Чужой
IV
’ButIstillthinkit’sanormalpartofthisship.Thesidesaretooregular,evenforashapedcharge,nomatterhowpowerful.’
’Justgivingmyopinion.’
’Eitherway,it’slookdownbelow,blowaholeinawall,orgobackoutsideandhuntforanotherentrance.’HelookedacrosstheshaftatKane.’Thisisyourbigchance.’
Theexeclookedindifferent.’Ifyouwish.Suitsme.IfI’mfeelinggenerous,I’lleventellyouaboutthediamonds.’
’Whatdiamonds?’
’TheonesI’mgoingtofindspillingoutofoldaliencratesdownthere.’Hegesturedattheblackness.
Lamberthelpedhimsecurethechestclimbingunit,madecertaintheharnesswasfirmlyaffixedtohisshouldersandback.Hetouchedthecheckstud,wasrewardedbyafaintbeepoverhishelmetspeaker.Agreenlightwinkedon,thenoff,onthefrontoftheunit.
’We’vegotpoweroverhere.I’mallset.’HeeyedDallas.’Youreadyyet?’
’Anotherminute.’Thecaptainhadassembledametaltripodfromshortlengthsofmetal.Theresultingconstructlookedflimsy,toothintosupportaman’sweight.Inactualityitcouldholdthethreeofthemwithoutsomuchasbending.
Whenitwaslocked,Dallasmoveditsothatitsapexwaspositionedoverthecentreoftheshaft.Bracessecuredthethreelegstothedeck.Asmallwinchandspoolarrangementattachedtotheapexheldthincable.Dallasmanuallyunwoundametreortwoofthegleaminglifeline,handedtheendtoKane.
