Нейромант

           Go,gotit?’Molly’svoicewasslightlyclearer.

           `Tohearistoobey.’TheModernswereusingsomekindofchickenwiredishinNewJerseytobouncethelinkman’sscrambledsignaloffaSonsofChristtheKingsatelliteingeosynchronousorbitaboveManhattan.Theychosetoregardtheentireoperationasanelaborateprivatejoke,andtheirchoiceofcomsatsseemedtohavebeendeliberate.Molly’ssignalswerebeingbeamedupfromaone-meterumbrelladishepoxy-edtotheroofofablackglassbanktowernearlyastallastheSense/Netbuilding.

           Atlanta.Therecognitioncodewassimple.AtlantatoBostontoChicagotoDenver,fiveminutesforeachcity.IfanyonemanagedtointerceptMolly’ssignal,unscrambleit,synthhervoice,thecodewouldtiptheModerns.Ifsheremainedinthebuildingformorethantwentyminutes,itwashighlyunlikelyshe’dbecomingoutatall.

           Casegulpedthelastofhiscoffee,settledthetrodesinplace,andscratchedhischestbeneathhisblackt-shirt.HehadonlyavagueideaofwhatthePantherModernsplannedasadiversionfortheSense/Netsecuritypeople.Hisjobwastomakesuretheintrusionprogramhe’dwrittenwouldlinkwiththeSense/NetsystemswhenMollyneededitto.Hewatchedthecountdowninthecornerofthescreen.Two.One.

           Hejackedinandtriggeredhisprogram.`Mainline,’breathedthelinkman,hisvoicetheonlysoundasCaseplungedthroughtheglowingstrataofSense/Netice.Good.CheckMolly.