Чужой
XI
Hewentquietforabit,addedlessemotionally,’IwanttohearitscreamlikeBrett.’
’Howlongtohookupthreeorfourincineratingunits?’Dallaswantedtoknow.
’Givemetwentyminutes.Thebasicunitsarealreadythere,instorage.It’sjustaquestionofmodifyingthemforhand-helduse.’
’Canyoumakethempowerfulenough?Wedon’twanttorunintothekindofsituationAshdescribed,ifwewereusinglasers.Wewantsomethingthat’llstopitinitstracks.’
’Don’tworry.’Parker’svoicewascold,cold.’I’llfixthemsothey’llcookanythingtheytouchoncontact.’
’Seemslikeourbestchance,then.’Thecaptainglancedaroundthetable.’Anyonegotanybetterideas?’
Noonedid.
’Okay.’Dallaspushedawayfromthetable,rose.’WhenParker’sreadywithhisflamethrowers,we’llstartfromhereandworkourwaybackdowntoClevelandthebaywhereittookBrett.Thenwe’lltrytotraceitfromthere.’
Parkersoundeddubious.’Itwentupwithhimthroughthehullbracingbeforeitenteredtheairshaft.Behelltryingtofollowitupthere.I’mnoape.’HestaredwarninglyatRipley,butshedidn’tcomment.
’You’drathersithereandwaituntilit’sreadytocomelookingforyou?’Dallasasked.’Thelongerwecankeepitonthedefensive,thebetterit’llbeforus.’
’Exceptforonething,’Ripleysaid.
’What’sthat?’
’We’renotsureit’severbeenonthedefensive.’Shemethisgazesquarely..
