Чужой
VII
Ashpaused,added,’Thoseaside,Kaneappearsundamagedbytheexperience.’
’Whichmaynotbeoveryet,’Ripleyputin.’Thedoorisseal-tight.Itmuststillbeinthere.’Shesoundedconfident,butitwasacoverforherrealfeelings.Thethoughtofthespideryhand-shapewithitsglazed,unblinkingeyescrabblingaboutunderfootfrightenedhermorethanshedaredshow.
’Wecan’topenthedoor,’Ashsaidthoughtfully.’Wedon’twanttoletitout.Thelastthingwewanttodoisgiveittherunoftheship.’
’Icouldn’tagreemore.’Ripleywasscanningtheinfirmaryfloor,sawonlybrightmetalandpaint.’Wecan’tgrabitorkillitfromadistance.Sowheredoesthatleaveus?’
’WhenwetriedtoremoveitfromKane’sface,’Dallassaid,’wecutit,injuredit.Maybeifwedidn’tthreatenittooovertly,itwouldn’tofferresistance.Maybewecanjustpickitup.’VisionsofspectacularCompanycommendations,perhapsapromotion,certainlyabonus,swirledthroughhishead.ThenheagainnoticedtheunconsciousformofKaneandfeltguilty.
Ripleywasstillshudderingatthethought.’Youcantrypickingitup.I’llwatchthedoor.’
’Ithinkit’saworthwhileidea.’Ashwasmovingawayfromtheglass.’It’saninvaluablespecimen.Weshouldcertainlymakeanattempttocaptureitaliveandintact.’
Hetouchedtheswitchcontrollingthedoor.Theinfirmarywasagoodplacetotrytohuntdowntheintruder.
