Нейромант

           Anenormouspileofoldmagazineshadcascadedintotheopenarea,fleshoflostsummersstaringblindlyupashefollowedherbackthroughanarrowcanyonofimpactedscrap.Heheardthedoorclosebehindthem.Hedidn’tlookback.

           ThetunnelendedwithanancientArmyblankettackedacrossadoorway.WhitelightfloodedoutasMollyduckedpastit.

           Foursquarewallsofblankwhiteplastic,ceilingtomatch,flooredwithwhitehospitaltilemoldedinanonslippatternofsmallraiseddisks.Inthecenterstoodasquare,white-paintedwoodentableandfourwhitefoldingchairs.

           Themanwhostoodblinkingnowinthedoorwaybehindthem,theblanketdrapingoneshoulderlikeacape,seemedtohavebeendesignedinawindtunnel.Hisearswereverysmall,plasteredflatagainsthisnarrowskull,andhislargefrontteeth,revealedinsomethingthatwasn’tquiteasmile,werecantedsharplybackward.Heworeanancienttweedjacketandheldahandgunofsomekindinhislefthand.Hepeeredatthem,blinked,anddroppedthegunintoajacketpocket.HegesturedtoCase,pointedataslabofwhiteplasticthatleanednearthedoorway.Casecrossedtoitandsawthatitwasasolidsandwichofcircuitry,nearlyacentimeterthick.Hehelpedthemanliftitandpositionitinthedoorway.Quick,nicotine-stainedfingerssecureditwithawhitevelcroborder.Ahiddenexhaustfanbegantopurr.

           `Time,’themansaid,straighteningup,`andcounting.Youknowtherate,Moll.