Чужой
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BrettandParkerwerestaringdownthecorridor,inspectingwalls,roof,andfloor.Everyonerememberedhowthefirstalien,thoughdead,haddroppedontoRipley.Noonewaswillingtotakethechancethatthisversioncouldn’talsoclimb.Sotheykepttheireyesconstantlyonceilingaswellasdeck.
’Where’sitcomingfrom?’Brettaskedquietly.
Ripleywasfrowningatthetracker.Theindicatorneedlehadsuddenlycommencedbouncingalloverthescale.Unlessthecreaturewastravellingthroughsolidwalls,theneedle’sbehaviordidn’tsquarewiththemovementsofanythingliving.Sheshookitfirmly.Itcontinueditsbizarrebehavior.Andtheredlightremainedon.
’Idon’tknow.Themachine’sscrewedup.Needle’sspinningalloverthescale.’
Brettkickedatthenet,cursed.’Goddamn.Wecan’taffordanymalfunctions.I’llwringAsh’s..’
’Hangon,’sheurgedhim.She’dturnedthedeviceonitsend.Theneedlestabilizedimmediately.’It’sworkingproperly.It’sjustconfused.Orrather,Iwas.Thesignal’scomingfrombelowus.’Theylookeddownattheirfeet.Nothingeruptedthroughthedeckingtoattackthem.
’That’sClevel,’Parkergrumbled.’Strictlymaintenance.It’sgoingtobeamessyplacetosearch.’
’Wanttoignoreit?’
Heglaredather,butwithnorealangerthistime.’That’snotfunny.’
’No.No,it’snot.’Shespokecontritely.’Leadon.YoutwoknowthatlevelbetterthanI.’
