Чужой
XII
Shesearchedhermindfranticallyforbrilliance,foundonlyuncertainty,fear,andconfusion-preciselythesamefeelingshercompanionswerenodoubtexperiencing.ShebegantounderstandDallasalittlebetter,andnowitdidn’tmatter.
’That’ssettled,then.Unlesssomeone’sgotabetterideaabouthowtodealwiththealien,we’llproceedwiththesameplanasbefore.’
’Andwindupthesameway.’Lambertshookherhead.’Nothanks.’
’You’vegotabetteridea,then?’
’Yes.Abandonship.Taketheshuttlecraftandgetthehelloutofhere.TakeourchancesonmakingEarthorbitandgettingpickedup.Oncewegetbackinwell-travelledspacesomeone’sboundtohearourSOS.’
Ashspokesoftly,wordsbetterleftunsaid.Lamberthadforcedthemoutofhimnow.’Youareforgettingsomething:DallasandBrettmaynotbedead.It’saghastlyprobability,I’llgrantyou,butit’snotacertainty.Wecan’tabandonshipuntilwe’resureonewayortheother.’
’Ashisright,’agreedRipley.’We’vegottogiveitanothertry.Weknowit’susingtheairshafts.Let’stakeitlevelbylevel.Thistimewe’lllaser-sealeverybulkheadandventbehindusuntilwecornerit.’
’I’llgoalongwiththat.’ParkerglancedoveratLambert.Shesaidnothing,lookeddowncast.
’Howareourweapons?’Ripleyaskedhim.
Theengineertookamomenttochecklevelsandfeedlinesontheflamethrowers.’Thelinesandnozzlesarestillplentyclean.FromwhatIcanseethey’reworkingfine.’
