Чужой
IV
Unexpectedly,arealignmentofprioritiesinherqueryingjoggedsomethingwithintheship’sBrobdingnagianstoreofinformation.Theresultantreadoutappearedonthescreensoabruptlyshealmosteraseditandcontinuedwiththenextseriesbeforesherealizedsheactuallyhadreceivedasensibleresponse.Thetroublewithcomputers,shethought,wasthattheyhadnointuitivesenses.Onlydeductiveones.Youhadtoasktherightquestion.
Shestudiedthereadoutavidly,frowned,punchedforelaboration.SometimesMothercouldbeunintentionallyevasive.Youhadtoknowhowtoweedouttheconfusingsubtleties.
Thistime,however,thereadoutwasclearenough,leftnoroomformisunderstanding.Shewishedferventlythatithad.Shejabbedattheintercom.Avoiceansweredpromptly.
’Scienceblister.Whatisit,Ripley?’
’Thisisurgent,Ash.’Shespokeinshort,anxiousgasps.’IfinallygotsomethingoutoftheBank,viaECIU.Itmighthavejustcomethrough,Idon’tknow.That’snotwhatmatters.’
’Congratulations.’
’Nevermindthat,’shesnappedworriedly.’Motherhasapparentlydecipheredpartofthealientransmission.She’snotpositiveaboutthis,butfromwhatIreadI’mafraidthattransmissionmaynotbeanSOS.’
ThatquietedAsh,butonlyforaninstant.Whenherepliedhisvoicewasascontrolledasever,despitetheimportofRipley’sannouncement.Shemarveledathisself-control.
’Ifit’snotadistresscall,thenwhatisit?’heaskedquietly.
