Чужой
VIII
’Lineusupandstandbytodock.’Instrumentationhummedasthetugadjusteditsattitudewithrespecttothemountainofmetalandplastic.Ripleythrewaswitch,andthetuglockeditselfinpositionbacksidefirsttothedullmassoftherefinery.
’Positioned,’shesaid.
’Bringusin.’Dallaswatchedacertainreadoutintently,fingerspoisedoverarankofredbuttons.
’We’removing.’Ripley’sattentionwasfocusedontwoscreensatonce.’Distanceshrinking.Twenty..fifteen..set.’Shehitaswitch.
Dallasdepressedtheredcontrols.’Enginescutandprimariescompensatedfor.Wehaveinertialstability.Activatethehyperdrivelock.’
’Activated,’Ripleyinformedhim.’We’retiedtogether.’Whenactivatednow,theNostromowouldgenerateahyperdrivefieldofsufficientsizetoincludetherefinery.Itwouldtravelwiththem,envelopedinthatmysteriousmanifestationofnonrealitythatenabledshipsandmentotravelfasterthanlight.
’SetcourseforEarth,’Dallasorderedcrisply.’Thenfireupthebigoneandgetusuptolightplusfour,Ripley.’
’Withpleasure.’
’Coursecomputedandlockedin,’saidLambertamomentlater.’Timetogohome.’Then,toherself,’Feets,getmeoutofhere.’
Ripleytouchedamajorcontrol.Thetinyworldanditsimprisonedalienshipvanishedasthoughithadneverexisted.TheNostromoachieved,exceededthespeedoflight.Acoronaeffectmaterializedaroundshipandrefinery.Starsaheadofthembecameblue,thosebehindshiftedtored.
