Чужой
V
Therewasajerk,thentheliftrosesmoothlyupward,stoppedevenwiththelockegress.Dallasleanedslightly,hitaswitch.Theouterhatchslidasideandtheyenteredthelock.
’Pressurize?’Lambertaskedhim.
’Nevermind.Wecansparealockfulofair.We’llbeinsideinaminuteandthenwecangetoutofthesedamnsuits.’Theyclosedtheouterhatch,waitedfortheinnerdoortoopen.
’WhathappenedtoKane?’Ripleyagain.Dallaswastootiredtotakenoticeofsomethinginhervoicebesidestheusualconcern.HeshiftedKanealittlehigheronhisshoulder,notworryingsomuchaboutthecreaturenow.Ithadn’tmovedacentimetreonthetrekbacktotheshipandhedidn’texpectitwouldsuddenlymoveitselfnow.
’Somekindoforganism,’hetoldher,thefaintechoofhisownvoicereassuringintheconfinesofthehelmet.’Wedon’tknowhowithappenedorwhereitcamefrom.It’sattacheditselftohim.Neversawanythinglikeit.It’snotmovingnow,hasn’taltereditspositionatallonthewayback.We’vegottogethimintotheinfirmary.’
’Ineedacleardefinition,’shetoldthemquietly.
’Cleardefinition,hell!’Dallastriedtosoundasrationalaspossible,keepthefrustratedfuryhewasfeelingoutofhiswords.’Look,Ripley,wedidn’tseewhathappened.Hewasdownashaftofsomekind,belowus.Wedidn’tknowanythingwaswronguntilwehauledhimout.Isthataclearenoughdefinition?’Therewassilencefromtheotherendofthechannel.
’Look,justopenthehatch.’
’Waitaminute.’
