Чужой

           Seenshornoftheirdreams,thesevenmembersoftheNostromo’screwwereevenlessimpressivethanthey’dbeeninhypersleep.Foronething,theyweredrippingwetfromthepreservativecryosleepfluidthathadfilledandsurroundedtheirbodies.Howeveranaleptic,slimeofanysortisnotbecoming.

           Foranother,theywerenaked,andtheliquidwasapoorsubstitutefortheslimmingandshapingeffectsoftheartificialskinscalledclothes.

           ’Jesus,’mutteredLambert,disgustedlywipingfluidfromhershouldersandsides,’amIcold!’Shesteppedoutofthecoffinthatpreservedlifeinsteadofdeath,beganfumblinginanearbycompartment.Usingthetowelshefoundthere,shecommencedwipingthetransparentsyrupfromherlegs.

           ’Whythehellcan’tMotherwarmtheshipbeforebreakingusoutofstorage?’Shewasworkingonherfeetnow,tryingtorememberwhereshe’ddumpedherclothes.

           ’Youknowwhy.’Parkerwastoobusywithhisownsticky,tiredselftobotherstaringatthenudenavigator.’Companypolicy.Energyconservation,whichtranslatesasCompanycheap.Whywasteexcesspowerwarmingthefreezersectionuntilthelastpossiblesecond?Besides,it’salwayscoldcomingoutofhypersleep.Youknowwhatthefreezertakesyourinternaltemperaturedownto.’

           ’Yeah,Iknow.Butit’sstillcold.’Shemumbledit,knowingParkerwasperfectlycorrectbutresentinghavingtoadmitit.She’dnevercaredmuchfortheengineer.