Чужой

           Ican’tgetaresponseoutofhim.Ifitworked,heshouldbescreamingfittobustthespeakers.’Shemadeadecision.’I’mgoingdowntosee.Takeover.’Sheslippedoutofherchair,racedforBcorridor.

           Shenearlyfellacoupleoftimes.Onceshestumbledintoabulkheadandnearlyknockedherselfout.Somehowshekeptherbalanceandstaggeredon.Thealienwasnotuppermostinhermind.ItwasParker,anotherhumanbeing.ArareenoughcommodityonboardtheNostromonow.

           SheraceddownthecompanionwayontoBcorridor,headeduptowardtheairlock.Itwasempty,exceptforalimpformsprawledacrossthedeck:Parker.

           Shebentoverhim.Hewasgroggyandhalfconscious.’Whathappened?Youlooklikehell.Did..?’

           Theengineerwastryingtoformwords,hadtosettleforgesturingfeeblytowardtheairlock.Ripleyshutup,lookedintheindicateddirection,sawthebubblingholeinthelockdoor.Theouterhatchwasstillopen,ostensiblyafterblowingthealienoutintonothingness.Shestartedtorise.

           Theacidatecompletelythrough.

           Therewasabangofdepartingair,andasmallhurricaneenvelopedthem.Airscreamedasitwassuckedintoavacuum.Aflashingredsignappearedinseveralrecessesinthecorridorwalls.

           CRITICALDEPRESSURIZATION.

           TheKlaxonwassoundingagain,morehystericallynowandwithbetterreason.Emergencydoorsslammedshutallovertheship,beginningwiththebreachedsection.