Чужой
I
Joneswaspurringunsteadily,lickinghimselfwithgreatdignity.Itwasnothisfirsttimeoutofhypersleep.Forthepresent,hewouldtoleratetheignominyofbeingcarried.
Dallashadfinisheddryinghimself.Nowhetouchedabuttonsetintothebaseofhiscoffin.Adrawerslidsilentlyoutwardonnearlyfrictionlessbearings.Itcontainedhisclothingandafewpersonaleffects.
Ashewasdressing,Ashambledovertostandnearby.Thescienceofficerkepthisvoicelow,spokeashefinishedseaminghiscleanshirt.
’Motherwantstotalktoyou.’Ashewhispered,henoddedinthedirectionoftheyellowlightflashingsteadilyonthesuspendedconsolenearby.
’Isawitrightoff.’Dallasslippedarmsintoashirt.’Hardyellow.Securityone,notwarning.Don’ttelltheothers.Ifanything’sseriouslywrong,they’llfindoutsoonenough.’Heslippedintoanimpressedbrownjacket,leftithangingopen,
’Itcan’tbetoobad,whateveritis.’Ashsoundedhopeful,gesturedagainatthesteadilywinkinglight.’It’sonlyyellow,notred.’
’Forthemoment.’Dallaswasnooptimist.’I’dhavepreferredwakinguptoanice,forestygreen.’Heshrugged,triedtosoundashopefulasAsh.’Maybetheautochef’sontheblink.Thatmightbeablessing,consideringwhatitcallsfood.’
Heattemptedasmile,failed.TheNostromowasnothuman.Itdidnotplaypracticaljokesonitscrew,anditwouldnothaveawakenedthemfromhypersleepwithayellowwarninglightwithoutaperfectlygoodreason.
