Чужой
IX
’Can’timaginewhereit’sgotto.Thoughthere’spartsoftheshipitcouldreachthatwecan’t.Iwouldn’tthinkanythingcouldsurviveinsomeofthoseheatedducts,though.’
’Don’tforgetthekindofenvironmentits,uh..,’DallaslookedatAsh,’whatwouldyoucallitsfirststage?’
’Prelarval.Justgivingitaname.Ican’timagineitsstagesofdevelopment.’
’Yeah.Well,let’snotforgetwhatitwaslivinginthroughitsfirstincarnation.Weknowit’splentytough,andadaptableashell.Wouldn’tsurprisemeifwefounditnestingontopofthereactionchambers.’
’Ifthat’swhereit’sgotto,wewon’tbeabletogetnearit,’Parkerpointedout.
’Thenlet’shopeit’stravelledinadifferentdirection.Somewherewecangoafterit.’
’We’vegottofindit.’Ripley’sexpressionreflectedauniversalconcern.
’Whynotjustgointohypersleep?’Brettsuggested.’Pumptheairbackintothetanksandsuffocateit?’
’Inthefirstplace,wedon’tknowhowlongthisformcansurvivewithoutair,’thewarrantofficerarguedheatedly.’Itmaynotevenneedair.Weonlysawamouth,notnostrils.’
’Nothingcanexistwithoutsomekindofatmosphere.’Brettstillsoundedpositive,thoughlessso.
Shecockedaneyeathim.’Wanttobetyourlifeonit?’Hedidn’trespond.’Besides,itonlyhastolivewithoutairforalittlewhile.Maybeitcantakeupwhatevergasesitrequiresfromits..food.We’dbesitting..no,we’dbesleepingducksinthefreezers.
