Чужой
VI
’It’sstoppedbleeding.’
Ashwasexaminingthesectioncutbythelaserknife.’Healedover.Nosignofthewound.Remarkableregenerativeabilities.You’dneverknowithadbeentouched.’
’Theremustbesomewaywecangetitoff.’Lambertshivered.’Itmakesmesicktoseeitrestingtherelikethat,thattubeorwhateveritisdownhisthroat.’
’You’dbealotsickerifitwasonyou,’Ripleytauntedher.
Lambertkeptherdistance.’You’renotbeingfunny.’
’I’llsayagain,sir,Idon’tthinkitwouldbeagoodideatotryremovingthecreature.’Ashwasn’tlookingathim.’Itdidn’tworkouttoowellthelasttime.’
Dallasglancedsharplyathisscienceofficer,thenrelaxed.Asusual,Ashwasonlybeingobjective.Itwasn’tinhisnaturetobesarcastic.
’Sowhatdowedo?’Lambertwantedtoknow.
’Wedonothing,’Dallasfinallysaid.’Wecan’tdoanything.Wetriedand,asAshnoted,itnearlycostusahulledship.So..wefeedhimbacktotheautodocandhopeitcancomeupwithabetteridea.’
Hetouchedacontrol.TherewasasofthumasKane’splatformslidbackintothemachine.Dallasthrewadditionalswitches,wasagainprovidedwithinternalviewsofthecomatoseexec,plusrelatedschematicsanddiagrams.Theyofferednonewinformation,andnosolutions.
Ashwascorrelatingseveralreadouts.’Hisbodilyfunctionscontinuenormal,butthere’ssomefreshindicationoftissuedegeneracyandbreakdown.’
’Thenitishurtinghim,’Lambertsaid.
’Notnecessarily.
