Нейромант

           Bizherewasaconstantsubliminalhum,anddeaththeacceptedpunishmentforlaziness,carelessness,lackofgrace,thefailuretoheedthedemandsofanintricateprotocol.

           AloneatatableintheJarredeTh,withtheoctagoncomingon,pinheadsofsweatstartingfromhispalms,suddenlyawareofeachtinglinghaironhisarmsandchest,Caseknewthatatsomepointhe’dstartedtoplayagamewithhimself,averyancientonethathasnoname,afinalsolitaire.Henolongercarriedaweapon,nolongertookthebasicprecautions.Heranthefastest,loosestdealsonthestreet,andhehadareputationforbeingabletogetwhateveryouwanted.Apartofhimknewthatthearcofhisself-destructionwasglaringlyobvioustohiscustomers,whogrewsteadilyfewer,butthatsamepartofhimbaskedintheknowledgethatitwasonlyamatteroftime.Andthatwasthepartofhim,smuginitsexpectationofdeath,thatmosthatedthethoughtofLindaLee.

           He’dfoundher,onerainynight,inanarcade.

           Underbrightghostsburningthroughabluehazeofcigarettesmoke,hologramsofWizard’sCastle,TankWarEuropa,theNewYorkskyline...Andnowherememberedherthatway,herfacebathedinrestlesslaserlight,featuresreducedtoacode:hercheekbonesflaringscarletasWizard’sCastleburned,foreheaddrenchedwithazurewhenMunichfelltotheTankWar,mouthtouchedwithhotgoldasaglidingcursorstrucksparksfromthewallofaskyscrapercanyon.