Чужой
XII
’Yousoundlikeyou’rereadytogiveup.’
’Iamonlyrestatingtheobvious.’
’Thisisamodern,well-equippedship,abletotravelthroughhyperspaceandexecuteavarietyofcomplexfunctions.You’retellingmethatallitsresourcesareinadequatetocopewithasinglelargeanimal?’
’I’msorry,Captain.I’vegivenyoumyevaluationofthesituationasIseeit.Wishingotherwisewillnotalterfacts.Amanwithagunmayhuntatigerduringthedaywithsomeexpectationofsuccess.Turnouthislight,putthemaninthejungleatnight,surroundhimwiththeunknown,andallhisprimitivefearsreturn.Advantagetothetiger.
’Weareoperatinginthedarknessofignorance.’
’Verypoetic,butnotveryuseful.’
’I’msorry.’Hedidnotappeartocareonewayortheother.’Whatdoyouwantmetodo?’
’Tryandaltersomeofthose"facts"you’resopositiveabout.GobacktoMother,’sheorderedhim,’andkeepaskingquestionsuntilyougetsomebetteranswers.’
’Allright.I’lltry.ThoughIdon’tknowwhatyouexpect.Mothercan’thideinformation.’
’Trydifferentquestions.Ifyou’llremember,IhadsomeluckworkingthroughECIU.Thedistresssignalthatwasn’t?’
’Iremember.’Ashregardedherwithrespect.’Maybeyou’reright.’Heleft.
Lamberthadtakenaseat.Ripleymovedandsatdownnexttoher.
’Trytohangon.YouknowDallaswouldhavedonethesameforus.Nowayhewould’velefttheshipwithoutmakingsurewhetherornotwewerealive.’
Lambertdidn’tlookmollified.
