Чужой
XIII
’Beforetheyallwereovercome,theymanagedtosetupthewarning,tokeeptheinhabitantsofothershipsthatmightconsidersettingdownonthatworldfromsufferingthesamefate.Wherevertheycamefrom,theywereanoblepeople.Hopefullymankindwillencounterthemagain,undermorepleasantcircumstances.’
’TheywereabetterpeoplethansomeIcanthinkof,’Ripleysaidtightly.’Thealienthat’saboard:Howdowekillit?’
’Theexplorerswhocrewedthederelictshipwerelargerandpossiblymoreintelligentthanhumankind.Idon’tthinkthatyoucankillit.ButImightbeableto.AsI’mnotorganicincomposition,thealiendoesnotregardmeasapotentialdanger.Norasasourceoffood.Iamconsiderablystrongerthananyofyou.Imightbeabletomatchthealien.
’However,Iamnotexactlyatmybestatthemoment.Ifyouwouldsimplyreplace..’
’Nicetry,Ash,’Ripleyinterruptedhim,shakingherheadfromsidetoside,’butnoway.’
’Youidiots!Youstilldon’trealizewhatyou’redealingwith.Thealienisaperfectlyorganizedorganism.Superblystructured,cunning,quintessentiallyviolent.Withyourlimitedcapabilitiesyouhavenochanceagainstit.’
’MyGod.’Lambertstareddullyatthehead.’Youadmirethedamnedthing.’
’Howcanyounotadmirethesimplesymmetryitpresents?Aninterspeciesparasite,capableofpreyingonanylifeformthatbreathes,regardlessoftheatmosphericcompositioninvolved.Onecapableoflyingdormantforindefiniteperiodsunderthemostinhospitableconditions.
