V

           Refreshedbythebriefrest,Kanekickedawayfromthesmoothwalloftheshaftandcontinueddownward.Hekickedoffasecondtime,waitedfortheimpactofhisbootedfeetcontactingthehardside.Theydidnot,sailedoffintoemptiness.Thewallsoftheshafthadvanished.Hewasswinginginemptiness,hangingfromtheendofthecable.

           Somekindofroom,maybeanotherchamberlikethebigoneabove,hethought.Whateveritwas,he’demergedfromthebottomoftheshaftintoit.Hewasbreathinghardfromtheexertionofthedescentandtheincreasedwarmth.

           Funny,butthedarknessseemedtopressmoretightlyabouthimnowthathewasoutoftheshaftthanithadwhenhe’dbeendroppingwithinitsnarrowconfines.Hethoughtaboutwhatlaybelowhim,howfarawayitmightbe,andwhatcouldhappentohimifthecablebrokenow.

           Easy,Kane,hetoldhimself.Keepthinkingofdiamonds.Bright,many-facetedbigones,clearandflawlessandfatwithcarats.Notofthisfog-likeblacknessyou’retwirlingthrough,redolentofalienghostsandmemoriesand..

           Damn,hewasdoingitagain.

           ’Seeanything?’

           Startled,hegaveareflexivejerkonthecableandstartedswingingagain.Heusedthemechanismtosteadyhimself,clearedhisthroatbeforereplying.Hehadtoremindhimselfthathewasn’talonedownhere.DallasandLambertwaitedjustabove,notthatfardistant.AmodesthikesouthwestofthederelictlaytheNostromo,fullofcoffee,familiarsweatsmells,andthepatientcomfortsofdeepsleep.