Чужой
II
Ripleywrestledwithherowncontrols.
’Giveusnavigationandlandinglights.’Dallastriedtosortsensefromthemaelstromobscuringtheviewscreen.’Maybewecanspotsomethingvisually.’
’Nosubstitutefortheinstruments,’saidAsh.’Notinthis.’
’Nosubstituteformaximuminput,either.Anyhow,Iliketolook.’
PowerfullightscameonbeneaththeNostromo.Theypiercedthecloudwavesonlyweakly,didnotprovidetheclearfieldofvisionDallassobadlydesired.Buttheydidilluminatethedarkscreens,therebylighteningboththebridgeandthementalatmospherethereon.Lambertfeltlessliketheywereflyingthroughink.
ParkerandBrettcouldn’tseethecloudcoveroutside,buttheycouldfeelit.Theengineroomgaveasuddenshift,rockedtotheoppositeside,shiftedsharplyagain.
Parkersworeunderhisbreath.’Whatwasthat?Youhearthat?’
’Yeah.’Brettexaminedareadoutnervously.’Pressuredropinintakenumberthree.Wemust’velostashield.’Hepunchedbuttons.’Yep,three’sgone.Dustpouringthroughtheintake.’
’Shutherdown,shutherdown.’
’WhatdoyouthinkI’mdoing?’
’Great.Sowe’vegotasecondaryfullofdust.’
’Noproblem..Ihope.’Brettadjustedacontrol.’I’llbypassnumberthreeAndventthestuffbackoutasitcomesin.’
’Damageisdone,though.’Parkerdidn’tliketothinkwhatthepresenceofwind-blownabrasivesmight’vedonetotheintakelining.
