Чужой
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Ripleytookthetrackerfromthescienceofficer’shand,turneditover,andexamineditwithaprofessionaleye.’Whatdoesitkeyon?Howdowetellalienfromfellowbitcher?’
’Twoways,’Ashexplainedproudly.’AsImentioned,itsrangeisshort.Thatcouldbeconsideredashortcoming,butinthisinstanceitworkstoouradvantage,sinceitpermitstwopartiestosearchclosebyoneanotherwithoutthetrackerpickinguptheothergroup.
’Moreimportantly,itincorporatesasensitiveair-densitymonitor.anymovingobjectwillaffectthat.Youcantellfromthereadingwhichdirectiontheobjectismoving.Justkeepitpointedaheadofyou.
’It’snotnearlyassophisticatedaninstrumentasIwishedtohave,butit’sthebestIcouldcomeupwithinthelimitedtimeavailable.’
’Youdidgreat,Ash,’Dallashadtoadmit.HetooktheprofferedtrackerfromRipley.’Thisshouldbemorethansufficient.Howmanydidyoumakeup?’Bywayofreply,Ashproducedoneduplicateofthedeviceinthecaptain’spalm.
’Thatmeanswecanworktwoteams.Good.Idon’thaveanythingfancytoofferasfarasinstructions.YouallknowwhattodoaswellasI.Whoeverfindsitfirstnetsit,somehowgetsitintothelock,andblowsittowardRigelasfastasthehatcheswillfunction.Idon’tcareifyoufeellikeusingtheexplosiveboltsontheouterdoor.We’llwalkoutinoursuitsifwehaveto.’
Hestartedforthecorridor,pausedtolookaroundthecramped,instrument-packedroom.
