Нейромант

           Andhishearthaddoneforhimintheend.HissurplusRussianheart,implantedinaPOWcampduringthewar.He’drefusedtoreplacethething,sayingheneededitsparticularbeattomaintainhissenseoftiming.CasefingeredtheslipofpaperMollyhadgivenhimandmadehiswayupthestairs.

           Mollywassnoringonthetemperfoam.Atransparentcastranfromherkneetoafewmillimetersbelowhercrotch,theskinbeneaththerigidmicroporemottledwithbruises,theblackshadingintouglyyellow.Eightderms,eachadifferentsizeandcolor,raninaneatlinedownherleftwrist.AnAkaitransdermalunitlaybesideher,itsfineredleadsconnectedtoinputtrodesunderthecast.

           HeturnedonthetensorbesidetheHosaka.ThecrispcircleoflightfelldirectlyontheFlatline’sconstruct.Heslottedsomeice,connectedtheconstruct,andjackedin.

           Itwasexactlythesensationofsomeonereadingoverhisshoulder.

           Hecoughed.`Dix?McCoy?Thatyouman?’Histhroatwastight.

           `Hey,bro,’saidadirectionlessvoice.

           `It’sCase,man.Remember?’

           `Miami,joeboy,quickstudy.’

           `What’sthelastthingyourememberbeforeIspoketoyou,Dix?’

           `Nothin’.’

           `Hangon.’Hedisconnectedtheconstruct.Thepresencewasgone.Hereconnectedit.`Dix?WhoamI?’

           `Yougotmehung,Jack