Чужой
VI
Insteadofslippingthrough,thestylusmetresistance.
’It’snotpassingmorethanthreecentimetresin.Theliquid’sstoppedpenetrating.’
Below,ParkerglancedoveratRipleyinthedimlight.’Seeanything?’
Theycontinuedtoscantheceiling.Beneaththeirfeetlayasmallservicecrawlway,andbeyondthat,theNostromo’sprimaryhull.Afterthat,therewasonlytheatmosphereofanunknownplanet.
’Nothing,’shefinallyreplied.’Keepaneyeout.I’llgoseewhat’shappeningabove.’Sheturned,sprinteddownthecorridortowardthestairs.
Herfirstsightwasoftheothersallcrouchingovertheholeinthedeck.’What’sgoingon?Ithasn’tcomethroughyet.’
’Ithinkit’sloststeam.’Ashkneltoverthepittedmetal.’Eitherthecontinuousreactionswiththealloyshavediluteditsstrength,orelseitsimplylosesitscausticpotentialafteracertainperiodoftime.Inanycase,itnolongerseemstobeactive.’
Ripleymovedtocheckthestill-smokingholeinthedeckforherself.’Couldthealloybestrongerinsidethisdeckthanabove?Maybethestuffscorrodingthedeckhorizontallynow,lookingforanotherweakplacewhereitcaneatdownward.’
Ashshookhishead.’Idon’tthinkso.FromwhatlittleIrememberaboutshipconstruction,theprincipaldecksandhulloftheNostromoareallcomposedofthesamematerial.No,Ithinkit’sreasonabletoassumethefluidisnolongerdangerous.’
Hestartedtoputhisstylusbackinhispocket,stillholdingitbytheunmarredend.
