Чужой

           Notellinghowfaraheadofhimthecreaturewasbynow.Dallaswastiredofarguing.’Tough.That’smydecision,andit’sfinal.’Heturned,puthisrightfootintotheshaftopening,thenslidtheflamethrowerinaheadofhim,makingsureitdidn’tslideontheslightlydownwardincliningsurface.

           ’Won’tworklikethat,’hegrumbled,peeringin.’Notenoughroomtocrouch.’Heremovedhisleg.’Havetocrawlit.’Heduckedhisheadandwriggledintotheopening.

           Therewaslessroomintheshaftthanhe’dhoped.HowsomethingofthesizeParkerandRipleyhaddescribedhadsquirmedthroughthetinycrawlspacehecouldn’timagine.Well,good!Dallashopedtheshaftwouldcontinuetonarrow.Maybethecreature,initshastetoescape,wouldgetitselfwedgedgoodandtight.Thatwouldmakethingssimpler.

           ’Howisit?’avoicecalledfrombehindhim.

           ’Nottoogood,’heinformedAsh,hisvoicereverberatingaroundhim.Dallasstruggledintoacrawlingposture.’It’sjustbigenoughtobeuncomfortable.’

           Heswitchedonhislightbar,fumbledanxiouslyforamomentbeforelocatingthethroatmikehe’dslippedon.Thelightshoweddark,emptyshaftaheadofhim,Travellinginastraightmetalliclinewithaslightdownwardcurve.Theinclinewouldincrease,heknew.Hehadafulldeckleveltodescendbeforeemergingbehindthecreatureoutsidethestarboardlock.

           ’Ripley,Parker,Lambert..areyoureceivingme?I’mintheshaftnow,preparingtodescend.’

           Below,Lambertaddressedthewall’com.’Wereadyou.