Чужой
V
Hefeltfaint;continuedtopullweaklyatthehand.Somethingwaspushinginsistentlyathislips.
Beyondallhorrornow,hestaggeredaboutthechamber,tryingtowrenchtheabominationfromhim.Thelong,sensitivefingershadslippedthroughtheopenfaceplate.Theyreachedoverhisskullandaroundthesidesofhishead,whilethethicktailslidinsidetowrapitselfsnake-likearoundhisneck.
Barelygettingair,theawfultubefeelinglikeafatwormslidingdownhisthroat,hestumbledoverhisownfeet,tripped,andfelloverbackward.
’Kane..Kane,canyouhearme?’Dallaswassweatinginsidehissuit.’Kane,answerme!’Silence.Hethoughtamoment.’Ifyoucan’tuseyourcommunicator,givemetwobeepsoffyourtrackingunit.’HelookedtoLambert,whocouldreceivethesignal.Shewaitedaproperinterval,waitedlongerbeforeshakingherheadslowly.
’Whatdoyouthink’sthematter?’sheasked.
’Idon’tknow,Idon’tknow.Maybehe’sfallenanddamagedhispowercells.’Hehesitated.’Hecan’torwon’tanswer.Ithinkwe’dbetterhaulhimout.’
’Isn’tthatabitpremature?I’mconcernedtoo,but..’
Dallashadaslightlywildlookinhiseyes.WhenhecaughtLambertstaringathimhecalmedhimself.
’I’mokay.I’mokay.Thisplace,’andhegesturedatthecoldwalls,’gottomeforamoment,that’sall.Istillsaywebringhimup.’
’It’llyankhimrightoffhisfeetifhe’snotexpectingit.Couldhurthim,especiallyifhehasfallenandhe’slyinginatwistedposition.
