Чужой
XI
’Ifshe’sreadytogo,whynotlethergo?’
’Mydecision,’heexplainedtersely.Helookedather,sawthemixtureofresentmentandconfusion.Shedidn’tunderstandwhyhe’dturnedherdown.Well,nomatter.Somedaymaybehe’dexplain.Ifhecouldexplainittohimself.
’Youtaketheairlock,’hedirectedher.’Ash,you’llstayhereandcoverthisendincaseitgetsbehindmesomehow,orthroughme.Parker,youandLambertcovertheonesideexitItoldyouabout.’
Theyallregardedhimwithvariouslooksofunderstanding.Therewasnodoubtwhowasgoingintothevent
Panting,Ripleyreachedthevestibulebythestarboardlock.Aglanceathertrackershowednomovementinthearea.Shetouchedanearbyredswitch.Asofthumfilledthatsectionofcorridor.Themassivelockdoormovedaside.Whenitwasclearandthehumhaddiedshethumbedtheintercom.
’Readystarboardairlock.’
ParkerandLambertreachedthesectionofcorridorspecifiedbyDallas,halted.Theventopening,grille-coveredandinnocent-looking,showedinthewallthreequartersofthewayup.
’That’swhereit’llbecomingout,ifittriesthisway,’Parkerobserved.Lambertnodded,movedtothenearby’compickuptoreportthattheywereinposition.
Backinthefoodlocker,DallaslistenedintentlyasLambert’sreportfollowedRipley’s.Dallasaskedacoupleofquestions,acknowledgedtheanswers,andswitchedoff.Ashhandedhimhisflamethrower,Dallasadjustedthenozzleandfiredacoupleofquick,shortbursts.
’It’sstillworking.
