Чужой
XIII
SheglancedupatLambert.’Whoassignspersonneltotheships,makeslast-minutechangesliketradingscienceofficers,andwouldbetheonlyentitycapableofsecretlyslippingarobotonboard?Forwhateverpurpose?’
Lambertnolongerlookedconfused.’Thecompany.’
’Sure.’Ripleysmiledhumorlessly.’Thecompany’sdroneprobesmusthavepickedupthetransmissionfromthederelict.TheNostromohappenedtobethenextCompanyvesselscheduledtopassthroughthisspatialquadrant.TheyputAshonboardtomonitorthingsforthemandtomakesurewefollowedsomethingMothercallsSpecialOrder937.
’Ifthefollow-uponthetransmissionturnsouttobeworthless,Ashcanreportthatbacktothemwithoutuseverknowingwhatwasgoingon.Ifworthwhile,thentheCompanylearnswhatitneedstoknowbeforeitgoestothetroubleofsendingoutanexpensivelyequippedexplorationteam.Simple,matterofmaximizingprofit,minimizingloss.Theirprofit,ourloss.’
’Great,’Parkersnorted.’Yougotitallfiguredoutsofar.Nowtellmewhywe’vegottoputthissonofabitchbacktogether.’HespatatAsh’sbody.
RipleyalreadyhadAsh’sheadsetuponacounter,wasrunningapowerlinefromawalloutletneartheautochefbacktothequiescentskull.’Wehavetofindoutwhatelsetheymightbeholdingback.Agreed?’
Parkernoddedreluctantly.’Agreed.’Hestartedforward.’Here,letmedothat.’
TheengineerfooledwiththewiresandtheconnectionslocatedinthebackofAsh’shead,beneaththeartificialhair.
