Чужой
V
Hisbeltrecordedtheapproximateatmosphericcompositionathispresentlevel.ThatshouldmakeAshhappy,thoughasamplewouldhavebeenbetter.Stillpuffing,Kaneactivatedtheunitonhischest.Withaconfidenthum,itresumedloweringhimslowly.
Itwaslonelierthanfallingthroughspace.Spinningslowlyasthewireunwound,hedroppedthroughtotaldarkness,notastarornebulainsight.
Socompletelyhadthepeacefulblacknessrelaxedhimthatitwasashockwhenhisbootsstruckasolidsurface.Hegruntedinsurprise,almostlosthisbalance.Steadyinghimself,hestoodstraightanddeactivatedtheclimberunit.
HewaspreparingtounhooktherestrainingcablewhenherecalledDallas’sdirective.Itwasgoingtobeawkward,exploringwhiletrailingtheconstrainingtie-line,butDallaswouldhaveafitifhediscoveredthatKanehadreleasedhimself.Sohe’dhavetomanageasbesthecouldandpraythetrailinglinedidn’tgetitselfentangledinsomethingoverhead.
Breathingmoreeasilynow,heflashedhislightbarandsuitlightsinanefforttomakesomethingoutofhissurroundings.Itwasinstantlyclearthathisguessaboutbeinginacavewasasinaccurateasithadbeenemotional.Thiswasobviouslyanotherchamberinthealienship.
Fromtheappearanceofit,bare-walledandhigh-ceilinged,hesupposedittobeacargohold.Thelighttravelledacrossoddshapesandformationsthatwereeitheranintegralpartoftheholdwallorelsehadsomehowbeenattachedtoit.
