Чужой
III
Theycontinuedonthenewcourse,Lambertkeepingallherattentiononthefinder’sscreen,DallasandKanekeepingtheirsonLambert.Aroundthemthestormgrewmomentarilywilder.Dustparticlesmadeinsistenttickingnoisesasthewinddrovethemagainstthefaceplatesoftheirhelmets,formingspeechpatternswithintheirbrains.
Tick,tick..letusin..flick,pock..letusin,letusin..
Dallasshookhimself.Thesilence,thecloud-envelopeddesolation,theorangehaze;allwerebeginningtogettohim.
’It’sclose,’Lambertsaid.SuitmonitorssimultaneouslyinformedthedistantAshoftheirsuddenlyincreasedpulserate.’Veryclose.’
Theycontinuedon.Somethingloomedahead,highabovethem.Dallas’sbreathcameinshortgaspsnow,fromexcitementasmuchasexertion.
Disappointment..itwasonlyalargerockformation,twistedandgrotesque.Ash’sguessaboutthepossibilityofthementeringhighercountrywasprovencorrect.Theytooktemporaryshelterbeneaththestonemonolith.Atthesametime,thelinevanishedfromLambert’sfinder.
’Lostitagain,’shetoldthem.
’Didwepassit?’Kanestudiedtherocks,triedtoseeoverthem,andcouldnot.
’Notunlessit’sunderground.’Dallasleanedbackagainsttherockwall.’Mightbebehindthisstuff.’Hetappedthestonewithasuitedfist.’Oritmightbejustafadeduetothestorm.Let’stakeabreakandsee.’
Theywaitedthere,restingwiththeirbackstothescouredwall.Dustandmisthowledaroundthem.
’Nowwe’rereallyblind,’saidKane.
