Чужой
II
’I’mnotafraidofthedarkIknow.It’sthedarkIdon’tthatterrifiesme.Especiallywhenit’sfilledwithnoiseslikethatdistresscall.’Sheturnedherattentionbacktothedustsweptport.
Herwillingnesstoexpresstheirdeepestfearsdidnothingtoimprovethementalatmosphereonthebridge.Crampedatthebestoftimes,itgrewsuffocatinginthenearblackness,madeworsebyacontinuingsilenceamongthem.
ItwasareliefwhenRipleyannounced,’We’vegotintercomtoengineeringagain.’Dallasandtheotherswatchedherexpectantlyasshefiddledwiththeamp.’Thatyou,Parker?’
’Yeah,it’sme.’Fromthesoundofit,theengineerwastootiredtosnapinhisusualacerbicmanner.
’What’syourstatus?’Dallascrossedmentalfingers.’Whataboutthatfire?’
’Wefinallygotitknockeddown.’Hesighed,makingitsoundlikethewindoverthe’corn.’ItgotintosomeofthatoldlubricationliningthecorridorwallsdownonClevel.ForawhileIthoughtwe’dgetourlungssearedproper.ThecombustiblestuffwasthinnerthanIthought,though,anditburntoutfastbeforeitateuptoomuchofourair.Scrubbersseemtobegettingthecarbonoutokay.’
Dallaslickedhislips.’Howaboutdamage?Nevermindthesuperficialstuff.Ship-efficiencyfunctionandperformancehindranceareallI’mconcernedabout.’
’Let’ssee..fourpanelistotallyshot.’Dallascouldimaginetheengineertickingoffitemsonhisfingersashereportedback.
