Чужой
X
Itoccurredtohimthatbynowhistwocompanionswereprobablyoutofearshot.Thethoughtmadehimjittery.Thesoonerhegothishandsonthatdamnedcat,thebetter.
’Jones..here,kitty,kitty.Jonescat.CometoBrett,kitty,kitty.’Hebenttopeerintoadarkcrevicebetweentwohugecrates.Theslitwasdeserted.Rising,hewipedsweatfromhiseyes,firsttheleft,thentheright.’Goddamnit,Jones,’hemutteredsoftly,’wherethehellareyouhiding?’
Scratchingnoises,deeperinthebay.Theywerefollowedbyanuncertainbutreassuringyowlthatwasunmistakablyfelineinorigin.Heletoutarelievedbreathandstartedforthesourceofthecry.
Ripleyhalted,lookedtiredlyatthetrackerscreen.Theredlighthadgoneout,theneedleagainrestedonzero,andthebeeperhadn’tsoundedinalongtime.Asshestared,theneedlequiveredonce,thenlaystill.
’Nothinghere,’shetoldherremainingretiarius,’IfthereeverwasanythingherebesidesusandJones.’ShelookedatParker.’I’mopentosuggestions.’
’Let’sgoback.TheleastwecandoishelpBrettrundownthatfriggin’cat.’
’Don’tpickonJones.’Ripleyautomaticallydefendedtheanimal.’He’sasfrightenedastherestofus.’
Theyturnedandheadedbackupthestinkingcorridor.Ripleyleftthetrackeron,justincase.
Bretthadworkedhiswaybehindstacksofequipment.Hecouldn’tgomuchfarther.StrutsandsupportsfortheuppersuperstructureoftheNostromoformedanintricatecriss-crossofmetalaroundhim.
