Чужой
III
Parkerwatchedhergonow,sawherlitheformdisappearupward.’Bitch.’
Ashtouchedacontrol.Atrioofmovingshapesbecamesharpandregular,losingtheirfuzzyhalos,astheenhancerdiditsjob.Hecheckedhisothermonitors.Thethreesuitsignalscontinuedtocomeinstrong.
’How’sitgoing?’avoicewantedtoknowovertheintercom.
Quicklyheshutoffthescreen,hithisrespond.’Allrightsofar.’
’Wherearethey?’Ripleyasked.
’Gettingclosetothesource.They’vemovedintosomerockyterrainandthesignalkeepsfadingonthem,butthey’resocloseIdon’tseehowtheycanmissit.Weoughttohearfromthemprettysoon.’
’Speakingofthatsignal,haven’twegotanythingfreshonitbythistime?’
’Notyet.’
’HaveyoutriedputtingthetransmissionthroughECIUfordetailedanalysis?’Shesoundedatouchimpatient.
’Look,Iwanttoknowthedetailsasbadlyasyoudo.ButMotherhasn’tidentifiedityet,sowhat’sthepointinmyfoolingwithit?’
’MindifIgiveitashot?’
’Bemyguest,’hetoldher.’Can’tdoanyharm,andit’ssomethingtodo.Justletmeknowtheinstantyouhitonanything,ifyouhappentogetlucky.’
’Yeah.IfIhappentogetlucky.’Sheswitchedoff.
Shesettledalittledeeperintoherchaironthebridge.Itfeltoddlyspaciousnow,whatwiththerestofthebridgecrewoutsideandAshdowninhisblister.Infact,itwasthefirsttimeshecouldrecallbeingaloneonthebridge.Itfeltstrangeandnotaltogethercomfortable
