Чужой
IV
Theexecaffixedthecabletothelooponhischestunit,doublelockedittight,andhadLambertcheckbypullingonitwithallherweight.Itheldeasily.
’Don’tunhookyourselffromthecableunderanycircumstances,’Dallassaidsternly.’Evenifyouseepilesofdiamondssparklingjustoutofyourreach.’Hecheckedthecableunitforhimself.Kanewasagoodofficer.ThegravityherewaslessthanonEarth,butstillmorethanadequatetomakeamessofKaneifhefell.Theyhadnoideahowdeepintothebowelsoftheshiptheshaftwent.Ortheshaftmightbeaminingshaft,extendingbelowthehullintotheground.Thatthoughtledtoanother,whichmadeDallasgrintohimself.MaybeKanewouldfindhisdiamondsafterall.
’Beoutinlessthantenminutes.’Hespokeinhisbestno-nonsensetone.’Readme?’
’Aye,aye.’Kanecarefullysatdown,swunghislegsovertheedge.Graspingthecablewithbothhands,hepushedoff,hungbythecableinthemiddleoftheopening.Hislowerbodywascloakedinblackair.
’Ifyou’renotoutintenminutes,I’llpullyououtwiththeoverride,’Dallaswarnedhim.
’Relax.I’llbeagoodboy.Besides,Icantakecareofmyself.’He’dstoppedswingingfromsidetoside,nowhungmotionlessinthegap.
’Dothat.Keepusinformedasyoudescend.’
’Check.’Kaneactivatedtheclimbingunit.Thecableunwoundsmoothly,loweringhimintotheshaft.Hethrustoutwithhislegs,contactedthesmoothsides.
