Чужой
V
Dallasdidn’tcomment,turnedhisattentionbacktotheblackcircleoftheshaft,continuedtostaredownwardalthoughhecouldn’tseeathing.
AflashofKane’slightbarrevealedstillmoreofthepeculiarobjectsattachedtothefloorofthechamber,inthecentreoftheroom.Hemovedtowardthem,circledthemwhileexaminingindividualspecimensinturn.Eachwasroughlyathirdofametrehigh,ovalinshape,andleatheryinappearance.Choosingoneatrandom,heturnedhislightonit,keptitfocusedthere.Thesteadyilluminationrevealednothingnew,nordiditseemtohaveanyeffectontheovoid.
’It’slikesomekindofstoragearea,forsure.’Therewasnoresponsefromhishelmetspeakers.’Isaidit’sdefinitelyastoragearea.Anybodyreadme?’
’Loudandclear,’Dallassaidquickly.’Wewerelistening,that’sall.Yousayyou’reprettysureit’sastorageroom?’
’That’sright.’
’Anythingtosupportthatpremisebesidesitssizeandshape?’
’Sureis.Thoseprotrusionsonthewallarealsoonthefloor,andthey’renotpartoftheship.Thiswholeplaceisstockedwith’em.Leatherythings.Matteroffact,theykindofresemblethaturnyoufoundabove,onlythesearemuchsofterlooking.Andtheseseemtobesealed,whereyourswasempty.They’reallarrangedaccordingtosomebody’sconceptoforder,thoughthereseemstobealotofwastedspace.’
’Funny-soundingkindofcargo,ifthat’swhatitis.Canyouseeifanything’sinthem?’Dallaswasrememberingthehollowurnshapehe’dfound.
