Чужой
X
Slowlyturningthetracker,shetriedtowatchbothitandthefarendofthepassage.Theneedleshiftedminutelyonthedial.Sheraisedhergaze,noticedasmallhatchsetintothecorridorwall.Itwasslightlyajar.
ParkerandBrettnotedwhereherattentionwasconcentrated.Theypositionedthemselvestocoverasmuchofthedeckinfrontofthehatchaspossible.Ripleynoddedatthemwhentheywereset,tryingtoshakesomeofthedrippingperspirationfromherface.Shetookadeepbreathandsetthetrackeronthefloor.Withherfreehandshegraspedthehatchhandle.Itwascoldandclammyagainstheralreadydamppalm.
Raisingtheprod,shedepressedthebuttononitshandleend,slammedherselfagainstthecorridorwall,andjammedthemetaltubeinsidethelocker.Ahorriblesquallingsoundedloudlyinthecorridor.Asmallcreaturethatwasallbulgingeyesandflashingclawsexplodedfromthelocker.Itlandedneatlyinthemiddleofthenetasafranticpairofengineersfoughttoenvelopitinasmanylayersofthetoughstrandsaspossible.
’Hangon,hangon!’Parkerwasshoutingtriumphantly.’Wegotthelittlebastard,we..!’
Ripleywaspeeringintothenet.Agreatsurgeofdisappointmentwentthroughher.Sheturnedoffthetube,pickedupthetrackeragain.
’Goddamnit,’shemutteredtiredly.’Relax,youtwo.Lookatit.’
ParkerletgoofthenetatthesametimeasBrett.Bothhadseenwhatthey’dcaughtandweremumblingangrily.
