Нейромант
Chapter 6
`Theysureashelldidshaftyou,boss,’Casesaid,andMollystirredbesidehim.
Themicrolightshadbeenunarmed,strippedtocompensatefortheweightofaconsoleoperator,aprototypedeck,andavirusprogramcalledMoleIX,thefirsttruevirusinthehistoryofcybernetics.Cortoandhisteamhadbeentrainingfortherunforthreeyears.Theywerethroughtheice,readytoinjectMoleIX,whentheempswentoff.TheRussianpulsegunsthrewthejockeysintoelectronicdarkness;theNightwingssufferedsystemscrash,flightcircuitrywipedclean.
Thenthelasersopenedup,aimingoninfrared,takingoutthefragile,radar-transparentassaultplanes,andCortoandhisdeadconsolemanfelloutofaSiberiansky.Fellandkeptfalling...
Thereweregapsinthestory,here,whereCasescanneddocumentsconcerningtheflightofacommandeeredRussiangunshipthatmanagedtoreachFinland.Tobegutted,asitlandedinasprucegrove,byanantiquetwenty-millimetercannonmannedbyacadreofreservistsondawnalert.ScreamingFisthadendedforCortoontheoutskirtsofHelsinki,withFinnishparamedicssawinghimoutofthetwistedbellyofthehelicopter.Thewarendedninedayslater,andCortowasshippedtoamilitaryfacilityinUtah,blind,legless,andmissingmostofhisjaw.IttookelevenmonthsfortheCongressionalaidetofindhimthere.Helistenedtothesoundoftubesdraining.InWashingtonandMcLean,theshowtrialswerealreadyunderway.
