Чужой
II
Belowthem,theminiatureworldrotatedunconcernedly.
’GivemeanEGpressurereading.’
Ashexaminedgauges,spokewithoutturningtofaceDallas.’Threepointfourfiveenslashemsquared..Aboutfivepsia,sir.’
’Shoutifitchanges.’
’YouworriedaboutredundancymanagementdisablingCMGScontrolwhenwe’rebusyelsewhere?’
’Yeah.’
’CMGcontrolisinhibitedviaDAS/DCS.We’llaugmentwithTACSandmonitorthroughATMDGlandcomputerinterface.Feelbetternow?’
’Alot.’Ashwasafunnysort,kindofcoldlyfriendly,butsupremelycompetent.Nothingrattledhim.Dallasfeltconfidentwiththescienceofficerbackinghimup,watchinghisdecisions.’Preparetodisengagefromplatform.’Heflippedaswitch,addressedasmallpickup.’Engineering,preparingtodisengage.’
’Lalignmentonportandstarboardisgreen,’reportedParker,allhintofusualsarcasmabsent.
’Greenonspinalumbilicusseverance,’addedBrett.
’Crossingtheterminator,’Lambertinformedthemall.’Enteringnightside.’Below,adarklinesplitthickclouds,leavingthembrightlyreflectingononeside,darkastheinsideofagraveontheother.
’It’scomingup.It’scomingup.Standby.’Lambertthrewswitchesinsequence.’Standby.Fifteenseconds..ten..five..four.Three.Two.One.Lock.’
’Disengage,’orderedDallascurtly.
TinypuffsofgasshowedbetweentheNostromoandtheponderouscoastingbulkoftherefineryplatform.
