Чужой
V
Dallasreturned,sectionsofthedisassembledtripodunderhisrightarm.Spreadingthepiecesoutonthedeck,hebegantorigacrudeplatformonwhichtodragKane.Fearlentspeedtohisglovedfingers.
Oncethedevicewasfinished,helowereditgingerlytothesurfaceoutside.Itfellthelastcoupleofmetresbutdidnotbreak.HedecideditwouldholdtheunconsciousexecuntiltheycouldreachtheNostromo.
Theshortdaywasrapidlyrushingtoanend,theatmosphereoncemoreturningthecolourofblood,thewindrisingmournfully.Notthattheycouldn’thaulKanebackorfindthetuginthedark,butDallasnowhadlessdesirethanevertobeabroadonthiswindsweptworldatnight.SomethinggrotesquebeyondimagininghadrisenfromthedepthsofthederelicttoimprintitselfonKane’sfaceandtheirminds.Worseterrorsmightevennowbegatheringinthedust-impregnateddusk.HelongeddesperatelyforthesecuremetalwallsoftheNostromo.
Asthesunfellbehindrisingcloudstheringoffloodlightsliningtheundersideofthetugwinkedon.Theydidnotmakethelandscapearoundtheshipcheerful,merelyservedtobrightenthedismalcontoursoftheigneousrockonwhichitrested.Occasionalclotsofthickerdustwouldswirlinfrontofthem,temporarilyoblitreatingeventhatfeebleattempttokeepbackthecloyingdarkness.
Onthebridge,Ripleywaitedresignedlyforsomewordfromthesilentexplorationparty.Thefirstfeelingsofhelplessnessandignorancehadfadedbynow.Theyhadbeenreplacedbyavaguenumbnessinbodyandsoul.
