Чужой
V
Threeblips,steadysignals.’
’Wherearethey?’
’Close..veryclose.Someonemust’vethoughttoswitchbackonsowecouldpickthemup.They’reheadingthiswayatasteadypace.Slow,buttheykeepmoving.Itlooksgood.’
Don’tcountonit,shethoughttoherselfassheactivatedherstationtransmitter.’Dallas..Dallas,canyouhearme?’Ahurricaneofstaticreplied,andshefine-tuned.’Dallas,thisisRipley.Acknowledge.’
’Easy,Ripley.Wehearyou.We’realmostback.’
’Whathappened?Welostyouonthescreens,lostsuitsignalsaswellwhenyouwentinsidethederelict.I’veseenAsh’stapes.Haveyou..?’
’Kane’shurt.’Dallassoundedexhaustedandangry.’We’llneedsomehelpgettinghimin.He’sunconscious.Someonewillhavetogiveusahandgettinghimoutofthelock.’
Aquickresponsesoundedoverthespeakers.’I’llgo.’ThatwasAsh.
Backinengineering,ParkerandBrettwerelisteningintentlytotheconversation.
’Unconscious,’repeatedParker.’AlwaysknewKanewouldgethimselfintroublesomeday.’
’Right.’Brettsoundedworried.
’Notabadguy,though,foraship’sofficer.LikehimbetterthanDallas.Notsofastwithanorder.Iwonderwhatthehellhappenedtothemoutthere?’
’Don’tknow.We’llfindoutsoonenough.’
’Maybe,’Parkerwenton,’hejustfelldownandknockedhimselfout.’
TheexplanationwasasunconvincingtoParkerasitwastoBrett.Bothmenwentquiet,theirattentiononthebusy,cracklingspeaker.
’Theresheis.’
