Чужой
IV
Cargochamber,maybe?Orpartofacomplicatedlocksystem?Yeah,that’sit.Wejustpassedthroughadoubledoorandthishereisthereallock.’
’Mightybigforjustanairlock.’Lambert’svoicesoundedsubduedintheirhelmets.
’Justguessing.IftheinhabitantsofthisshipweretoitsscalewhatwearetotheNostromo,they’dlikelyneedalockthissize.ButIadmitthecargo-holdideamakesmoresense.Mightevenexplaintheneedforthreeentryways.’Heturned,sawDallasleaningoverablackholeinthefloor.
’Hey,watchit,Dallas!Notellingwhatmightbedownthere,orhowdeepitgoes.’
’Theshipisstandingopentotheoutsideandnothing’stakennoticeofourentry.Idon’tthinkthere’sanythingaliveinhere.’Dallasunclippedhislightbar,flippediton,anddirectedthebrilliantbeamdownward.
’Seeanything?’Lambertasked.
’Yeah.’Kanesmirked.’Likearabbitwithawatch?’Hesoundedalmosthopeful.
’Can’tseeadamnthing.’Dallasmovedthelightslowlyfromonesidetotheother.Itwasanarrowbeam,butpowerful.Itwouldshowanythinglyingamodestdistancebelowthem.
’Whatisit?’Lamberthadwalkedovertostandalongsidehim,keptacarefuldistancefromtheabyss.’Anothercargochamber?’
’Nowayoftellingfromhere.Itjustgoesdown.Smoothwallsasfarasmylightwillreach.Noindicationofhandholds,anelevator,ladder,oranyothermeansofdescent.Ican’tseethebottom.Lightwon’treach.Mustbeanaccessshaftofsomekind.’
