First Lines: Neal Stephenson - Cryptonomicon

Two tires fly. Two wail.
A bamboo groove, all chopped down
From it, warring songs.
...is the best that Corporal Bobby Shaftoe can do on short notice - he's standing on the running board, gripping his Springfield with one hand and the rearview window with the other, so counting the syllables on his fingers is out of the question.