Нейромант

           Inthecourseofhisbusiness,hesometimescameintocontactwithotherfences,someofwhomdealtinthemoretraditionalarticlesofthetrade.Inpreciousmetals,stamps,rarecoins,gems,jewelry,furs,andpaintingsandotherworksofart.ThestoryhetoldCaseandMollybeganwithanotherman’sstory,amanhecalledSmith.

           Smithwasalsoafence,butinbalmierseasonshesurfacedasanartdealer.HewasthefirstpersontheFinnhadknownwho’d`gonesilicon’-thephrasehadanold-fashionedringforCase-andthemicrosoftshepurchasedwerearthistoryprogramsandtablesofgallerysales.Withhalfadozenchipsinhisnewsocket,Smith’sknowledgeoftheartbusinesswasformidable,atleastbythestandardsofhiscolleagues.ButSmithhadcometotheFinnwitharequestforhelp,afraternalrequest,onebusinessmantoanother.Hewantedago-toontheTessier-Ashpoolclan,hesaid,andithadtobeexecutedinawaythatwouldguaranteetheimpossibilityofthesubjectevertracingtheinquirytoitssource.Itmightbepossible,theFinnhadopined,butanexplanationwasdefinitelyrequired.`Itsmelled,’theFinnsaidtoCase,`smelledofmoney.AndSmithwasbeingverycareful.Almosttoocareful.’

           Smith,itdeveloped,hadhadasupplierknownasJimmy.Jimmywasaburglarandotherthingsaswell,andjustbackfromayearinhighorbit,havingcarriedcertainthingsbackdownthegravitywell.