Чужой
II
Brettsimplysawthedetourintermsofhisdelayedpaycheck.
’We’regoingin.That’sallthereistoit.?Dallaseyedthemeachinturn.Hewasaboutfedupwiththetwoofthem.Henomoreenjoyedthiskindofdetourthantheydid,andwasasanxioustobehomeandoffloadingtheircargoastheywere,butthereweretimeswhenlettingoffsteamcrossedoverintodisobedience.
’Right,’saidBrettsardonically.
’Right,what?’
Theengineeringtechwasnofool.ThecombinationofDallas’sstonecombinedwiththeexpressiononhisfacetoldBrettitwastimetoeaseup.
’Right..we’regoingin.’Dallascontinuedtostareathimandheaddedwithasmile,’Sir.’
ThecaptainturnedajaundicedeyeonParker,butthatworthywasnowsubdued.
’Canwelandonit?’heaskedAsh.
’Somebodydid.’
’That’swhatImean,’hesaidsignificantly.’"Land"isabenignterm.Itimpliesasequenceofeventssuccessfullycarriedout,resultinginthegentleandsafetouchdownofashiponahardsurface.We’refacedwithadistresscall.Thatimplieseventsotherthanbenign.Let’sgofindoutwhat’sgoingon..butlet’sgoquietly,withbootsinhand.’
Therewasanilluminatedcartographictableonthebridge.Dallas,Kane,Ripley,andAshstoodatoppositepointsofitscompass,whileLambertsatatherstation.
’Thereitis.’Dallasfingeredaglowingpointonthetable.Helookedaroundthetable.’SomethingIwanteveryonetohear.’
TheyresumedtheirseatsashenoddedtoLambert.
