Чужой
IX
’Iknowwhatit’smadeoutof,’Parkerreplied.’Sowhat?It’sfoodnow.You’rehardlytheonetotalk,thewayyou’regulpingitdown.’
’I’vegotanexcuse.’Kanestuffedanotherhugeforkfulinhismouth.’I’mstarving.’Heglancedaroundthetable.’Anyoneknowifamnesiaaffectstheappetite?’
’Appetite,hell.’Dallaspickedattheremnantsofhissingleserving.’Youhadnothinginyoubutliquidsallthetimeyouwereintheautodoc.Sucrose,dextrose,andthelikekeepyoualivebutaren’texactlysatisfying.Nowonderyou’restarving.’
’Yeah.’Kaneswallowedanotherdoublemouthful.’It’salmostlikeI..likeI..’Hebrokeoff,grimaced,thenlookedconfusedandalittlefrightened.
Ripleyleanedtowardhim.’Whatisit..what’swrong?Somethinginthefood?’
’No..Idon’tthinkso.Ittastedallright.Idon’tthink..’Hestoppedinmidsentenceagain.Hisexpressionwasstrainedandhewasgruntingsteadily.
’What’sthematterthen?’wonderedaworriedLambert.
’Idon’tknow.’Hemadeanothertwistedface,lookinglikeafighterwho’djusttakenasolidpunchinthegut.’I’mgettingcramps..gettingworse.’
Nervousfaceswatchedtheexec’stwistinpainandconfusion.Abruptly,heletoutaloud,deep-tonedgroanandclutchedattheedgeofthetablewithbothhands.Hisknucklespaledandthetendons,stoodoutinhisarms.Hiswholebodywastremblinguncontrollably,asifhewerefreezing,thoughitwaspleasantlywarminthemessroom.
