Чужой
VIII
Parker’sreplywashopeful,ifnotexactlyencouraging.’Okay.Butremember,thisisjustapatchjob.Needshipyardequipmenttomakeproperrepairs.’
’Willsheholdtogether?’
’Oughtto,unlesswehittoomuchturbulencegoingup.Thatmightblowthenewcells..andthat’sallshesaid.Nowaywecouldfixthemagain.’
’Sotakeiteasy,’Brettaddedfromhisseatintheengineeringcubicle.
’Ihearyou.We’llwatchit.Allwehavetodoisreachzero-geeandwecangohyperallthewayintoSol.Thenthedamncellscangolikepopcorniftheywantto.Butuntilwe’reupandout,youkeepthemintactifyouhavetoholdthemsteadywithyourbarehands.’
’Doourbest,’saidParker.
’Check.Bridgeout.’DallasturnedtofacetheNostromo’swarrantofficer.RipleywaspresentlydoublingdutyfortheincapacitatedKane.’Takeusupahundredmetresandbringinthelandingstruts.’Heturnedhisattentiontohisownconsole.’I’llkeephersteady.’
’Upahundred.’Ripleytouchedcontrols.
Thethunderintensifiedoutsideasthetugliftedfromtheparched,dust-blastedsurface.Theshiphoveredahundredmetresabovetheground,dustracingconfusedlybeneathit.Massiveleg-likepillarsthathadsupportedtheNostromonowfoldedneatlyintohermetalbelly.
Aslightthumpsoundedonthebridge,confirmingcomputertelltales.’Strutsretracted,’Ripleyannounced.’Closingshields.’Metalplatesslidtightlyshutoverthestruthousings,sealingoutdustparticlesandalienatmosphere.
’Standingby,’declaredAsh.
