Чужой

           Therewasanoutsidechancethealienhadleftsomeonebehind,beingunabletomaneuveritselfandtwobodiesthroughthenarrowducts.Achancethatsomeonemightstillbealive.

           Shepeeredaroundthejambofthelockerentrance.Whatremainedshowedherhowthealienhadsucceededinsqueezingbothvictimsintotheairshaft.

           Thenshewasrunning,running.Blindly,alittlemadly,neitherthinkingorcaring.Wallsreachedouttostunherandslowherdown,butnothinghaltedhercrazedflight.Sheranuntilherlungshurt.TheyremindedherofKaneandthecreaturethathadmaturedinsidehim,nexttohislungs.Thatinturnremindedherofthealien.

           Allthatthinkingbroughtherbacktohersenses.Gulpingforbreath,sheslowedandtookstockofhersurroundings.She’drunthelengthoftheship.Nowshefoundherselfstandingaloneinthemiddleoftheengineroom.

           Sheheardsomethingandstoppedbreathing.Itwasrepeated,andsheletoutacautioussigh.Thesoundwasfamiliar,human.Itwasthesoundofweeping.

           Stillcradlingtheflamethrower,shewalkedslowlyaroundtheroomuntilthesourceofthenoiselaydirectlybelowher.Shefoundshewasstandingonacompanionwaycover,aroundmetaldisc.Keepinghalfherattentiononthewell-litchambersurroundingher,shekneltandremovedthedisc.Aladderdescendedintotheneardarkness.

           Shefeltherwaydowntheladderuntilshereachedsolidfooting.Thensheactivatedherlightbar.Shewasinasmallmaintenancechamber.Thelightpickedoutplasticcrates,rarelyusedtools.