Чужой
IV
’Andwhythenervoustone?Youarenervous,aren’tyou?’
’YoubetyourassI’mnervous!Worsethanthat,ifMother’scorrect.LikeIsaid,she’snotpositive.Butshethinksthatsignalmaybeawarning.’
’Whatkindofwarning?’
’Whatdifferencedoesitmake,"whatkindofwarning"!’
’Thereisnoreasontoshout.’
Ripleytookacoupleofshortbreaths,countedtofive.’Wehavetogetthroughtothem.They’vegottoknowaboutthisrightaway.’
’Iagree,’saidAshreadily.’Butit’snouse.Oncetheywentinsidethealienshipwelostthemcompletely.I’vehadnocontactwiththemforsometimenow.Thecombinationoftheirproximitytothealientransmittercoupledwiththepeculiarcompositionofthevessel’shullhasdefeatedeveryattemptofmineatre-establishingcommunication.Andbelieveme,I’vetried!’Hisnextcommentcameoffsoundinglikeachallenge.
’Youcantrytoraisethemyourself,ifyoulike.I’llhelpinanywayIcan.’
’Look,I’mnotquestioningyourcompetence,Ash.Ifyousaywecan’tcontactthem,wecan’tcontactthem.Butdamnit,we’vegottoletthemknow!’
’Whatdoyousuggest?’
Shehesitated,thensaidfirmly,?I’mgoingoutafterthem.I’lltelltheminperson.’
’Idon’tthinkso.’
’Isthatanorder,Ash?’Sheknewthatinanemergencysituationofthiskindthescienceofficeroutrankedher.
’No,it’scommonsense.Canyouseethat?Useyourhead,Ripley,’heurgedher.’Iknowyoudon’tlikememuch,buttrytoviewthisrationally.’
