Чужой
VII
’What’shappening?’
Oh,hell,Parkerthought.Ripley.Thatdamnwoman.I’lltellherwhat’shappening.’MyJohnsonishappening,’heinformedhercurtly,addingseveralthingspitchedjustbelowtheeffectiverangeoftheomnipickup.
’Keepworking,’hetoldhiscompanion.
’Right.’
’What’sthat?’shesaid.’Ididn’tcatchthat.’
Hemovedawayfromthemodule.Astabactivatedthe’comamp.’Youwanttoknowwhat’shappening?Alotofhardworkiswhat’shappening.Realwork.Yououghttocomebackhereandgiveitatrysometime.’
Herreplywasinstant,composed.’I’vegotthetoughestjobonthisship.’Parkerlaughedderisively.’Ihavetolistentoyourbullshit.’
’Getoffmyback.’
’I’llgetoffyourbackwhenmoduletwelveisfixed,notbefore.Youcancountonthat.’TherewasaclickattheotherendbeforeParkercouldofferhisreadycomment.
’What’sup?’Brettleanedoutofthemodule.’Youtwofightingagain?’
’Naw.Smart-mouthbroad,that’sall.’
Bretthesitated,pausedtoexaminethecurrentlyopenedcell.’Right.Let’stryitagain.’
Parkerpushedthebuttons,examinedthemonitor,thoughtofputtinghisfistthroughitwhileimaginingittobeacertainwarrantofficer’sface.Hewouldn’tdoanythingnearlysomelodramatic,ofcourse.Thoughshort-tempered,hewassensibleenoughtorealizehowbadlyheneededthemonitor.
AndRipley.
AshwasrunninganewbatteryoftestsonKane’scomatoseform.Theyprovidedadditionalinformationabouthiscondition.
