Чужой
IV
Haditconformedtothefamiliarinitsoutlinesandcomposition,thenitsnonhumanoriginwouldnothaveseemedsothreatening.Hedidnotputhisfeelingsdowntosimplexenophobia.Basically,hehadn’texpectedthealientobesocompletelyalien.
’Something’scomingup.’HesawthatKanewaspointingtothehullaheadofthem.Timetosetasideidlespeculation,hetoldhimselffirmly,andtreatwithreality.Thisoddhorn-shapewasaspacecraft,differingonlyinsuperficialwaysfromtheNostromo.Therewasnothingmalignantaboutthematerialitwasformedoforominousaboutitsdesign.Onewastheresultofadifferenttechnology,thelatterpossiblyofaestheticidealsasmuchasanythingelse.Whenviewedinthatmanner,theshipassumedakindofexoticbeauty.NodoubtAshwasalreadyravingoverthevessel’suniquedesign,wishinghewerehereamongthem.
DallasnoticedLambert’sunvariedexpressionandknewtherewasatleastonememberofthecrewwho’dtradeplaceswiththescienceofficerwithouthesitation.
Kanehadindicatedatrioofdarkblotchesonthehull’sflank.Astheyclimbednearerandslightlyhigherintherocks,theblotchesturnedintoovalopenings,showeddepthinadditiontoheightandwidth.
Theyfinallyfoundthemselvesstandingjustbelowthethreepockmarksinthemetal(orplastic?orwhat?)hull.Narrower,stilldarkersecondarygapsshowedbehindtheexteriorovals.Windwhippeddustandpumiceinandoutoftheopenings,asignthatthegapshadremainedopenforsometime.
