Чужой

           Theincinerator’sfuellevelreadalmostfull.Itwouldn’thurttoletthecreatureknowwhatwasfollowingclosebehindit,maybedriveitforwardwithouthavingtofaceit.

           Atouchontheredbuttonsentagoutofflamedownthetunnel.Theroarwasloudintheconstrictedshaft,andheatrushedbackacrosshisprotestingskin.Hestartedforwardagain,takingcaretokeephisunglovedhandsoffthenowhotmetalhewascrawlingover.Alittleheatevenpenetratedthetoughfabricofhispants.Hedidn’tfeelit.Hissenseswereallconcentratedforward,searchingformovementandsmell.

           Intheequipmentarea,Lambertthoughtfullyregardedthetightlyscreenedopening.Shereachedback,threwaswitch.Therewasahumandthemetalgrilleslidoutofsight,leavingagapingholeinthewall.

           ’Areyoucrazy?’Parkereyedheruncertainly.

           ’That’stheoneit’sgottocomeoutofifitleavesthemainshaft,’shetoldhim.’Let’skeepitopen.It’stoodarkbehindthegrille.I’dliketoknowifanything’scoming.’

           Parkerthoughttoargue,decidedhisenergywouldbebetterspentkeepinganeyeontheopening,grilledorunblocked.Anyway,Lambertoutrankedhim.

           Sweatwasseepingintohiseyes,persistentasants,andDallashadtostoptowipeitaway.Saltburned,impairinghissight.Ahead,theshaftturnedsteeplydownward.He’dbeenexpectingthedownturnaboutnow,butthesatisfactionofhavinghismemoryconfirmedgavehimlittlepleasure.Nowhe’dhavetowatchhisspeedandbalanceinadditiontotheshaftitself.