Чужой

           Eyesfillingwithsharptears,noserunning,hetriedfranticallytoclosethewoundbysqueezingtogetherthetwosidesofthecutwithhishands.Intheprocess,someofthestill-flowingliquidleakedontohisgloves.Theybegantosmoke.

           Ashestaggeredtowardthecorridor,hefoughttopullthemoffbeforethetoughmaterialwaseatenthroughandtheliquidstartedonhisskin.Hethrewthemonthedeck.Thestill-activedropletsfellfromtheglovesandcommenceddissolvingadditionalpitsinthemetal.

           Brettwaslookingmadandmorethanalittlescared.’Shit.It’sgoingtoeatthroughthedecksandoutthehull.’Heturned,ranforthenearestcompanionway.Dallasyankedanemergencylampfromitsholdingsocketandfollowedtheengineeringtech,theotherscrowdingclosebehind.

           TheBdeckcorridorbelowwaslinedwithinstrumentsandconduits.Brettwasalreadysearchingtheceilingbelowtheinfirmary.Theliquidstillhadseveralinterveninglevelsofalloytopenetrate.

           Dallasturnedthelightontheroof,hunted,thenhelditsteady.’There.’

           Abovethem,smokebegantoappear.Asmudgeofyellowfluidappeared,metalsizzlingaroundit.Itoozeddownward,formedadrop,andfell.Itimmediatelybegantobubbleonthedeck.DallasandBrettwatchedhelplesslyasthetinypoolincreasedinsizeandateitswaythroughthebulkhead.

           ’What’sbelowus?’

           ’Ccorridor,’announcedParker.’Notinstrumentation.’HeandRipleyrushedforthenextdowncompanionwaywhiletheothersremainedstaringatthewideningholeinthedeck.