Чужой
XIII
Ithinkweshouldblowuptheship.’
’That’syouralternative?’Lambertspokesoftly.’I’llstickwithchemicalsifyoudon’tmind.’
’No,no.Rememberwhatyouproposedbefore,Lambert?Weleaveintheshuttleandthenlettheshipblow.Taketheremainingairinportabletanks.Theshuttle’sgotitsownairsupply.Withtheextra,there’sachancewemightmakeitbacktowell-travelledspaceandgetourselvespickedup.Wemaybebreathingourownwastebythattime,butit’sachance.Andit’lltakecareofthealien.’
Theywentquiet,thinking.ParkerlookedupatRipley,nodded.’Ilikethatbetterthanchemicals.Besides,I’llenjoywatchingsomeCompanypropertygoupinpieces.’Heturnedtoleave.’We’llgetstartedbleedingtheairintobottles.’
TheengineersupervisedthetransferofcompressedairfromtheNostromo’smaintanksintosmaller,portablecanisterstheycouldlugontotheshuttle.
’That’severything?’RipleyaskedwhenParkerleanedtiredlybackagainstthehatchjamb.
’Everythingwecancarry.’Hegesturedattherankedcanisters.’Itmaynotlooklikemuch,butthatstuffsreallyunderpressure.Enoughextraairtogiveussomebreathingspace.’Hegrinned.
’Great.Let’sgetsomebulkartificialfood,settheengines,andgetthehelloutofhere.’Shestoppedatasuddenthought.’Jones.Where’sJones?’
’Whoknows?’Parkerclearlywasn’tinterestedinthewhereaboutsoftheship’scat.
