Чужой

           Bettertoleaveitatthat,nomatterhowhefeltinside.Hecouldbelogicalwhenthesituationdemandedit.

           Angrily,hesnappedthelaserbackon,startedtosealanothersectionofrupturedduct.

           Brett,handlingthepowerandtrainforthewelder,saidtonooneinparticular,’Right.’

           Dallas,Kane,andLambertmadetheirwaydownanarrowcorridor.Theynowworeboots,jackets,andglovesinadditiontotheirinsulatedworkpants.Theycarriedlaserpistols,miniatureversionsoftheweldercurrentlybeingusedbyParkerandBrett.

           Theystoppedoutsideamassivedoorwellmarkedwithwarningsymbolsandwords.

           MAINAIRLOCK:AUTHORIZEDPERSONNELONLY

           Dallasalwaysfoundtheadmonitionamusinglyredundant,sincetherecouldbenosuchthingasanunauthorizedpersonaboardtheship,andanyoneauthorizedtobeaboardwasauthorizedtousetheairlock.

           Kanetouchedaswitch.Aprotectiveshieldpoppedback,revealedthreebuttonshiddenbeneath.Hedepressedtheminpropersequence.Therewasawhineandthedoormovedoutoftheirway.Theyentered.

           Sevenvacuumsuitswerearrangedonthewalls.Theywerebulky,awkward,andabsolutelynecessaryforthishikeifAsh’sevaluationsoftheoutsidewereevenhalfaccurate.Theyhelpedoneanotherintothelife-supportingartificialskins,checkedouteachother’ssuitfunctions.

           Thenitwastimetodonhelmets.Thiswasdonewithpropersolemnityandcare,everyonetakingturnsmakingcertainhisneighbour’ssealwastight.