Чужой
VIII
Parkercanoverrulemeonapointofengineering.Onanythingthathastodowiththesciencedivision,Ashhasthefinalword.’
’Andhowdoesthathappen?’Shesoundedmorecuriousthanbitter,now.
’Samewaythateverythingelsehappens.OnordersfromtheCompany.Readyourowndirectory.’
’Sincewhenisitstandardprocedure?’
Hewasgettingatouchexasperated.’Comeon,Ripley.Thisisn’tamilitaryvessel.YouknowaswellasIthatstandardprocedureiswhattheytellyoutodo.Thatprincipleincludestheindependenceofdifferentdepartments,likescience.IfIbelievedotherwise,I’mnotsureIwould’vesetdownhere.’
’What’sthematter?Visionsofdiscoverybonusesfadingbeforethespecterofadeadman?’
’Youknowbetterthanthat,’hesaidsharply.’Thereisn’tabonuslargeenoughtotradeforKane’sgoodhealth.Toolateforthat,now.We’rehere,andit’shappened.
’Look,easeuponme,willyou?Ijusthaulcargoforaliving.IfIwantedtobearealexplorerandgogallivantingoffafterdiscoverybonusesIwould’vejoinedtheRimCorps.Gottenmyheadtornoffatleasthalfadozentimesbynow.Glory..nothanks.Notforme.I’llsettleforhavingmyexecutiveofficerbackagain.’
Shedidn’treplythistime,satsilentlyforseveralminutes.Whenshespokethenexttime,thebitternesswasgone.’YouandKanebeentogetheronmanyflights?’
’Enoughtoknoweachother.’Dallaskepthisvoicelevel,eyesonhisconsole.
