Чужой
V
Foraninstanthefoundhimselfwishingdesperatelythathewasbackaboardher.Thenhetoldhimselfthattherewerenodiamondsaboardthetug,andcertainlynoglory.Bothmightstillbefoundhere.
’No,nothing.There’sacaveorroombelowme.I’veslippedclearoftheshaft.’
’Cave?Keepaholdofyourself,Kane.You’restillintheship.’
’AmI?Rememberwhatwassaidaboutshafts?Maybethat’srightafterall.’
’Thenyououghttobeswimminginyourgoddamndiamondsanyminutenow.’
Bothmenchuckled,Dallas’ssoundinghollowanddistortedoverthehelmetspeakers.Kanetriedtoshakesomeofthesweatfromhisforehead.Thatwasthetroublewithsuits.Whentheykeptyoucooltheyweregreat,butwhenyoustartedsweatingyoucouldn’twipeathingexceptyourfaceplate.
’Okay,soit’snotacave.Butitfeelslikethetropicsdownhere.’Leaningoverslightly,hecheckedhiswaistinstruments.Hewasfarenoughbelowthesurfacetobeinacave,butsofarhe’dfoundnothingtoindicatehewasanywherebutinsidethebowelsofthealienship.
Therewasonewaytofindout.Locatethebottom.
’What’stheairlikedownthere?Besideshot.’
Anothercheck,differentreadoutsthistime.’Prettymuchthesameasoutside.Highnitrogencontent,littletonooxy.Watervaporconcentration’sevenhigherdownhere,thankstothetemperaturerise.I’lltakeasampleifyouwant.Ashcanhavefunplayingwithit.’
’Nevermindthatnow.Keepgoing.’
Kanethumbedaswitch.
