Чужой
VII
SupposeAshhadobeyedherdirectiveandleftthethreeoutside?WouldKanestillbealive?Orwouldhenowbejustastatisticinthelog?Thatwouldhavesimplifiedonething,though:Shewouldn’thavetofaceKanewhenherecoveredandhavetoexplainwhyshe’dtriedtorefusehimandtheothersadmittance.
Ashnoticedherexpression,lookedconcerned.’Somethingthematter?’
’No.’Shesatupstraighter.’Sumitallupforme.PretendI’masdumbasIsometimesfeel.What’sitallmean?Wheredowestandwithit?’
’Interestingcombinationofelementsandstructuremakeitpracticallyinvulnerablegivenourpresentsituationandresources.’
Shenodded.’That’sexactlyhowIreadit,ifyourresultsareaccurate.’Helookedpained.’Sorry.Okay,soit’sinvulnerable.’Shewaswatchinghimclosely.’Isthatwhyyouwentaheadandletitin?’
Asalways,thescienceofficerrefusedtobebaited.Heshowednothinginthewayofresentmentwhenhereplied.’Iwasfollowingadirectorderfromthecaptain.Remember?’
Sheforcedherselftokeepfromraisinghervoice,knowingthatAshrespectedonlyreason.’WhenDallasandKaneareofftheship,I’mseniorofficer.I’mactingcommanderuntiloneortheotheractuallysetsfootbackinside.’
’Yes,ofcourse.Iforgot,that’sall.Theemotionsofthemoment.’
’Likehell.’Hisattentionremainedfixedtovariousreadouts.’Emotionsnevermadeyouforgetanything.’
Thatmadehimturntoher.’Youthinkyouknowallaboutme.Allofyou.
