Чужой
IX
BadlyenoughtoletitkillKane.Ifigureyoumusthaveareason.I’veonlyknownyouashorttime,Ash,butsofaryou’veneverdoneanythingwithoutareason.Idon’tseeyoustartingnow.’
’YousayIhaveareasonforthispostulatedinsanityyou’reaccusingmeof.Nameone.’
’Look,webothworkforthesameCompany.’Hechangedhisapproach.Sinceaccusationhadn’tworked,he’dtryplayingonAsh’ssenseofsympathy.ItoccurredtoDallasthathemightbecomingoffasjustatouchparanoidthereintheinfirmary.Itwaseasytoputtheproblemoffonsomeonehecouldhandle,likeAsh,insteadofwhereitbelonged,onthealien.
Ashwasafunnyguy,buthewasn’tactinglikeamurderer.
’Ijustwanttoknow,’heconcludedimploringly,’what’sgoingon.’
Thescienceofficerunfoldedhisarms,glancedmomentarilybackathisconsolebeforereplying.’Idon’tknowwhatthehellyou’retalkingabout.AndIdon’tcareforanyoftheinsinuations.Thealienisadangerousformoflife.Admirableinmanyways,sure?.Iwon’tdenythat.AsascientistIfinditfascinating.Butafterwhatit’sdoneIdon’twantittostayaliveanymorethanyoudo.’
’Yousure?’
’Yeah,I’msure.’Hesoundedthoroughlydisgusted.’Ifyouhadn’tbeenundersomuchpressureherelately,youwouldbetoo.Forgetit.Iwill.’
’Yeah.’Dallasturnedsharply,exitedouttheopendoor,andheadedupthecorridortowardthebridge.Ashwatchedhimgo,watchedforlongmomentsthinkingconcernedthoughtsofhisown.
