Чужой

           Justpulleditselffreelikealizardsheddingitstail.’

           ’Whynot,’commentedAsh,’withitsinbuilttalentforregeneration?’

           Theengineercontinued,soundingeverybitasdisappointedashefelt.’Wehadthebastard.Wehadhim.’Hepaused,added,’Whenitpulledfreeofitslimb,itbledallovertheplace.Thelimbdid.Iguessthestumphealedoverfast,luckyforus.Theacidaterightthroughthehatch.That’swhatcausedthedepressurization.’Hepointedshakilytowardthedoorsealingofftheairlockvestibulefromtherestofthecorridor.

           ’Youcanprobablyseetheholeinthehatchfromhere.’

           ’Nevermindthatnow.’Ashlookedupcuriously.’Whohitthewarningsiren?’

           Ripleywasstaringoverathim.’Youtellme.’

           ’Whatdoesthatmean?’

           Shewipedbloodfromhernose,sniffed.’Iguessthealarmwentoffbyitself.Thatwouldbethelogicalexplanation,wouldn’tit?Justatemporary,slightlycoincidentalmalfunction?’

           Thescienceofficerrose,lookedatherfrombeneathloweredlids.She’dmadecertaintheremainingmethanecylinderwaswithinreachbeforeshe’dspoken.ButAshmadenomovetowardher.Shestillcouldn’tfigurehim.

           Ifhewasguilty,heoughttojumpherwhileshewasweakenedandParkerwasworse.Ifhewasinnocent,heoughttobemadenoughtodothesame.Hewasdoingnothing,whichshehadn’tpreparedfor.

           Atleasthisfirstwordsinresponsewerepredictable.Hedidsoundangrierthanusual.’Ifyou’vegotsomethingtosay,sayit.