Alan Dean Foster Alien 02 Aliens

[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

running around. No way.?
Bishop took a step forward. ?I'll go.?Quiet, matter of fact. As though
there was no alternative.
Ripley gaped at him. ?What?"
He smiled apologetically. ?I'm really the only one present who is
qualified to remote-pilot a dropship, anyway. And the outside weather
won't bother me the way it would the rest of you. Nor will I be subject
to quite the same degree of... mental distractions. I'll be able to
concentrate on the job.?
?If you aren't accosted by any passing pedestrians,?Ripley pointed out.
?Yes, I will be fine if I am not interrupted.?His smile widened.
?Believe me, I'd prefer not to have to attempt this. I may be synthetic,
but I'm not stupid. As nuclear incineration is the sole alternative,
however, I am willing to give it a try.?
?All right. Let's get on it. What'll you need?"
?The portable transmitter, of course. And we'll need to check to make
sure the antenna is still drawing power. Since we're making an
extra-atmospheric broadcast on a narrow beam, the transmitter will have
to be realigned as precisely as possible. I will also need some-?
178
ALAN DEAN FOSTER
Vasquez interrupted sharply. ?Listen!?
?To what?"Hudson turned a slow circle. ?I don't hear anything.?
?Exactly. It's stopped.?
The smartgun operator was right. The booming and scratching at the fire
door had ceased. As they listened, the silence was broken by the
high-pitched trill of a motion-sensor alarm. Hicks looked at the
tactical console.
?They're into the complex.?
Page 126
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
It didn't take long to get together the equipment Bishop needed. Finding
a safe way out for him was another matter entirely. They debated
possible exit routes, mixing information from the colony computer with
suggestions from the tactical console, and spicing the results with
their own heated personal opinions. The result was a consensual route
that was the best of an unpromising bunch.
It was presented to Bishop. Android or not, he had the final say. Along
with a multitude of other human emotions the new synthetics were also
fully programmed for self-preservation. Or as Bishop ventured when the
discussion of possible escape paths grew too heated, on the whole he
would rather have been in Philadelphia.
There was little to argue about. Everyone agreed that the route selected
was the only one that offered half a chance for him to slip out of
Operations without drawing unwelcome attention. An uncomfortable silence
ensued once this course was agreed upon, until Bishop was ready to depart.
One of the acid holes that was part of the colonists' losing battle with
the aliens had formed a sizable gap in the floor of the medical lab. The
hole offered access to the maze of subfloor conduits and serviceways.
Some of these had been added subsequent to the colony's original
construction and tacked on as required by Hadley's industrious
inhabitants. It was one of these additions that Bishop was preparing to
enter.
The android lowered himself through the opening, sliding
179
179
and twisting until he was lying on his back, looking up at the others.
?How is it?"Hicks asked him.
Bishop looked back between his feet, then arched his neck to stare
straight ahead. The chosen path. ?Dark. Empty. Tight, but I guess I can
make it.?
You'd better, Ripley mused silently. ?Ready for the terminal?"
A pair of hands lifted, as if in supplication. ?Pass it down.?She handed
him the heavy, compact device.
Turning with an effort, he shoved it into the constricted shaft ahead of
him. Fortunately the instrument was sheathed in protective plastic. It
would make some noise as it was pushed along the conduit but not as much
as metal scraping on metal. He turned on his back and raised his hands a
second time.
?Let's have the rest.?
Ripley passed him a small satchel. It contained tools, patch cables and
replacement circuit boards, energy bypasses, a service pistol, and a
small cutting torch, together with fuel for same. More weight and bulk,
but it couldn't be helped. Better to take a little more time reaching
the uplink tower than to arrive short of some necessary item.
?You're sure about which way you're going?"Ripley asked him.
Page 127
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
?If the updated colony schematic is correct, yes. This duct runs almost [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

Archiwum