Чужой
VII
’Youtwostopyourbickering.’Asifhedidn’thaveenoughtoworryabout,nowhehadtodealwithtensionbetweencrewmates.Consideringthementalpressurethey’dallbeenunderrecently,suchconflictsweretobeexpected,buthe’dtolerateonlytheminimumnecessarytorelieveit.Openantagonismwassomethingtobeavoidedatallcosts.Hehadnotimetodealwithcongealingcliques.
TogetRipley’smindoffAshandviceversa,heturnedtheconversationbacktoKane.’Unconsciousandaslightfever.Anythingelse?’
Ashstudiedreadouts.’Nothingthatshowshere.Hisvitalsignscontinuestrong.’
’Long-termprognosis?’
Thescienceofficerlookedhesitant.’I’mnotamedicalofficer.TheNostromoisn’tbigenoughtorateone.’
’Orimportantenough.Iknowthat.Butyou’retheclosestthingwe’vegot.Ijustwantyouropinion.It’snotgoingintothelogandIcertainlywon’tholdyoutoit.Hell,Ican’tholdyoutoit.’HisgazetravelledbackdowntoKane,shipmateandfriend.
’Idon’twanttoappearundulyoptimistic,’Ashsaidslowly,’butbasedonhispresentconditionandonwhatthemonitorstellme,I’dsayhemaymakeit.’
Dallasgrinned,noddedslowly.’Goodenough.Can’taskformorethanthat.’
’Ihopeyou’reright,’Ripleyadded.’Wedisagreeonsomethings,butthistimeIpraytoGodyou’reright.’
Ashshrugged.’IwishIcoulddomoreforhim,butasIsaid,I’mnottrainedforit.It’suptotheautodoc.
