Нейромант

           CasemethisfirstModerntwodaysafterhe’dscreenedtheHosaka’sprecis.TheModerns,he’ddecided,wereacontemporaryversionoftheBigScientistsofhisownlateteens.TherewasakindofghostlyteenageDNAatworkintheSprawl,somethingthatcarriedthecodedpreceptsofvariousshort-livedsubcultsandreplicatedthematoddintervals.ThePantherModernswereasoftheadvariantontheScientists.Ifthetechnologyhadbeenavailable,theBigScientistswouldallhavehadsocketsstuffedwithmicrosofts.Itwasthestylethatmatteredandthestylewasthesame.TheModernsweremercenaries,practicaljokers,nihilistictechnofetishists.

           TheonewhoshowedupattheloftdoorwithaboxofdiskettesfromtheFinnwasasoft-voicedboycalledAngelo.Hisfacewasasimplegraftgrownoncollagenandsharkcartilagepolysaccharides,smoothandhideous.ItwasoneofthenastiestpiecesofelectivesurgeryCasehadeverseen.WhenAngelosmiled,revealingtherazor-sharpcaninesofsomelargeanimal,Casewasactuallyrelieved.Toothbudtransplants.He’dseenthatbefore.

           `Youcan’tletthelittlepricksgeneration-gapyou,’Mollysaid.Casenodded,absorbedinthepatternsoftheSense/Netice.

           Thiswasit.Thiswaswhathewas,whohewas,hisbeing.Heforgottoeat.Mollyleftcartonsofriceandfoamtraysofsushionthecornerofthelongtable.Sometimesheresentedhavingtoleavethedecktousethechemicaltoiletthey’dsetupinacorneroftheloft.