Чужой
II
Canyougetitalittlecloser?’
’No.Youhavetolookatitfromthisdistance.That’swhatI’mgoingtodo.’Immediatelythescreenzoomedintighteronthepointoflight,revealinganunspectacular,slightlyoblateshapesittinginemptiness.
’Smartass.’Dallasvoiceditwithoutmalice.’Yousurethat’sit?It’sacrowdedsystem.’
’That’sit,allright.Justaplanetoid,really.Maybetwelvehundredkilometres,nomore.’
’Anyrotation?’
’Yeah.’Bouttwohours,workingofftheinitialfigures.Tellyoubetterintenminutes.’
’That’sgoodenoughfornow.What’sthegravity?’
Lambertstudieddifferentreadouts.’Pointeightsix.Mustbeprettydensestuff.’
’Don’ttellParkerandBrett,’saidRipley.’They’llbethinkingit’ssolidheavymetalandwanderoffsomewhereprospectingbeforewecancheckoutourunknownbroadcaster.’
Ash’sobservationwasmoreprosaic.’Youcanwalkonit.’Theysettleddowntoworkingoutorbitingprocedure..
TheNostromoedgedclosetothetinyworld,trailingitsvastcargooftanksandrefineryequipment
’Approachingorbitalapogee.Mark.Twentyseconds.Nineteen,eighteen..’Lambertcontinuedtocountdownwhilehermatesworkedsteadilyaroundher.
’Rollninety-twodegreesstarboardyaw,’announcedKane,thoroughlybusinesslike.
Thetugandrefineryrotated,performingamassivepirouetteinthevastnessofspace.Lightappearedatthesternofthetugashersecondaryenginesfiredbriefly.
’Equatorialorbitnailed,’declaredAsh.
