Чужой
IX
TherewerescreamsfromothersbesidesKanenow,shoutsofpanicandterrorasthecrewreflexivelystumbledawayfromthetable.Theywereprecededininstinctiveretreatbythecat.Tailbottled,hairstandingonend,itspatferociouslyandclearedthetableandtheroomintwomuscle-strainingleaps.
Convulsively,thetoothedskulllungedoutward.AllofasuddenitseemedtofairlyspurtfromKane’storso.Theheadandneckwereattachedtoathick,compactbodycoveredinthesamewhiteflesh.Clawedarmsandlegspropelleditoutwardwithunexpectedspeed.Itlandedmessilyamongthedishesandfoodonthetable,trailingpiecesofKane’sinsides.Fluidandbloodformedanuncleanwakebehindit.ItremindedDallasofabutcheredturkeywithteethprotrudingfromthestumpofaneck.
Beforeanyonecouldregaintheirsensesandact,thealienhadwriggledoffthetablewiththespeedofalizardandvanisheddowntheopencorridor.
Muchheavybreathingbutlittlemovementfilledthemess.Kaneremainedslumpedinhischair,hisheadthrownback,mouthagape.Dallaswasgratefulforthat.ItmeantthatneitherhenoranyoneelsehadtolookatKane’sopeneyes.
Therewasahuge,raggedholeintheexecutiveofficer’sexplodedchest.EvenfromadistanceDallascouldseehowinternalorganshadbeenpushedasidewithoutbeingdamaged,toprovideacavitylargeenoughforthecreature.Disheslayscatteredontableandfloor.Muchoftheuneatenfoodwascoveredwithaslicklayerofblood.
’No,no,no,no..’
