Чужой
IX
Giventhelackofamotive,heirritablysuspectedthelatter.IfAshwaslying,hewasdoingsosuperbly.Dallashadneverseenamansoincontrolofhisemotions.
TherewasoneplaceontheNostromowhereDallascouldoccasionallysnatchafewmomentsofcompleteprivacyandfeelreasonablysecureatthesametime.Sortofasurrogatewomb.HeturnedupBcorridor,notsopreoccupiedwithhisownthoughtsthatheneglectedtosearchconstantlyforsmall,slymovementsindarkcorners.Butnothingshoweditself.
Eventuallyhecametoaplacewherethehullbulgedslightlyoutward.Therewasasmallhatchsetthere.Hepressedthenearbyswitch,waitedwhilethehatchslidaside.Theinnerhatchoftheshuttlecraftwasopen.Itwastoosmalltopossessalock.Heclimbedinandsatdown.
Hishandcoveredanotherredstudontheshuttle’scontrolpanel,movedawaywithouttouchingit.Activatingthecorridorhatchwouldalreadyhaveregisteredonthebridge.Thatwouldn’talarmanyonewhohappenedtonoticeit,butclosingtheshuttle’sownhatchmight.Soheleftitopentothecorridor,feelingasmallbutcomfortingtouchapartfromtheNostromoanditsresidenthorroranduncertainties..
