecasesyoufindthere.’Armitagehandedhimthemagnetickey.`Goon.You’llenjoythis,Case.LikeChristmasmorning.’

           SummerintheSprawl,themallcrowdsswayinglikewindblowngrass,afieldoffleshshotthroughwithsuddeneddiesofneedandgratification.

           HesatbesideMollyinfilteredsunlightontherimofadryconcretefountain,lettingtheendlessstreamoffacesrecapitulatethestagesofhislife.Firstachildwithhoodedeyes,astreetboy,handsrelaxedandreadyathissides;thenateenager,facesmoothandcrypticbeneathredglasses.Caserememberedfightingonarooftopatseventeen,silentcombatintheroseglowofthedawngeodesics.

           Heshiftedontheconcrete,feelingitroughandcoolthroughthethinblackdenim.NothinghereliketheelectricdanceofNinsei.Thiswasdifferentcommerce,adifferentrhythm,inthesmelloffastfoodandperfumeandfreshsummersweat.

           Withhisdeckwaiting,backintheloft,anOno-SendaiCyberspace7.They’dlefttheplacelitteredwiththeabstractwhiteformsofthefoampackingunits,withcrumpledplasticfilmandhundredsoftinyfoambeads.TheOno-Sendai;nextyear’smostexpensiveHosakacomputer;aSonymonitor;adozendisksofcorporate-gradeice;aBrauncoffeemaker.ArmitagehadonlywaitedforCase’sapprovalofeachpiece.

           `Where’dhego?’CasehadaskedMolly.

           `Helikeshotels.