Чужой
I
’Sothenwherearewe?Yougotareadingyet?’
’Givemeaminute,willyou?Thisisn’teasy.We’rewayoutintheboondocks.’
’Keeptrying.’
’Workingonit.’
Severalminutesofintensesearchingandcomputer-cooperationproducedatightgrinofsatisfactiononherface.’Foundit..andus.We’rejustshortofZetaIIReticuli.Wehaven’tevenreachedtheouterpopulatedringyet.Toodeeptograbontoanavigationbeacon,letaloneaSoltrafficrelay.’
’Sowhatthehellarewedoinghere?’Kanewonderedaloud.’Ifthere’snothingwrongwiththeshipandwe’renothome,whydidMotherdefrostus?’
Itwasonlycoincidenceandnotadirectresponsetotheexec’smusing,butanattention-to-stationhornbeganitsloudandimperativebeeping..
NearthesternoftheNostromowasavastchambermostlyfilledwithcomplex,powerfulmachinery.Theship’sheartlivedthere,theextensivepropulsionsystemthatenabledthevesseltodistortspace,ignoretime,andthumbitsmetallicnoseatEinstein..andonlyincidentallypowerthedevicesthatkeptherfragilehumancrewalive.
Attheforeendofthismassive,hummingcomplexwasaglasscubicle,atransparentpimpleonthetipofthehyperdriveiceberg.Within,settledincontourseats,restedtwomen.Theywereresponsibleforthehealthandwell-beingoftheship’sdrive,asituationbothwerecontentwith.Theytookcareofitandittookcareofthem.
