Чужой

           Sheturned,screamedasthehandclutchedather.Thealienwasstillunfoldingitsbulkfromtheairshaft.

           Ripleyheardtheshriekovertheopen’comspeakeronthebridgeandfroze.

           Parkerlookedbackintothelocker,wentalittlecrazywhenhesawwhatthealienwasdoing.Parkercouldn’tusetheflamethrowerwithouthittingLambert.Swingingtheincineratorlikeaclub,hechargedintothelocker.

           ’Goddamnyou!’

           ThealiendroppedLambert.ShefellmotionlesstothedeckasParkerlandedasolidblowwiththeflamethrower.Ithadnoeffectonthealien.Theengineermightaswellhavebeentryingtofracturethewall.

           Hetriedtoduck,failed.Thesingleblowbrokehisneck,killinghiminstantly.ThealienturneditsattentionbacktoLambert.

           Ripleystillhadn’tmoved.Faintshrieksreachedheroverthe’com.ThescreamswereLambert’sandtheyfadedwithmercifulspeed.Thenitwasquietagain.

           Shespoketowardthepickup.’Parker..Lambert?’

           Shewaitedforaresponse,expectingnone.Herexpectationswerefulfilled.Theimportofthecontinuingsilencetookonlyamomenttosettlein.

           Shewasalone.Therewereprobablythreelivingthingsleftontheship:thealien,Jones,andherself.Butshehadtobesure.

           ItmeantleavingJonesbehind.Shedidn’twantto,butthecathadheardthescreamsandwasmeowingfrantically.Hewasmakingtoomuchnoise.

           ShereachedBdeckunopposed,herflamethrowerheldtightlyinbothhands.Thefoodlockerlayjustahead.