Чужой

           Theliveyoungfeedingontheparalyzedbodyofthespider,growing,thespiderawareofwhatwashappeningbut..

           Somehowshemanagedtoshutoffthathorridlineofthought.Madnesslaythatway.’WhatcanIdo?’

           Thesameagonizedwhisper.’Killme.’

           Shestaredathim.Mercifully,hiseyeshadclosed.Buthislipsweretrembling,asifhewerereadyingascream.Shedidn’tthinkshecouldstandtohearthatscream.

           Thenozzleoftheflamethrowerroseandsheconvulsivelydepressedthetrigger.AmoltenblastenvelopedthecocoonandthethingthathadbeenDallas.Itandheburnedwithoutasound.Thensheswungthefirearoundthelair.Theentirecompartmentburstintoflames.Shewasalreadyscramblingbackuptheladder,heatlickingatherlegs.

           Shestuckherheadoutintotheengineroom.Itwasstilldeserted.Smokecurleduparoundher,makinghercough.Sheclimbedout,kickedthediscbackintoplace,leavingenoughofagapforairtoreachthefire.Thenshestroderesolutelytowardtheengine-roomcontrolcubicle.

           Gaugesandcontrolsfunctionedpatientlywithin,waitingtobetoldwhattodo.Therewasoneparticularboardwhoseswitcheswereoutlinedinred.Shestudieditamoment,recallingsequences,thenbegantoclosetheswitchesoneatatime.

           Onedoubleswitchlayprotectedbeneathalockedcover.Shepriedatitamoment,thensteppedbackandhammereditloosewiththebuttendoftheflamethrower,movedup,andthrewthedualcontrol.

           Shewaitedaneternity.Sirensbegantowail.