Чужой
IX
Thenheturnedhisattentionbacktothepatient,moreeasilyunderstandableinstrumentation.
Workingtoohard,toohard,Dallastoldhimself,hisheadthrobbing.Ashwasprobablyrightthathe’dbeenoperatingundertoomuchpressure.Itwastruehewasworryingabouteveryoneelseinadditiontotheproblemofthealien.Howmuchlongercouldhecarrythiskindofmentalburden?Howmuchlongershouldhetryto?Hewasonlyapilot.
Kanewouldmakeabettercaptain,hethought.Kanehandledthiskindofworrymoreeasily,didn’teverletitgettoodeepinsidehim.ButKanewasn’taroundtohelp.
Hethumbedacorridorintercom.Avoiceansweredpromptly.
’Engineering.’
’Dallas.Howareyouguyscoming?’
Parkersoundednoncommittal.’We’recoming.’
’Damnit,don’tbeflip!Bespecific!’
’Hey,takeiteasy,Dallas.Sir.We’reworkingasfastaswecan.Brettcanonlycompletecircuitssofast.Youwanttocornerthatthingandtouchitwithaplainmetaltubeorwithacouplehundredvolts?’
’Sorry.’Hemeantit.’Doyourbest.’
’Doingitforeverybody.Engineeringout.’Theintercomwentblank.
Thathadbeenthoroughlyunnecessary,hetoldhimselffuriously.Embarrassingaswell.Ifhedidn’tholdtogether,howcouldheexpectanyoftheothersto?
Rightnowhedidn’tfeellikefacinganybody,notafterthatdisturbingandinconclusiveencounterwithAsh.Hestillhadtodecideinhisownmindwhetherhewasrightaboutthescienceofficerorwhetherhewasadamnfool
