Чужой

           Heturnedoffhislight,movedametreawayfromthehole,andbeganunclippinggearfromhisbeltandbackpack.Helaiditoutonthefloor,rose,andglancedaroundthedimlyilluminated,greychamber.

           ’Whatever’sdownstairswillwait.Let’shavealookaroundherefirst.Iwanttomakesuretherearen’tanysurprises.Wemightevenfindaneasierwaydown.’Heflickedhislightononcemore,playeditovernearbywalls.Despitetheirresemblancetoawhale’sinsides,theyremainedgratifyinglymotionless.

           ’Spreadout..butnottoofar.Undernocircumstanceswalkoutofunlightedviewofoneanother.Thisshouldn’ttakemorethanacoupleofminutes.’

           KaneandLambertactivatedtheirownlightbars.Travellinginaline,theystartedtoexplorethevastroom.

           Fragmentsofsomeshatteredgreymateriallayscatteredabout.Muchofitwasburiedbeneaththetinydustdunesandfinelygroundpumicethathadinvadedtheship.Kaneignoredthestuff.Theywerehuntingforsomethingintact.

           Dallas’slightfellunexpectedlyonashapethatwasnotpartofwallorfloor.Movingcloser,heusedthelighttotraceitsoutlines.Itappearedtobeasmallishurnorvase,tanincolour,glossyinaspect.Movingcloser,hetiltedhisheadoverthejagged,brokentop,shonethelightinside.

           Empty.

           Disappointed,hewalkedaway,wonderingthatsomethingseeminglysofragilehadremainedrelativelyundisturbedwhileothermoredurablesubstanceshadapparentlywitheredandcracked.