Чужой
VII
Numbersandwordsappearedontinyscreenswhenhedepressedacertainbutton.
’That’sall,’hefinallyinformedthem.’It’sover.It’sdead.Nolifesignswhatever.Wemaynotknowmuchaboutit,butit’snotsoalienyoucan’tdeterminewhetherit’saliveornot’
Ripley’sshouldertingled.’Good.Let’sgetridofit.’
Ashlookedatherindisbelief.’You’rejoking,ofcourse.Veryfunny.’
Sheshookherhead.’LikehellIam.’
’But..thishastogoback.’Ashsoundedalmostexcited.’Thisisthefirstcontactwithacreaturelikethis.There’snothinglikeitonanyofthetapes,noteventhehypotheticals.Allkindsoftestsshouldberunonit.’
’Fine,’shesaid.’Sorunyourtests,andthenwe’llgetridofit.’
’No,no.Itrequiresthefacilitiesofacompletelyequippedbiologylab.Icanonlyrecordtheslightestdetailsofconstructionandcomposition.Ican’tbegintoguessatsuchcriticalthingsasitsevolutionaryhistory.
’Wecan’tdumponeofthegreatestxenologicaldiscoveriesofthepastdecadeoutthelocklikeapieceofcommongarbage!Iprotest,personallyandinmycapacityasscienceofficer.Kanewoulddothesame.’
’Thatthingbledacid,nearlyboredaholerightthroughtheship.’Shenoddedtowardit.’Godknowswhatitmightdonowthatit’sdead.’
’Ithasn’tdoneanything,’Ashcountered.’Theacidicfluidisprobablyabsorbedintothedeadcellsandhasbeenrenderedinert.Ithasn’tdoneathing.’
’Notyet.’
AshturnedanimploringgazeonDallas.
