Чужой
XII
I’mgettingsickoftheseconstant,coyinsinuations.Ofbeingaccused.’
’Nobody’saccusingyou.’
’Likehell.’Helapsedintosullensilence.Ripleysaidnothingforalongmoment,thengesturedatParker.’Takehimtotheinfirmaryandgethimpatchedup.Leastwiseweknowtheautodoccanhandlethat.’
Ashgavetheengineerahandup,slippedParker’srightarmoverhisshoulders,andhelpedhimdownthecorridor.AshwalkedpastRipleywithoutlookingbackather.
Whenheandhisburdenhaddisappearedaroundthefirstturn,Ripleyreachedupwithahand.Lamberttookit,leanedback,andwatchedwithconcernasRipleyswayedalittleonherfeet.Ripleysmiled,releasedthesteadyinghand.
’I’llbeokay.’Shebrushedfitfullyatthestainsonherpants.’Howmuchoxygendidthatlittleepisodecostus?I’llneedanexactreading.’Lambertdidn’treply,continuedtostarespeculativelyather.
’Somethingwrongwiththat?Whyareyoulookingatmethatway?Oxygenreadingsnolongerforpublicconsumption?’
’Don’tbitemyheadoff,’Lambertreplied,withoutrancor.Hertonewasdisbelieving.’Youwereaccusinghim.Youactuallyaccusedhimofsoundingthealarmtosavethealien.’Sheshookherheadslowly.’Why?’
’BecauseIthinkhe’slying.AndifIcangetintothetaperecords,I’llproveit.’
’Provewhat?Evenifyoucouldsomehowprovethathewasresponsibleforthealarmgoingoff,youcan’tprovethatitwasn’tanaccident.’
