Чужой

           Ripley’seyeswereopenandworking,buttherestofherbodywasdysfunctional.Handsandfeet,legsandarmsweresprawledinungainlypositionsacrossherbodyandthedeck,likethelimbsofaslim,notparticularlywell-crafteddoll.Herbreathcameinlabored,shallowgasps.

           Lambertsetoneoftheoxygentanksdownnexttoherfriend.SheplacedthetransparentmaskoverRipley’smouthandnose,openedthevalve.Ripleyinhaled.Awonderfulperfumefilledherlungs.Hereyesclosedfromsheerpleasure.Shestayedthatway,unmoving,suckinginlong,deepdraughtsofpureoxygen.Theonlyshocktohersystemwasofdelight.

           Finallyshemovedtherespiratoraside,layforamomentbreathingnormally.Fullpressurehadbeenrestored,shenoted.Thebulkheaddoorshadautomaticallyretractedwiththereturnofstandardatmosphere.

           Toreplenishthatatmosphere,sheknew,theshiphadbeenforcedtobleedtheirstoragetanks.They’ddealwiththatnewproblemwhentheywereforcedto,shethought.

           ’Areyouallright?’AshwasqueryingParker.’Whatfinallyhappenedhere?’

           Parkerwipedacrustofdriedbloodfromhisuppermouth,triedtoshakethewebsfromhisbrain.’I’lllive.’Forthemoment,heignoredthescienceofficer’slastquestion.

           ’Whataboutthealien?’Ashtriedagain.

           Parkershookhishead,wincingatsomesuddenpain.’Wedidn’tgetit.ThewarningKlaxonwentoffanditjumpedbackintothecorridor.Itcaughtanarm,orwhateveryou’dliketocallit,intheclosinginnerdoor.