"James Patrick Kelly - Big Guy" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kelly James Patrick)

waiting up for her when she got home. She'd sleep seven, eight hours. Tomorrow she'd ride crowded
buses, bump through the halls at school, stare out of windows and let boredom eat her alive. The weight
of all that free time flattened people like her. It cost Murph a lot to live the way he did, but at least he was
never bored.

On the back wall, Big Guy was naked. He still had a hole between his legs. Murph copied a patch from
the belly. Smooth skin, fine blonde hair. 23:30:02. He put Big Guy's clothes back on. Loose, blue
microseal shirt, black jeans, mesh shoesтАФwhathe was wearing, only bigger. He had five hours and
forty-seven minutes. He picked up his dinner and stuck his tongue through the foil into the warm, runny,
spiced inside. He flopped onto his workseat.
He wondered what would Cat say when she realized that the only way they could do it tonight was in
person.
****

Way Out's welcome screen came up on all three walls and the ceiling. He showed as a huge sleeping
black face. He was framed by a tangle of gray hair, side burns and a beard.

Murph pressed the last brain tap into place and the system began sampling activity in his primary sensory
cortex. As each sense came online, its icon glowed on the console.Auditory ... visual ... olfactory ...
Direct cerebral I/O cost Murph three year's income. He'd had to take out a loan, but it was worth it.
Before, he'd have wasted half an hour wriggling into his reeky joysuit. If he planned a fuck, he'd have to
stick his cock into a penile wrap. ...somesthetic ... kinesthetic ... The system was already accessing his
secondary cortex. When most people linked to the haunts, they were pleasured through their nerve
endings. Murph wasn't afraid to invite Cat right into his brain. 23:34:52. He was ready.

тАЬHi, it's me,тАЭ he said.

Way Out awoke. тАЬBig Guy!тАЭ The corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled.

тАЬShe here?тАЭ

тАЬSure.тАЭ His voice boomed. тАЬLots of people here.тАЭ

тАЬWaiting long?тАЭ said Murph.

Way Out yawned. The haunt's breath tickled Murph's face. He lowered the sensory gain. тАЬI've got five
hours and forty two minutes,тАЭ said Murph.

тАЬPrice went up, Big Guy.тАЭ Way Out's smile shrank to a rueful grin. тАЬSorry.тАЭ

тАЬHow much?тАЭ

тАЬSeven hundred thirty an hour.тАЭ When he shook his head, his hair danced. тАЬRaised my insurance.тАЭ

A fifty dollar an hour bump. If he linked for the rest of tonight's free time, he'd zero his debit account and
activate his line of creditтАФat 23% interest. But that wasn't going to happen. Could be he'd get off in an
hour or two, if Cat said yes. тАЬSo what?тАЭ

тАЬLive fast, Big Guy.тАЭ He opened his mouth.