Чужой
VI
’Therewerenosignsoflife.Thattransmissionmusthavebeengoingforcenturies.Wethinkwefoundthetransmitter.’
’Whataboutthederelict’screw?’
’Nosignofthem.’
’AndKane..?’
’Hevolunteeredtosearchthelowerlevelalone.’Herexpressiontwisted.’Hewaslookingfordiamonds.Instead,heapparentlyfoundsomekindofeggs.Wetoldhimnottotouchthem.Probablytoolate.Somethinghappeneddownthere,wherewecouldn’tseewhatwasgoingon.Whenwepulledhimout,itwasonhisface.Somehowitmeltedrightthroughhishelmetfaceplate,andyouknowhowstrongthatstuffis.’
’Iwonderwhereit’sfromoriginally?’Ripleyspokewithoutlookingawayfromtheinfirmaryinterior.’Asdeadasthisplanetoidseemstobe,I’dguessitcameinwiththealienship.’
’Christknows,’saidParkersoftly.’I’dliketoknowwhereit’sfromtoo.’
’Why?’Ripleyhardlyglancedathim.
’SoI’dknowonemoreplacetoavoid.’
’Amen,’saidBrett.
’WhatIwanttoknow,’saidDallasquestioningly,’ishowthehellishebreathing?Orishe?’
Ashstudiedreadouts.’Physically,heappearstobedoingfine.Notonlyishealive,despitehavinggonewithoutnormalairallthewaybacktotheship,butalsoallhisvitalsignsaresteady.Breathingallthatnitrogenandmethaneshouldhavekilledhiminstantly,backonthederelict.Accordingtothe’doche’sinacoma,butinternallyhe’snormal.Adamnsighthealthierthanhehasanyrighttobe.
