Чужой
VI
’Astohowhe’sbreathing,Ican’tsayyet,buthisblood’sthoroughlyoxygenated.’
’Buthow?’Dallasleanedover,triedtoseeupinsidetheautodoc.’Icheckedthatthingoutprettyclosely.Hismouthandnoseseemtobecompletelyblocked.’
Ashpunchedatrioofbuttons.’Weknowwhat’sgoingonoutside.We’dbetterhavealookinsidehim.’
Alargescreencleared,focused.ItdisplayedacolourX-rayimageofKane’sheadanduppertorso.Finerresolutioncouldshowbloodflowingsteadilythroughhisarteriesandveins,lungspulsing,heartbeating.Atthemomenttheonlookersweremoreinterestedintheinternalschematicofthesmallroundedshapecoveringtheexec’sface.
’I’mnobiologist,’Ashsaidsoftly,’butthat’sthedamndestmazeofstuffI’veeverseeninsideanotheranimal.’Hegazedinamazementattheintricatenetworkofformsandtubes.’I’don’thaveanyideawhathalfofit’ssupposedtodo.’
’Doesn’tlookanynicerfromtheinsidethantheout,’wasDallas’sonlycomment.
’Lookatthemusculatureinthosefingers,thattail,’Ashinsisted.’Itmaylookfragile,butit’sanythingbut.Nowonderwecouldn’tpullitoffhim.Nowonderhecouldn’tpullitoff.I’massuminghehadtimetotrybeforeheblankedout.’
ItwasclearwhatthecreaturewasdoingtoKane,ifnotwhy.Theexec’sjawshadbeenforcedapart.Along,flexibletubeextendedfromthepalmofthehandcreaturedownhisthroat.Itterminatedattheendofhisesophagus.
