Чужой
XII
HerhandwashalfwaytothetogglewhentheNostromo’semergencyKlaxonwailedforattention.SheandLambertfroze.Eachlookedtotheother,sawonlyherownpersonalshockmirroredinhercompanion’sface.Ripleythrewthetoggleover.
ThealienheardtheKlaxontoo.Musclescontractedanditsprangbackward,clearingthethresholdofthelockinasingleincredibleleap.Thehatchdoorslammedshutjustafractionfaster.Oneappendagewaspinnedbetweenwallanddoor.
Liquidboiledoutofthecrushedmember.Thealienmadeanoise,likeamoanorbellowmadeunderwater.Itwrencheditselfbackward,leavingthetrappedlimbpinnedbetweenmetal.Thenitturnedandrusheddownthecorridor,blindwithpain,hardlyseeingtheparalyzedengineerasitliftedandthrewhimasidebeforevanishingaroundthenearestcorner.AbovethecrumpledParkeragreenlightwasflashingandthewordsINNERHATCHCLOSEDshowedonareadout.
Themetalofthelockcontinuedtobubbleandmeltastheouterhatchswungopen.Apuffoffrozenairappearedoutsidethelockastheatmospherethathadbeencontainedwithinrushedintospace.
’Parker?’Ripleyspokeanxiouslyintothepickup,jabbedaswitch,adjustedaslide.’Parker?What’shappeningdownthere?’Herattentionwascaughtbyagreenlightwinkingsteadilyonherconsole.
’What’sgoingon?’Lambertleanedoutofherseat.’Diditwork?’
’I’mnotsure.Theinnerhatchisscaledandtheouterhatchhasbeenpopped.’
’Thatshoulddoit.ButwhataboutParker?’
’Idon’tknow.
