Чужой
I
’Ifwecanpickupanythingfromthem,we’llknowwe’reintherightquadrant.IfSol’sanywherenearby,we’llreceiveareplyfromoneoftheoutsystemrelaystations.’
Lambert’sfingersnickeddifferentcontrols.’Thisisthedeep-spacecommercialtugNostromo,registrationnumberoneeightzero,twofoursix,enroutetoEarthwithbulkcargocrudepetroleumandappropriaterefinery.CallingAntarcticatrafficcontrol.Doyoureadme?Over.’
Onlythefaint,steadyhissofdistantsunsrepliedoverthespeakers.NearRipley’sfeet,Jonesthecatpurredinharmonywiththestars.
Lamberttriedagain.’DeepspacecommercialtugNostromocallingSol/Antarcticatrafficcontrol.Weareexperiencingnavigation-fixdifficulties.Thisisaprioritycall;pleaserespond.’Stillonlythenervousstellarsizzle-pop.Lambertlookedworried.’Mayday,mayday.TugNostromocallingSoltrafficcontroloranyothervesselinlisteningrange.Mayday.Respond.’
Theunjustifieddistresscall(Lambertknewtheywerenotinanyimmediatedanger)wentunansweredandunchallenged.Discouraged,sheshutoffthetransmitter,butleftthereceiveronall-channelsopenincaseanotherbroadcastingshiphappenedtopasscloseby.
’Iknewwecouldn’tbenearoursystem,’Ripleymumbled.’Iknowthearea.’Shenoddedtowardthescreenhangingaboveherownstation.’That’snowherenearSol,andneitherarewe.’
’Keeptrying,’Kaneorderedher.HeturnedbacktofaceLambert.
