Чужой
III
’Ashshookhisheadandlookeddisappointed.’Nothingbutthesamedistresscall,repeatedattheusualintervals.Alltheotherchannelsareblank,exceptforafaint,steadycrackleonoh-point-three-three.’Hejabbedupwardwithathumb.
’Mothersaysthat’sthecharacteristicdischargeofthisworld’scentralstar.Ifanything,oranyone,isaliveoutthere,it’sunabletodomorethancallforhelp.’
Dallasmadearudenoise.’We’vegotfullpowerback.Let’sseewhereweare.Kickonthefloods.’
Ripleythrewaswitch.Achainofpowerfullights,brightpearlsonthedarksettingontheNostromo,cametolifeoutsidetheports.Windanddustweremoreevidentnow,sometimesformingsmallwhirlpoolsintheair,sometimesblowingstraightandwithconsiderableforceacrosstheirlineofsight.Isolatedrocks,risesandfalls,weretheonlyprotrusionsontheblastedlandscape.Therewasnosignofanythingliving,notapatchoflichen,abush,nothing.Onlywindanddustswirlinginanaliennight.
’Nooasis,’Kanewhisperedtohimself.Blankandfeatureless,inhospitable.
Dallasrose,walkedtoaport,andstaredoutatthecontinuingstorm,watchedsplintersofrockscudpasttheglass.Hewonderediftheairwaseverstillonthislittleworld.Foralltheyknewoflocalconditions,theNostromomighthavesetdowninthemidstofaquietsummer’sday.Thatwasunlikely.Thisglobewasn’tbigenoughtoproducereallyviolentweather,likeonJupiter,say.
