Чужой
IX
AirremaininginthelockpropelledKane’sbodyoutintothesoilofnothingness.
Itwasamercifullyfastburial(Dallascouldn’tbringhimselftothink’disposal’).Kanehadreceivedaneaterdeparturethanhehadadeath.Hislast,tormentedscreamstillrattledaroundinDallas’sbrain,likeapebbleinashoe.
Theyreassembledinthemess.Itwaseasiertodiscussthingswheneveryonecouldseeeveryoneelsewithoutstraining.Also,itgavehimanexcusetogeteveryonebacktheretohelpcleanuptheawfulmess.
’I’vecheckedonsupplies,’Ripleytoldthem.’Withstimulantswecankeepgoingforaboutaweek.Maybeadaylonger,butnomorethanthat.’
’Thenwhat?’Brettpickedathischin.
’Werunoutoffoodandoxygen.Foodwecandowithout,oxygenwecan’t.Thatlastfactormakestheinterestingquestionofwhetherornotwecouldliveoffunrecycledartificialsamootpoint.’
Lambertmadeafaceattheunappetizingprospect.’Thanks,IthinkI’dratherdiefirst.’
’Allright.’Dallastriedtosoundconfident.’That’swhatwe’vegot,then.Aweekoffullactivity.That’splentyoftime.Morethanenoughtofindonesmallalien.’
Brettlookedatthefloor.’Istillsayweoughttotryexhaustingtheair.Thatmightkillit.Seemsthesafestwaytome.Avoidstheneedtoconfrontitdirectly.Wedon’tknowwhatindividualkindsofnastinessthisversioncandishout.’
’Wewentthroughthat,remember?’Ripleyremindedhim.
Thatassumedwe’dspendtheairlesstimeinthefreezers.
