[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Parker shook his head. ?We tried to approximate something punishing but
not lethal. We don't know anything about this variety of the creature,
and we didn't have time for installing niceties like current regulators,
anyway. Each tube generates a single, unvariable charge. We're not
miracle workers, you know.?
?First time I ever heard you admit it,?said Ripley. Parker threw her a
sour look.
?It won't damage the little bastard unless its nervous system is a lot
more sensitive than ours,?Brett told them. ?We're as sure of that as we
can be. Its parent was smaller and plenty tough.? He hefted the tube,
looking like an ancient gladiator about to enter the arena. ?This'll
just give it a little incentive. Of course, it won't break my heart if
we succeed in electrocuting the little darling.?
?Maybe it will work,?Lambert conceded. ?So that's our possible solution
to problem one. What about problem number two: finding it??
?I've taken care of that.?Everyone turned in surprise to see Ash holding
a small, communicator-sized device. Ash was watching only Dallas,
however. Unable to meet the science officer's eyes, Dallas kept his
attention single-mindedly focused on the tiny device.
194 ?Since it's clearly imperative to locate the creature as soon as
possible, I've done some tinkering of my own. Brett and Parker have done
an admirable job in concocting a means for manipulating the creature.
Here is the means for finding it.?
?A portable tracker??Ripley admired the compact instrument. It looked as
if it had been assembled in a factory, instead of something hastily
cobbled together in a commercial tug's science lab.
Ash nodded once. ?You set it to search for a moving object. It hasn't
much range, but when you get within a certain distance it starts
beeping, and the volume increases proportionate to decreasing distance
from the target.?
Ripley took the tracker from the science officer's hand, turned it over,
Page 108
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
and examined it with a professional eye. ?What does it key on? How do we
tell alien from fellow bitcher??
?Two ways,?Ash explained proudly. ?As I mentioned, its range is short.
That could be considered a shortcoming, but in this instance it works to
our advantage, since it permits two parties to search close by one
another without the tracker picking up the other group.
?More importantly, it incorporates a sensitive air-density monitor. any
moving object will affect that. You can tell from the reading which
direction the object is moving. Just keep it pointed ahead of you.
?It's not nearly as sophisticated an instrument as I wished to have, but
it's the best I could come up with in the limited time available.?
?You did great, Ash,?Dallas had to admit. He took the proffered tracker
from Ripley. ?This should be more than sufficient. How many did you make
195 up??By way of reply, Ash produced one duplicate of the device in the
captain's palm.
?That means we can work two teams. Good. I don't have anything fancy to
offer as far as instructions. You all know what to do as well as I.
Whoever finds it first nets it, somehow gets it into the lock, and blows
it toward Rigel as fast as the hatches will function. I don't care if
you feel like using the explosive bolts on the outer door. We'll walk
out in our suits if we have to.?
He started for the corridor, paused to look around the cramped,
instrument-packed room. It seemed impossible that anything could have
slipped in there without being noticed, but if they were going to make a
thorough search, they'd do well not to make exceptions.
?For starters, let's make sure the bridge is clean.?
Parker held one of the trackers. He turned it on, swept it around the
bridge, keeping his attention on the crudely marked gauge set into the
unit's face.
?Six displacements,?he announced when the sweep had been completed. ?All
positioned approximately where each of us is standing. We seem to be
clean in here... if this damn thing works.?
Ash spoke without taking offense. ?It works. As you've just demonstrated.?
Additional equipment was passed around. Dallas surveyed the waiting men
and women. ?Everybody ready??There were a couple of whispered, sullen
?no's,? and everyone smiled. Kane's grisly passing had already faded
somewhat from their memories. This time they were prepared for the alien
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]