Чужой
XI
Movingover,RipleyandtheotherssawthatDallas’sframewasblockingtheexpectedventilatoropening.Theprotectivegrillethatnormallycoveredthegapwaslyingonthefloorbelowit,inpieces.
Dallasremovedthelightbarfromhisbelt,directedthebeamintotheshaft.Itrevealedonlysmoothmetaltwistingoffintothedistance.Whenhespokehesoundedexcited.
’Abouttimewegotabreak.’
’Whatareyoutalkingabout?’Lambertasked.
Helookedbackatthem.’Don’tyousee?Thiscouldendupworkingforus.Thisductcomesoutatthemainairlock.There’sonlyoneotheropeninglargeenoughalongthewayforthecreaturetoescapethrough,andwecancoverthat.Thenwedriveitintothelockwiththeflamethrowersandblastitintospace.’
’Yeah.’Lambert’stoneindicatedshedidn’tsharethecaptain’senthusiasmfortheproject.’Nothingtoit.Allyouhavetodoiscrawlintotheventafterit,findyourwaythroughthemazeuntilyou’restaringitintheface,andthenprayit’safraidoffire.’
Dallas’ssmilewaned.’Theadditionofthehumanelementsortofkillsthesimplicityofit,doesn’tit?Butitshouldwork,giventhatit’sfearfuloffire.It’sourbestchance.Thiswaywedon’thavetobackitintoacornerandhopetheflameswillkillitintime.Itcankeeponretreating..righttowardthewaitinglock.’
’That’sallfineandgood,’agreedLambert.’Theproblemis:Whogoesinafterit?’
Dallassearchedthegroup,huntingforaprospecttoengageinthelethalgameoftag.
