Чужой
XII
Which,attheratethealienwasreducingthecrew,wouldnotbefarinthefuture.
Shetriedatertiarycombinationinsteadofaprimaryandwasstunnedwhenthescreenpromptlycleared,readytoreceiveanddisseminate.Butitdidn’tprintoutarequestforinput.Thatmeantthecodehadbeenonlyhalfsuccessful.Whattodo?
Sheglancedoveratthesecondarykeyboard.Itwasaccessibletoanymemberofthecrew,butnotprivytoconfidentialorcommentinformation.Ifshecouldremembertheinterlockcombination,shecouldusethesecondkeyboardtoplacequestionswiththemainbank.
Quicklyshechangedseats,enteredthehopefullycorrectinterlockcode,andtypedoutthefirstquestion.Thekeywouldbewhetherornottheinterlockwasacceptedwithoutquestion.Acceptabilitywouldbesignifiedbytheappearanceofherquestiononthescreen.
Colourschasedoneanotherforasecond.Thescreencleared.
WHOTURNEDONAIRLOCK2WARNINGSYSTEM?
Theresponsewasflashedbelow.
ASH.
Shesatdigestingthat.Itwasthereplyshe’dexpected,buthavingitprintedoutcoldlyforanyonetoreadbroughttherealimportofitdownonherheavily.SoithadbeenAsh.Thecriticalquestionnowwas:HaditbeenAshallthetime?Sheenteredthefollow-upquery:
ISASHPROTECTINGTHEALIEN?
ThisseemedtobeMother’sdayforbriefresponses.
YES.
Shecouldbebriefinturn.Herfingersmovedonthekeys.
WHY?
Sheleanedforwardtensely.Ifthecomputerchosenottorevealfurtherinformation,sheknewofnoadditionalcodesthatcouldpryanswersfree.
