Чужой
V
IfithadgottencaughtandwasdraggingsomethingbesidesKane,thedifferentweightwouldmakeitriseslowerorfaster.Ithinkhe’sstillthere,evenifhecan’tanswer.’
’Whatifheobjectsandtriestousehischestunittotrytodescend?’
Dallasshookhisheadcurtly.’Hecan’tdoit.’Henoddedtowardthewinch.’Thecableoverride’sontheunitthere,nottheportablehe’swearing.He’llcomeupwhetherhelikestheideaornot.’
Lambertgazedexpectantlydowntheshaft.’Istillcan’tseeanything.’
Alightbarilluminatedaportionofthehole.Dallasplayeditacrosssmoothwalls.’NeithercanI.Buttheline’sstillcomingup.’
Itcontinueditssteadyrise,bothsuitedfigureswaitinganxiouslyforsomethingtoappearinthewaitingcircleofDallas’slight.Itwasseveralminutesbeforetheconeofilluminationwasinterruptedbysomethingrisingfrombelow.
’Herehecomes.’
’He’snotmoving.’Lambertsearchednervouslyforagestureofsomekindfromthenearingshape.Anobscenity,anything..butKanedidnotmove.
Thetripodbentslightlydownwardasthelastfewmetresofcablewerereeledin.
’Getreadytograbhimifheswingsyourway.’Lambertreadiedherselfontheoppositesideoftheshaft.
Kane’sbodyappeared,swingingslowlyontheendofthecable.Ithunglimpinthedimlight.
Dallasreachedacrossthegap,intendingtograbthemotionlessexecutiveofficerbyhischestharness.
