Чужой

           ’Yeah.Itdidn’tdoanything.Ithinkitwaslongdeadbeforeitfellonme.’

           Shewalkedtotheopencabinetandselectedalongmetalforceps.Atouchonthecurledfingersfailedtoelicitanyreaction,asdidapokeattheeye.Dallasheldoutthetray.Usingtheforceps,shemaneuveredthepetrifiedalienintoit,quicklynippedshutthegleaminglid.

           Theymovedtoanearbytable.Thealienwascarefullyremovedfromthetrayandplacedontheflatsurface.Ashturnedabrightlightonit.Theilluminationintensifiedtheghastlypallorofthething.Hechoseasmallprobe,pushedandproddedtheunresistingform.

           ’Lookatthosesuckers.’Heusedtheprobetoindicatetheseriesofsmall,deepholesliningtheinsideofthecreature’s’palm.’Theyextendedcornpletelyaroundit.’Nowonderwecouldn’tgetitoffhim,betweenthese,thefingers,andthattailitwrappedaroundhisneck.’

           ’Where’sitsmouth?’Dallashadtoforcehisgazeawayfromthesingleeye.Evenindeath,thedullorbpossessedasortofhypnoticattraction.

           ’Mustbethistube-likeorgan,upinhere.Thethingithaddownhisthroat.Butitnevershowedanysignoffeeding.’Ashusedtheprobetoturnthecorpseoveronitsback.Hegotagriponthetubewiththeforceps,partlypulleditoutofthepalm.Asheextractedmoreofthetube,itchangedcolourtomatchtherestofthebody.

           ’It’shardeningassoonasitcontactstheair.’Ashmovedthetinyformovertoascanner,slippeditunderneaththelens,andadjustedcontrols.