Чужой
XI
AmIregisteringanyclearernow?’
’It’sclear,allright.’Hervoicewasstrained.’ButI’mstillgettingadoublesignal,andIthinkthey’redistinct.I’mnotsurewhichoneiswhich.’
Dallaswhirled,hiseyesdartingaroundthetunnel,canvassingceiling,floor,walls,andthelargeshaftopeninghe’djustemergedfrom.Thenhelookedbackdownthecatwalktotherepairjunction,hisgazesettlingonthespotwherehe’dbeensittingjustsecondsago.
Heloweredthenoseoftheflamethrower.Ifhewasnowthefrontsignal,havingmoveddownthecatwalk,thenthecauseofthedoublesignaloughtbe..hisfingerstartedtotenseontheincinerator’strigger.
Ahandreachedupfrombelowandbehind,towardhisankle.
Thealienwasthefrontsignal.
Ripleystoodalonebytheduct,watchingitandthinkingoftheopenairlockstandingreadynearby.Therewasadistantringingsound.Atfirstshethoughtitwasinsideherhead,wherefunnynoisesoftenoriginated.Thenitwasrepeated,louder,andfollowedbyanechothistime.Itseemedtobecomingfromdeepwithintheshaft.Herhandstensedontheflamethrower.
Theringingceased.Againstherbetterjudgmentshemovedalittleclosertotheopening,keepingthenozzleoftheflamethrowerfocusedonit.
Therecamearecognizablesound.Ascream.Sherecognizedthevoice.
Forgettingallcarefullylaidplans,allsensibleprocedure,sherantherestofthewaytotheopening.’Dallas..Dallas!’
Therewerenomorescreamsafterthefirst.Onlyasoft,far-offthumping,whichrapidlyfadedaway
