Чужой

           Theflamethrowerswerebulkierthantheshocktubesandlookedlesseffective.Butthetubeshadfunctionedastheyweresupposedto,andParkerhadassuredthemalltheincineratorswouldtoo.Hedeclinedtogivethemademonstrationthistimebecause,heexplained,theflamerswerepowerfulenoughtosearthedecking.

           Thefactthathewastrustinghisownlifetothedeviceswasproofenoughanyway,foreveryoneexceptRipley.Shewasbeginningtobesuspiciousofeveryoneandeverything.She’dalwaysbeenalittleparanoid.Currenteventsweremakingitworse.Shebegantoworryasmuchoverwhatwashappeningtohermindasshewasaboutthealien.

           Ofcourse,assoonastheyfoundandkilledthealien,thementalproblemswouldvanish.Wouldn’tthey?

           ThetightknotofedgyhumanityworkeditscautiouswaydownfromthemesstoBlevel.Theywereheadingforthenextcompanionwaywhenbothtrackingdevicescommencedafranticbeeping.AshandRipleyquicklyshutoffthebeepers.Theyhadtofollowtheshiftingneedlesonlyadozenmetresbeforealouder,differentsoundbecameaudible:metaltearing.

           ’Easy.’Dallascradledhisflamethrower,turnedthecornerinthecorridor.Loudrendingnoisescontinued,moreclearlynow.Heknewwheretheywereoriginating.’Thefoodlocker,’hewhisperedbacktothem.

           ’It’sinside.’

           ’Listentothat,’Lambertmurmuredinawe.’Jesus,itmustbebig.’

           ’Bigenough,’agreedParkersoftly.’Isawit,remember.Andstrong.ItcarriedBrettlike..’