Чужой

           Noaliengrowth,fungoidorotherwise,decoratedthebodyoftheexecutiveofficer.Ashhadgreatlyunderstatedthematterwhenhe’dreportedachangeinKane’scondition.

           Theexecwassittinguponthemedicalplatform.Hiseyeswereopenandclear,functioninginproperconcertwithhisbrain.Thoseeyesturnedtotakeintheknotofgapingarrivals.

           ’Kane?’Lambertcouldn’tbelieveit.’Areyouallright?’Helooksfine,shethoughtdazedly.Asthoughnothinghadeverhappened.

           ’Youwantanything?’askedRipley,whenhedidnotrespondtoLambert’squery.

           ’Mouth’sdry.’DallasabruptlyrememberedwhatKane,inhispresentstate,remindedhimof:amanjustcomingoutofamnesia.Theexeclookedalertandfit,butpuzzledfornoparticularreason,asthoughhewerestilltryingtoorganizehisthoughts.’CanIhavesomewater?’

           Ashmovedquicklytoadispenser,drewaplasticcupful,andhandedittoKane.Theexecdowneditinasinglelongswallow.Dallasnotedabsentlythatmuscularco-ordinationseemednormal.Thehand-to-mouthdrinkingmovementshadbeenperformedinstinctively,withoutforethought.

           Whileenormouslygratifying,thesituationwasridiculous.Therehadtobesomethingwrongwithhim.

           ’More,’wasallKanesaid,continuingtoactlike,amanincompletecontrolofhimself.Ripleyfoundalargecontainer,filleditbrimfull,andhandedittohim.Hedownedthecontentslikeamanwho’djustspenttenyearswanderingthedesertsofPiolin,thensaggedbackonthepaddedplatform,panting.