Чужой
IV
Thoughforallheknew,thecompositionoftheurnmighttestthemeltingabilityofhispistol.
Hewasalmostreadytoreturntotheshaftinthefloorwhenhislightfellonsomethingcomplexandboldlymechanical.Withinthesemi-organicconfinesofthealienshipitsreassuringlyfunctionalappearancewasagreatrelief,thoughthedesignitselfwasutterlyunfamiliar.
’Overhere!’
’Somethingwrong?’ThatwasKane.
’Notathing.I’vefoundamechanism.’
LambertandKanerushedtojoinhim,theirbootsraisinglittlepuffsofanimateddust.TheyaddedtheirownlightstoDallas’s.Allseemedquietanddead,thoughDallashadtheimpressionofpatientpowerfunctioningsmoothlysomewherebehindthosestrangelycontouredpanels.Andevidenceofmechanicallifewasprovidedbythesightofasinglemetalbarmovingsteadilybackandforthonitsgroovedtrack,thoughitmade,accordingtosuitsensors,notasound.
’Lookslikeit’sstillfunctioning.Wonderhowlongitsbeenrunninglikethis.’Kaneexaminedthedevice,fascinated.’Wonderwhatitdoes.’
’Icantellyouthat.’TheyturnedtoLambert.SheconfirmedwhatDallashadalreadyguessed.Shewasholdingherfinder,thesameinstrumentthathadledthemherefromtheNostromo.’It’sthetransmitter.Automaticdistresscall,justlikeweimagineditmightbe.Itlookscleanenoughtobebrandnew,thoughit’slikelybeenputtingoutthatsignalforyears.’Sheshrugged.’Maybedecades.Orlonger.’
Dallasranasmallinstrumentoverthesurfaceofthealiendevice.
