XI

           Therewaslessconfidenceinthefacesofthoseassembledinthemessroomthanlasttime.Noonetriedtohideit,leastofallParkerandRipley.Havingseenwhattheywerenowconfrontedby,theyretainedverylittleinthewayofconfidenceatall.

           DallaswasexaminingarecentlyprintedschematicoftheNostromo.Parkerstoodbythedoor,occasionallyglancingnervouslydownthecorridor.

           ’Whateveritwas,’theengineersaidintothesilence,’itwasbig.Swungdownonhimlikeagiantfuckingbat.’

           Dallaslookedupfromthelayout.’You’reabsolutelysureitdraggedBrettintoavent.’

           ’Itdisappearedintooneofthecoolingducts.’Ripleywasscratchingthebackofonehandwiththeother.’I’msureIsawitgoin.Anyway,therewasnowhereelseforittogo.’

           ’Noquestionaboutit,’Parkeradded.’It’susingtheairshaftstomovearound.That’swhyweneverranitdownwiththetracker.’

           ’Theairshafts.’Dallaslookedconvinced.’Makessense.Jonesdoesthesamething.’

           Lambertplayedwithhercoffee,stirringthedarkliquidwithanidlefinger.’Brettcouldstillbealive.’

           ’Notachance.’Ripleywasn’tbeingfatalistic,onlylogical.’Itsnappedhimuplikearagdoll.’

           ’Whatdoesitwanthimfor,anyway?’Lambertwantedtoknow.’Whytakehiminsteadofkillinghimonthespot?’

           ’Perhapsitrequiresanincubator,thewaythefirstformusedKane,’Ashsuggested.

           ’Orfood,’saidRipleytightly.Sheshivered.

           Lambertputdownhercoffee.