Чужой
XIII
Itssolepurposetoreproduceitsownkind,ataskitpursueswithsupremeefficiency.Thereisnothinginmankind’sexperiencetocomparewithit.
’Theparasitesmenareusedtocombatingaremosquitoesandminutearthropodsandtheirilk.Thiscreatureistotheminsavageryandefficiencyasmanistotheworminintelligence.Youcannotevenbegintoimaginehowtodealwithit.’
’I’veheardenoughofthisshit.’Parker’shanddroppedtowardthepowerline.Ripleyputuparestraininghand,staredatthehead.
’You’resupposedtobepartofourcomplement,Ash.You’reourscienceofficeraswellasaCompanytool.’
’Yougavemeintelligence.Withintellectcomestheinevitabilityofchoice.Iamloyalonlytodiscoveringthetruth.Ascientifictruthdemandsbeauty,harmony,and,aboveall,simplicity.Theproblemofyouversusthealienwillproduceasimpleandelegantsolution.Onlyoneofyouwillsurvive.’
’Iguessthatputsuspoorhumansinourplace,doesn’tit?Tellmesomething,Ash.TheCompanyexpectedtheNostromotoarriveatEarthstationwithonlyyouandthealienaliveallalong,didn’tit?’
’No.Itwashonestlyhopedyouwouldsurviveandcontainthealien.TheCompanyofficialssimplyhadnoideahowdangerousandefficientthealienwas.’
’Whatdoyouthink’sgoingtohappenwhentheshiparrives,assumingwe’realldeadandthealien,insteadofbeingproperlyrestrained,hastherunoftheship?’
’Icannotsay.
