Чужой
VIII
Doyourememberwhathappenedthere’
Kane’sforeheadwrinkledashetriedtobattlethroughthemistsobscuringhismemories.Realremembrancesremainedtantalizinglyoutofreach,realisationapainful,incompleteprocess.
’Justsomehorribledreamaboutsmothering.Wherearewenow?Stillontheplanet?’
Ripleyshookherhead.’No,I’mdelightedtosay.We’reinhyperspace,onourwayhome.’
’Gettingreadytogobackinthefreezers,’Brettaddedfeelingly.Hewasasanxiousastheotherstoretiretothemindlessprotectionofhypersleep.Anxiousforthenightmarethathadforceditselfonthemtobeputinsuspensionalongwiththeirbodies.
ThoughlookingattherevitalizedKanemadeithardtoreconciletheirmemorieswiththeimageofthealienhorrorhe’dbroughtaboard,thepetrifiedcreaturewasthereforanyonetoinspect,motionlessinitsstasistube.
’I’mallforthat,’Kanesaidreadily.’Feeldizzyandtiredenoughtogointodeepsleepwithoutthefreezers.’Helookedaroundtheinfirmarywildly.’Rightnow,though,I’mstarving.Iwantsomefoodbeforewegounder.’
’I’mprettyhungrymyself.’Parker’sstomachgrowledindelicately.’It’stoughenoughcomingoutofhypersleepwithoutyourbellyrumbling.Betterifyougounderwithafullstomach.Makesiteasiercomingout.’
’Iwon’targuethat.’Dallasfeltsomesortofcelebrationwasinorder.Intheabsenceofpartyingmaterial,afinalpresleepfeastwouldhavetodo.’Wecouldallusesomefood.Onemealbeforebed..’
