Чужой

           ’He’sonhiswaydowntothescienceblister.Givehimacoupleofminutes.’

           ’Check.’HeturnedtoKane.’Closeinnerhatch.’Theexechitthenecessarycontrolsandthedoorslidshutbehindthem.’Nowopentheouter.’

           Kanerepeatedtheprocedurethathadadmittedthemtothelock.Afterthelastbuttonhadbeendepressed,hestoodbackwiththeothersandwaited.Unconsciously,Lambertpressedhersuitbackagainsttheinnerlockdoor,aninstinctivereactiontotheapproachingunknown.

           Theouterhatchslidaside.Cloudsofdustandsteamdriftedbeforethethreehumans.Thepredawnlightwasthecolourofburntorange.Itwasn’tthefamiliar,comfortingyellowofSol,butDallashadhopesitmightimproveasthesuncontinuedtorise.Itgavethemenoughlighttoseeby,thoughtherewaslittleenoughtoseeinthatdense,particle-thickair.

           Theysteppedoutontotheliftplatformthatranbetweensupportstruts.Kanetouchedanotherswitch.Theplatformdescended,sensorslocatedonitsundersidetellingitwherethegroundwas.Itcomputeddistance,haltedasitsbasekissedthehighestpointofdarkstone.

           WithDallasleading,morefromhabitthanformalprocedure,theymadetheircarefulwayontothesurfaceitself.Thelavawashardandunyieldingundertheirsuitboots.Gale-forcewindsbuffetedthemastheysurveyedthewindsweptlandscape.Atthemomenttheycouldseenothingsavewhatranoffbeneaththeirbootsintotheorange-andbrownmist.

           Whatanunrelievedlydepressingplace,Lambertthought.