Чужой
IX
’Theremightbesubstancesotherthanmetalitcouldn’teatthroughsoquickly,’Brettthoughtaloud,showingthathisideasweretravellingalongthesamelinesasRipley’s.’Tryloncord,forexample.Ifwehadanetmadeoutofthestuff,wemightbagitwithoutdamagingit.Itmightnotfeelterriblythreatenedbyathinnetthewayitwouldby,sayasolidmetalcrate.’Helookedaroundthecircle.
’Icouldputsomethingtogether,welditrealquick.’
’Hethinkswe’regoingbutterflyhunting,’Lambertsneered.
’Howwouldwegetitintothenet?’Dallasaskedquietly.
Brettconsidered.’Havetousesomethingthatwouldn’tmakeitbleed,ofcourse.Knivesandsharpprobesofanykindareout.Samegoesforpistols.Icouldmakeupabatchoflongmetaltubeswithbatteriesinthem.We’veplentyofbothsomewherebackinstores.Onlytakeafewhours.’
’Fortherodsandthenet?’
’Sure.Nothingfancyinvolved.’
Lambertcouldn’tstandit.’Firstbutterflies,nowcattleprods.Whydowelistentothismeathead?’
Dallasturnedtheideaoverinhishead,visualizingitfromtheoptimum.Thealiencornered,threateningwithteethandclaws.Electricjoltsfromoneside,strongenoughtoirritatebutnotinjure.Twoofthemdrivingitintothenet,thenkeepingitoccupiedwhiletherestofthemdraggedittowardthemainlock.Maybethealienburningitswaythroughthenet,maybenot.Secondandthirdnetsstandingbyincaseitdid.
Tossingthesackedmonsterintothelock,sealingthehatch,andblowingtheemergency.
