Чужой

           Shefinallyturnedaway.TheNostromo,hershipmates,allhadceasedtoexist.TheyWereNoMore.Ithitherharderinthatquiet,isolatedmomentthanshe’dthoughtitwould.Itwastheutterfinalityofitthatwassodifficulttoaccept,theknowledgethattheynolongerexistedascomponents,howeverinsignificant,ofagreateruniverse.Notevenascorpses.Theysimplyhadbecomenot.

           Shedidnotseethemassivehandreachingoutforherfromtheconcealmentofdeepshadow.ButJonesdid.Heyowled.

           Ripleyspun,foundherselffacingthecreature.Ithadbeenintheshuttleallthetime.

           Herfirstthoughtwasfortheflamethrower.Itlayonthedecknexttothecrouchingalien.Shehuntedwildlyforaplacetoretreatto.Therewasasmalllockernearby.Itsdoorhadpoppedopenfromtheshockoftheexpandinggas.Shestartedtoedgetowardit.

           Thecreaturestartedtoriseassoonasshebegantomove.Sheleapedforthelockerandthrewherselfinside,onehanddivingforthehandle.Asshefellin,herweightpulledthedoorshutbehindherwithaslam.

           Therewasaportintheupperpartofthedoor.Ripleyfoundherselfpracticallynose-upagainstitintheshallowlocker.Outside,thealienputitsownheadupnexttothewindow,peeredinatheralmostcuriously,asthoughshewereanexhibitinacage.Shetriedtoscreamandcouldn’t.Itdiedinherthroat.Allshecoulddowasstarewide-eyedattheapparitionglaringbackather.

           Thelockerwasnotairtight.Adistinctivemoaningreachedherfromoutside.