Чужой
I
Hewasn’tinatalkativemood.Hetypedbriefly,WHAT’STHESTORY,MOTHER?andwaited..
Youcouldn’tsaythatthebridgeoftheNostromowasspacious.Rather,itwassomewhatlessclaustrophobicthantheship’sotherroomsandchambers,butnotbymuch.Fivecontourseatsawaitedtheirrespectiveoccupants.Lightsflashedpatientlyonandoffatmultipleconsoles,whilenumerousscreensofvaryingshapesandsizesalsoawaitedthearrivalofhumanswhowerepreparedtotellthemwhattodisplay.Alargebridgewouldhavebeenanexpensivefrivolity,sincethecrewspentmostofitsflighttimemotionlessinthefreezers.Itwasdesignedstrictlyforwork,notforrelaxationorentertainment.Thepeoplewhoworkedthereknewthisasthoroughlyasdidthemachines.
Asealdoorslidsilentlyintoawall.Kaneentered,followedcloselybyRipley,Lambert,andAsh.Theymadetheirwaytotheirrespectivestations,settledbehindconsoleswiththeeaseandfamiliarityofoldfriendsgreetingoneanotherafteralongtimeapart.
Afifthseatremainedempty,wouldcontinueunoccupieduntilDallasreturnedfromhistГЄte-a-tГЄtewithMother,theNostromo’sMindBankcomputer.Thenicknamewasanaccurateone,notgiveninjest.Peoplegrowveryseriouswhenspeakingaboutthemachineryresponsibleforkeepingthemalive.Foritspart,themachineacceptedthedesignationwithequalsolemnity,ifnottheemotionalovertones.
Theirclothingwasasrelaxedastheirbodies,casualtravestiesofcrew-memberuniforms.Eachreflectedthepersonalityofthewearer.
