Чужой
XII
HegesturedatDallas’sincineratoronthetable.’Wecouldusemorefuelforthatone.’Heturnedsomber.’Afairamount’sbeenused.’
’Thenyoubettergogetsometoreplaceit.Ash,yougowithhim.’
Parkerlookedatthescienceofficer.Hisexpressionwasunreadable.’Icanmanage.’Ashnodded.Theengineercradledhisownweapon,turned,andleft.
Therestofthemstoodmoroselyaroundthetable,awaitingParker’sreturn.Unabletostandthesilence,Ripleyturnedtofacethescienceofficer.
’Anyotherthoughts?Freshideas,suggestions,hints?FromyouorMother.’
Heshrugged,lookedapologetic.’Nothingnew.Stillcollatinginformation.’
Shestaredhardathim.’Ican’tbelievethat.Areyoutellingmethatwitheverythingwe’vegotonboardthisshipinthewayofrecordedinformationwecan’tcomeupwithsomethingbettertouseagainstthisthing?’
’That’sthewayitlooks,doesn’tit?Keepinmindthisisnotyouraverage,predictableferalwe’redealingwith.Yousaidyourselfitmightbecapableofanything.
’Itpossessesacertainamountofmentalammunition,atleastasmuchasadogandprobablymorethanachimpanzee.Ithasalsodemonstratedanabilitytolearn.AsacompletestrangertotheNostromo,ithassucceededinquicklylearninghowtotravelabouttheshiplargelyundetected.Itisswift,powerful,andcunning.Apredatorthelikesofwhichwe’veneverencounteredbefore.Itisnotsosurprisingoureffortstodealwithithavemetwith,failure.’
