Чужой
VII
’Ithasnotmoved,norresistedinanywaywhenweproddeditallover,eveninitseye.Thescannerinsistsit’sdeadandIthinkit’ssafetoassumeit’snotazombie.Dallas,wehavetokeepthisspecimen.’
WhenDallasdidn’trespond,Ashcontinued.’Foronething,ifwecan’tpullKaneoutofhiscoma,themedicalteamthattreatshimwillneedtohavethecreaturethatinducedthecondition.ThrowitawayandwemightbethrowingawaythesecrettorevivingKane.’
Dallasfinallyspoke.’You’rethescienceofficer.It’syourdepartment,yourdecision.’
’Thenit’smade.’Ashbestowedafondlookonhisacquisition.’I’llsealitinastasistube.That’llarrestanypossibilityofrevivification.Wecanhandleit.’
’That’swhatKaneprobablythought,’Ripleymuttered.Dallasglaredatherandshelookedaway.’Thattakescareofthemonster’sfuture,Iguess.’Shegesturedatthemedicalplatform.’WhataboutKane?’
Ashturnedtofacethepallet.Afterabriefexaminationoftheexecandcarefulstudyofhissucker-markedface,thescienceofficeractivatedseveralinstrumentsonthemedicalconsole.Theautodocmadenoises,andreadoutsbegantoappear.
’He’srunningafever.’
’Bad?’
’No.Nothinghissystemcan’thandle.Themachinewillbringhistemperaturedown.He’sstillunconscious.’
’Wecanseethat.’
AshglancedbackatthebitterRipley.’Notnecessarily.Hecouldbesleeping,whichwouldbedifferent.’
Ripleystartedtoreply,wascutoffbyanangryDallas.
