Чужой

           Shestartedtoturntofacetheopendoorway,feelingherstomachmusclestighteninginanticipation.

           ’Allthatparanoiacomingupagain,’hesaidsadly.’Youjustneedtorestalittle.’Hetookasteptowardher,reachedouthelpfully.

           Shebolted,duckingjustbeneathhisclutchingfingers.Thenshewasoutinthecorridor,sprintingforthebridge.Shewastoobusytoscreamforhelp,andsheneededthewind.

           Therewasnooneonthebridge.Somehowshegotaroundhimagain,throwingemergencyswitchesassheran.Bulkheaddoorsrespondedbydroppingshutbehindher,eachonejustasecondtoolatetocuthimoff.

           Hefinallycaughtherinthemesschamber.ParkerandLambertarrivedsecondslater.Thesignalssetoffbytheclosingbulkheaddoorshadalertedthemthatsomethingwaswronginthevicinityofthebridge,andthey’dbeenontheirwaytherewhentheyencounteredpursuerandpursued.

           Whileitwasnotthetypeofemergencythey’dexpectedtofind,theyreactedwell.Lambertwasfirstin.ShejumpedonAsh’sback.Annoyed,heletgoofRipley,grabbedthenavigator,andthrewheracrosstheroom,thenreturnedtowhathe’dbeendoingamomentbefore,tryingtosqueezethelifeoutofRipley.

           Parker’sreactionwaslessimmediatebutbetterthoughtout.Ashwouldhaveappreciatedtheengineer’sreasoning.ParkerheftedoneofthecompacttrackersandsteppedbehindAsh,whosingle-mindedlycontinuedtochokeRipley.Theengineerswungthetrackerwithallhisstrength.

           Therewasadullthunk