Чужой

           Atthelastinstant,asshewasabouttodepresstheredbutton,shesawtoherhorrorthatshewasfumblingagainstthedoorleadingnotdownBcorridor,buttotheemptyvestibuleoutsidethelock.Sheturned,triedtoaimherself,andfellasmuchaswalkedtotheoppositedoor.Ittookpreciousminutestolocatethepanelonit.Thoughtsswaminherbrain,brokeapartlikeoilonwater.Theairaroundherwasturningfoggy,fullofthesmellofrosesandlilac.

           Shethumbedthestud.Thedoordidn’tmove.Thenshesawshewaspushingthewrongcontrol.Saggingagainstthedoorforsupport,tryingtogiveherrubberylegssomebadlyneededassistance,shefoughttogatherherstrengthforanothertry.Therewasn’tmuchairleftworthbreathing.

           Afaceappearedattheportsetinthedoor.Itwasdistorted,bloated,yetsomehowfamiliar.Itseemedthatsheknewthatfacefromsometimelongago.SomeonenamedLambertlivedbehindthatface.Shewasverytirednowandstartedtoslideslowlydownthedoor.

           Shethoughtdistant,angrythoughtsasherlastsupportwastakenaway.Thedoorslidintotheroofandherheadstruckthedeck.Arushofcleanair,ineffablysweetandrefreshing,sweptoverherface.Themistbegantofadefromhereyes,thoughnotyetfromherstarvedbrain.

           AhornsoundedthereturnoffullinternalpressurizationasLambertandAshjoinedthem.ThescienceofficerhurriedtoadministertoParker,whohadcollapsedagainfromlackofoxygenandwasonlynowbeginningtoregainconsciousness.