Чужой
IX
RememberhoweasilythefirstformmeltedthroughthefaceplateofKane’shelmet?Who’stopromisethatthisversioncan’tdothesametoourfreezers?’
Sheshookherheadresignedly.’NowayI’mgoingunderuntilwe’vefoundthethingandkilledit.’
’Butwecan’tkillit.’Lambertkickedatthedeckinfrustration.’Asfarasitsinternalcomposition,it’sprobablyidenticaltothefirstversion.Ifitisandwetrytolaserit,it’sliabletospillorsquirtacidicbodyfluidsallovertheplace.It’salotbiggerthanthat"hand"was.Ifitleaksthesamestuff,itmighteataholelargerthanwecouldpatch.Youallknowhowcriticalhullintegrityisduringfaster-than-light,nottomentionhowdelicatethecircuitryrunningthroughtheprimaryhullis.’
’Son-of-a-bitch,’mutteredBrett.’Ifwecan’tkillit,whatdowedowithitwhenwefindit?’
’Somehow,’Ripleysaid,’wehavetotrackitdown,catchit,andejectitfromtheship.’ShelookedtoDallasforconfirmationoftheproposal.
Hethoughtamoment.’Idon’tseeanythingelsebuttotryit.’
’Muchmoretalkingandnotsearchinganditwon’tmatterwhatwedecidetodo,’Ashinformedthem.’Oursuppliesarebasedonusspendingalimitedamountoftimeoutofhypersleep.Strictlylimited.Istronglysuggestwegetstartedimmediatelyonsomekindoforganizedsearch.’
’Right,’agreedRipleyquickly.’Thefirstthingwehavetodoisfindit.’
’No,’saidDallasinafunnykindofvoice.Theyalllookedathim.
