Чужой
VII
You’resosureyouknowexactlywhatkindofpersonIam.Letmetellyousomething,Ripley.WhenIopenedtheinnerhatchIwasawareofwhatIwasdoing,yes.Butthatbusinessaboutwhoisinchargewhen,well,I’mcapableofforgetfulnessjustlikeanyoneelse.Mymemory’sverygood,butit’ssubjecttofailurelikeanyone’s.EvenamechanicalmemorylikeMother’scanlosetrackofinformation.’
Failure,sure,shethought.Selectivefailure.Still,thescienceofficercouldbetellingthetruth.She’dbetterwatchouthowmanyofhershipmatessheinsulted.ParkerandBrettalreadyfeltsomethinglessthanloveforher,andnowshewasonthevergeofmakinganenemyofAsh.
Butshecouldn’tstillthesuspicions.ShealmostwishedAshwouldgetmadather.
’Youalsomanagedtoforgetthesciencedivision’sownbasicquarantinelaw,somethingthat’sdrilledintoeveryship’sofficerearlyinflightschool.’
’No.’Atlast,shethought.Astatementshecouldbelieve.’ThatIdidn’tforget.’
’Isee.Youdidn’tforget.’Shepausedforemphasis.’Youjustwentaheadandbrokeit.’
’YouthinkIdiditlightly.ThatIdidn’tconsiderthepossibleconsequencesofmyaction.’
’No,Ash.I’dneverthinkthat.’Again,hedidn’treacttoprovocation.
’Ididn’tlikehavingtodoit,butIsawmyselfashavingnochoice,’heexplainedsoftly.’WhatwouldyouhavedonewithKane?Hisonlychancetostayaliveseemedtorestwithgettinghimintotheinfirmary,wheretheautodoccouldworkonhimassoonaspossible.
