Чужой

           AnunluckyJonesfoundhimselfdumpednearthemainconsoleasRipleythrewherselfintothepilot’sseat.Therewasnotimetoplotnicetiesliketrajectoryorangleofrelease.Sheconcentratedonhittingasinglebuttonthathadoneredwordengravedbeneathit.

           LAUNCH.

           Retainerboltsblewawaywithtiny,comicalexplosions.TherewasablastofsecondaryenginesastheshuttlefellawayfromtheNostromo.

           G-forcestoreatRipleyasshefoughttostrapherselfin.TheG-forcewouldfadesoon,theresultoftheshuttleleavingtheNostromo’shyperdrivefieldandslantingoffonitsownpaththroughspace.

           Shefinishedstrappingherselfdown,thenallowedherselftobreathedeeplyoftheshuttle’scleanair.Howlingsoundspenetratedherexhaustedbrain.Fromherpositionshecouldjustreachthecatbox.Herheadbentoverthecontainerandtearssqueezedfromhersmoke-reddenedeyesasshehuggedittoherchest.

           Hergazerosetotherear-facingscreen.Asmallpointoflightsilentlyturnedintoamajestic,expandingfireballsendingouttentaclesoftornmetalandshreddedplastic.Itfaded,wasfollowedbyamuchlargerfireballastherefinerywentup.Twobilliontonsofgasandvaporizedmachineryfilledthecosmos,obscuredhervisionuntilit,too,begantofade.

           Theshockstrucktheshuttlecraftsoonafterastheexpandingsuperheatedgasracedpast.Whenthecrafthadsettledsheunstrapped,walkedtothebackofthelittlecabin,andlookedoutarearport.Herfacewasbathedinorangelightasthelastoftheboilingfireglobevanished.