Чужой

           Shirtsandslacks,allwererumpledandwornafteryearsofstorage.Sowerethebodiestheyencased.

           Thefirstsoundsspokenonthebridgeinmanyyearssummedupthefeelingsofallpresent,eventhoughtheycouldn’tunderstandthem.JoneswasmeowingwhenRipleysethimonthedeck.Hechangedthattoapurr,slidingsensuouslyaroundheranklesasshesnuggledherselfintothehigh-backedseat.

           ’Plugusin.’Kanewascheckingouthisownconsole,caressingtheautomaticswithhiseyes,huntingforcontrastsanduncertaintiesasRipleyandLambertcommencedthrowingnecessaryswitchesandthumbingrequisitecontrols.

           Therewasaflurryofvisualexcitementasnewlightsandcoloursmigratedacrossreadoutpanelsandscreens.Itgavethefeelingthattheinstrumentswerepleasedbythereappearanceoftheirorganiccounterpartsandwereanxioustodisplaytheirtalentsatfirstopportunity.

           Freshnumbersandwordsappearedonreadoutsinfrontofhim.Kanecorrelatedthemwithwell-rememberedonesimprintedinhismind.’Looksokaysofar.Giveussomethingtostareat.’

           Lambert’sfingersdancedanarpeggioonatightlyclusteredrankofcontrols.Viewscreenscamealivealloverthebridge,mostsuspendedfromtheceilingforeasierinspection.Thenavigatorexaminedthesquareeyesclosesttoherseat,frownedimmediately.Muchthatshesawwasexpected.Toomuchwasnot.Themostimportantthing,theanticipatedshapethatshouldbedominatingtheirvision,wasabsent.Soimportantwasitthatitnegatedthenormalityofeverythingelse.