Чужой
XIII
’Whenitcomestochoosingbetweenparasites,I’drathertakemychanceswithonethatdoesn’tlie.Besides,ifwecan’tbeatthatthingwecandiehappyknowingthatit’slikelytogetitshooksintoafewCompanyexperts..’
ShewasseatedbeforethecentralcomputerconsoleinthemainannexwhenParkerandLambertrejoinedher.Shespokedejectedly.’Hewasrightaboutonething,Ashwas.Wehaven’tgotmuchofachance.’Sheindicatedaflashingreadout.’We’vegotlessthantwelvehoursofoxygenleft.’
’Thenit’sallover.’Parkerlookedatthedeck.’ReconnectingAshwouldbeafasterformofsuicide.Oh,I’msurehe’dtrytotakecareofthealien,allright.Buthewouldn’tleaveusalive.That’soneCompanyorderhecouldn’ttellus.Becausehavingtolduseverythingelse,hecouldn’tleaveusaroundtotelltheportauthoritieswhattheCompany’sbeenupto.’Hegrinned.’AshwasaloyalCompanymachine.’
’Idon’tknowabouttherestofyou,’saidtheunsmilingLambert,’butIthinkIpreferapainless,peacefuldeathtoanyofthealternativesonoffer.’
’We’renotthereyet.’
Lambertheldupasmallcardofcapsules.Ripleyrecognizedthesuicidepillsbytheirredcolourandtheminiatureskullandcrossbonesimprintedoneach.’We’renot.Huh.’
Ripleyswungaroundinthechair.’I’msayingwe’renot.YouletAshconvinceyou.Hesaidhewastheonlyonewithachancetohandlethealien,buthe’stheonelyinginthemessdisconnected,notus.
’We’vegotanotherchoice.
