Чужой
III
’Shouldbedawnsoon.’Headjustedhispickup.’Ash,ifyouhearme.Howlonguntildaylight?’
Thescienceofficer’svoicewasfaint,distortedwithstatic.’Sun’scomingupinabouttenminutes.’
’Weshouldbeabletoseesomethingthen.’
’Ortheotherwayaround,’Lambertputin.Shedidn’ttrytohideherlackofenthusiasm.Shewasdamntiredandtheyhadyettoreachthesourceofthesignal.Norwasitphysicalweakness.Thedesolationandeeriecolouringweretiringhermind.Shelongedfortheclean,brightfamiliarityofherconsole.
Theincreasingbrightnessdidn’thelp.Insteadofraisingtheirspirits,therisingsunchilledthembyturningtheairfromorangetoblood.Maybeitwouldbelessintimidatingwhenthefeeblestarwascompletelyup..
Ripleywipedahandacrossherbrow,letoutatiredbreath.Sheclosedthelastwallpanelshe’dbeenworkingbehindaftermakingcertainthenewcomponentswerefunctioningproperly,puthertoolsbackinthesatchel’scompartments.
’Yououghttobeabletohandletherest.I’vefinishedthedelicatestuff.’
’Don’tworry.We’llmanage,’Parkerassuredher,keepinghistonecarefullyneutral.Hedidn’tlookinherdirection,continuedtoconcentrateonhisownjob.HewasstillupsetoverthechanceheandBrettmightbeleftoutofwhateverfindtheexpeditionmightmake.
Shestartedforthenearestupcompanionway.’Ifyourunintotroubleandneedhelp,I’llbeonthebridge.’
’Right,’saidBrettsoftly.
