Чужой

           InhabitantsofanearlieragewouldhavebeenastonishedtolearnthattheNostromowastowingaconsiderablequantityofcrudeoilthroughthevoidbetweenthestars,encasedinitsownautomatic,steadilyfunctioningrefinery.

           ThatoilwouldbefinishedpetrochemicalsbythetimetheNostromoarrivedinorbitaroundEarth.Suchmethodswerenecessary.Whilemankindhadlongsincedevelopedmarvellous,efficientsubstitutesforpoweringtheircivilization,theyhaddonesoonlyaftergreedyindividualshadsuckedthelastdropofpetroleumfromadrainedEarth.

           Fusionandsolarpowerranallofman’smachines.Buttheycouldn’tsubstituteforpetrochemicals.Afusionenginecouldnotproduceplastics,forexample.Themodernworldscouldexistwithoutpowersoonerthantheycouldwithoutplastics.HencethepresenceoftheNostromo’scommerciallyviable,ifhistoricallyincongruous,cargoofmachineryandthenoisomeblackliquiditpatientlyprocessed.

           Theonlysystemthecameraspickedupwastheonesetneatlyinthecentreofthevariousscreens,theonewiththeimpropernecklaceofplanetscirclinganoff-colourstar.TherewasnodoubtnowinKane’smindandlessthanthatinLambert’sthattheNostromo’sintendedthatsystemtobetheirimmediatedestination.

           Still,itcouldbeanerrorintimeandnotinspace.Solcouldbethesystemlocatedinthedistancejusttothisstar’sleftorright.Therewasasurewaytofindout

           ’Contacttrafficcontrol.’Kanewaschewinghislowerlip.