Чужой
I
’Everybodygetsmorethanus,’saidBrettsoftly.Forhim,thatconstitutedamajorspeech.Ithadnoeffectonthecaptain,however.Dallashadnotimenowfortrivialitiesorhalf-seriouswordplay.Thatblinkinglightcommandedhisfullattention,andchoreographedhisthoughtstotheexclusionofallelse.
’Everybodyelsedeservesmorethanyoutwo.ComplaintotheCompanydisburserifyouwant.Nowgetbelow.’
’ComplaintotheCompany.’ParkerwasmutteringunhappilyashewatchedBrettswingoutofhiscoffin,commencedryinghislegs.’MightaswelltrycomplainingdirectlytoGod.’
’Samething.’Brettwascheckingaweakservicelightonhisownfreezercompartment.Barelyconscious,nakedanddrippingwithliquid,hewasalreadyhardatwork.Hewasthesortofpersonwhocouldwalkfordaysonabrokenlegbutwasunabletoignoreamalfunctioningtoilet.
Dallasstartedforthecentralcomputerroom,calledbackoverashoulder.’Oneofyoujokersgetthecat.’
ItwasRipleywholiftedalimpyellowishformfromoneofthefreezers.Sheworeahurtexpression.’Youneedn’tbesoindifferentaboutit.’Shestrokedthesoakedanimalaffectionately.’It’snotapieceofequipment.Jonesisamemberofthecrewasmuchasanyofus.’
’Morethansome.’DallaswaswatchingParkerandBrett,fullydressednow,recedinginthedirectionofengineering.’Hedoesn’tfillmyfewon-boardwakinghourswithcomplaintsaboutsalaryorbonuses.’
Ripleydeparted,thecatenvelopedinathickdrytowel.
