Чужой

           Avoicecalledfromtheintercomandshejumped,startled,untilsherecognizeditasMothers.

           ’Attention.Attention.Thecoolingunitsforthehyperdriveenginesarenotfunctioning.Overridesarenotfunctioning.Engineswilloverloadinfourminutes,fiftyseconds:fourminutes,fiftyseconds.’

           ShewashalfwaydownBcorridorwhensherememberedJones.

           Shefoundhimmeowingsteadilythroughthespeaker,butundisturbed,aloneinhispressurizedboxleadingfromthebridgetoBlevel.Thenhiscasewasbangingagainstherlegsassheranfortheshuttle,theflamethrowertuckedsecurelyunderherotherarm.

           Theyturnedthelastbendleadingtowardtheshuttle.Jonessuddenlyhissedwithinthebox,hisbackfurarching.Ripleycametoahalt,stareddazedlyattheopenlock.Thrashingsoundsdriftedbacktoher.

           Thealienwasinsidetheshuttle.

           LeavingJonessafeontheBlevelcompanionway,shesprintedbacktowardtheengineroom.Thecatprotestedmightilyatbeingabandonedagain.

           Asshedashedfortheenginecubicleapatient,unconcernedvoicefilledtheroom.’Attention.Engineswilloverloadinthreeminutes,twentyseconds.’

           Awallofheathitherwhensheenteredthecubicle.Smokemadeitdifficulttosee.Machinerywaswhining,complainingloudlyaroundherasshepushedattheperspirationbeadingonherface.Somehowshelocatedthecontrolboardthroughthesmoke,forcedherselftorememberpropersequencingasshereclosedtheswitchesshe’dopenedonlymomentsago.Thesirenscontinuedtheirsteadylament.

           ’Attention.