Чужой
III
Theairnearthethermostatswouldremaincomparativelycool,whilethataroundthewelditselfcouldoverheatrapidly.
Thelaserwelderitselfwasn’tatfault.Itgeneratedarelativelycoolbeam.Butwheremetalmeltedandflowedtogethertoformafreshseal,heatwasgeneratedasaby-product.Bothmenwereworkingwithshirtsoffandthesweatstreameddowntheirnakedtorsos.
Nearby,Ripleyleanedagainstawallandusedapeculiartooltopopoutaprotectivepanel.Complexaggregationsofcolouredwireandtinygeometricshapeswereexposedtothelight.Twosmallsectionswerecharredblack.Usinganothertool,shedugthedamagedcomponentsout,searchedintheloadedsatchelslungoveroneshoulderfortheproperreplacements.
Asshewassnappingthefirstofthemintoplace,Parkerwasshuttingoffthelaser.Heexaminedthecurrentweldcritically.’Notbad,ifIdosayso.’HeturnedtolookbackatRipley.Sweatwasmakinghertunicsticktoherchest.
’HeyRipley..Igotaquestion.’
Shedidn’tglancebackfromherwork.Asecondnewmodulesnappedneatlyintoplacebesidethefirst,likeatoothbeingreplantedinitssocket.
’Yeah?I’mlistening.’
’Dowegettogooutontheexpeditionorarewestuckinhereuntileverything’sfixed?We’vealreadyrestoredpower.Therestofthisstuff,’andheindicatedthebatteredengineroomwithasharpwaveofonehand,’iscosmetic.Nothingthatcan’twaitforafewdays.’
’Youbothknowtheanswertothat.’Shesatback,rubbedherhandsasshelookedoverathim.
