Чужой

           I’lltrytopickyouupassoonasyoucomewithinrangeofourtracker.’Nexttoher,Parkerheftedhisflamethrowerandglaredatthegrillecoveringtheduct.

           ’Parker,’Dallasinstructedtheengineer,’ifittriestocomeoutbyyoutwo,makesureyoudriveitbackin.I’llkeeppushingitforward.’

           ’Right.’

           ’Readybythelock,’Ripleyreported.’She’sstandingopenandwaitingforcompany.’

           ’It’sonitsway.’Dallasstartedcrawling,hiseyesonthetunnelahead,fingersonthecontrolsoftheincinerator.Theshaftherewaslessthanametrewide.Metalrubbedinsistentlyathiskneesandhewishedhe’ddonnedanextrapairofoveralls.Toolateforthatnow,hemused.Everyonewasreadyandprepared.Hewasn’tgoingback.

           ’Howyoudoing?’avoicesoundedoverhismikespeaker.

           ’Okay,Ash,’hetoldtheanxiousscienceofficer.’Don’tworryaboutme.Keepyoureyesonthatopeningincaseit’sslippedbehindmesomehow.’

           Heturnedhisfirstbendintheshaft,fightingtoseeinhisheadtheexactlayoutoftheship’sventilatingsystem.Theprintedschematicbackinthemesswasfuzzyandindistinctinhismemory.Theventswerehardlyamongtheship’scriticalsystems.Itwastoolatetowishthathe’dtakenmoretimetostudythem.

           Severalmoretightturnsshowedintheshaftaheadofhim.Hepaused,breathingheavily,andraisedthetipoftheflamethrower.Therewasnothingtoindicatethatanythinglayhidingbehindthosebends,butitwasbetternottotakechances.