Чужой
VII
TherewasnothingtodoontheNostromonowbutwait.WaitforParkerandBretttocompletetheirwork,waitforachangeinKane’scondition.
Onthebridge,LambertwasamusingJonesthecatwithsomestring.ThestringsupposedlywasonboardsolelyforJones’enjoyment,butthecatknewbetter.Itwasoccasionallyincumbentonhimtoentertainthehumans.Theyseemedtoderiveconsiderablepleasurefromhispokingandswattingatthewhitecordastheymanipulateditintheirclumsygreatpaws.
Lambertcalledthegamecat’scradle.Jonescalleditpeople’scradle.Hewasaveryconscientiouscatanddidhisbesttokeepthenavigatorsmiling.Theyweresosolemnsometimes.Itwasadifficultjobforacat.ButJoneswasconscientious.Hecontinuedtoworkatpleasingthehuman,thinkingoffoodandwarm,fatmice.
’Whatdoyouthink?’Brettglancedoutfrombeneaththeoverhang,eyedhiscolleague.
Parkeradjustedacontrol,wipedsweatfromhisforehead.’Almost.Anotherhalfadegreeandwe’llbefinished.Maybethat’llsatisfyRipley.’
Theengineeringtechmadearudenoise.’Didn’tyouknow?Ripleycan’tbesatisfied.’Pingingsoundscamefrombehindtheintakescreenhewasworkingon.
Parkerglancedatthesilentintercomspeakerandgruntedareply.’Ifwedon’tgetfullsharesafterthis,I’lllodgeacomplaint.We’veearneddoublepay.Probablyqualifiedforhazardaswell.ThistimetheCompanyhadbettermakeitworthourwhileorwe’llgototheGuild.Nomessingaroundanymore.’
’Right,’snappedBrett.
