Чужой

           Parker’shandsclenchedintofists.

           ’Atthesourceofthesignal,’Ashcontinued,’weweretoinvestigatealifeform,almostcertainlyhostileaccordingtowhattheCompanyexpertsdistilledfromthetransmission,andbringitbackforobservationandCompanyevaluationofanypotentialcommercialapplications.Usingdiscretion,ofcourse.’

           ’Ofcourse,’agreedRipley,mimickingthemachine’sindifferenttone.’Thatexplainsalotaboutwhywewerechosen,beyondtheexpenseofsendingavaluableexplorationteaminfirst.’ShelookedcoldlypleasedathavingtracedthereasoningbehindAsh’swords.

           ’Importationtoanyinhabitedworld,letaloneEarth,ofadangerousalienlifeformisstrictlyprohibited.Bymakingitlooklikewesimpletugjockeyshadaccidentallystumbledontoit,theCompanyhadawayofseeingitarriveatEarth"unintentionally".Whilewemaybegotourselvesthrowninjail,somethingwouldhavetobedonewiththecreature.Naturally,Companyspecialistswouldmagnanimouslybestandingreadytotakethisdangerousarrivaloffthehandsofthecustomsofficers,withafewjudiciousbribesprepaidjusttosmooththetransition.

           ’Andifwewerelucky,theCompanywouldbailusoutandtakepropercareofusassoonastheauthoritiesdeterminedwewerehonestlyasstupidasweappeared.Whichwe’vebeen.’

           ’Why?’Lambertwantedtoknow.’Whydidn’tyouwarnus?Whycouldn’twehavebeentoldwhatweweregettingourselvesinto?’

           ’Becauseyoumightnothavegonealong,’Ashexplainedwithcoldlogic.