[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
That eye ... if it was an eye and not simply some shiny excrescence ...
deserved a closer look. Despite the feeling of repugnance churning in
his belly, he moved still closer and raised the light for a better view.
Page 51
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
The eye moved and looked at him.
The ovoid exploded. Propelled outward by the sudden release of energy
contained in the coiled tail, the hand opened and leaped at him. He
raised an arm to ward it off, too late. It fixed itself to his
faceplate. He had a horribly close glimpse of the weaving
96 tube in the center of the palm stroking the front of the glass,
centimeters from his nose. Something started to sizzle and the material
of the faceplate began to deliquesce. He panicked, tried to tear the
creature away.
It was through the plate. Alien atmosphere, cold and harsh, mixed with
breathable air. He felt faint; continued to pull weakly at the hand.
Something was pushing insistently at his lips.
Beyond all horror now, he staggered about the chamber, trying to wrench
the abomination from him. The long, sensitive fingers had slipped
through the open faceplate. They reached over his skull and around the
sides of his head, while the thick tail slid inside to wrap itself
snake-like around his neck.
Barely getting air, the awful tube feeling like a fat worm sliding down
his throat, he stumbled over his own feet, tripped, and fell over backward.
?Kane ... Kane, can you hear me??Dallas was sweating inside his suit.
?Kane, answer me!?Silence. He thought a moment. ?If you can't use your
communicator, give me two beeps off your tracking unit.?He looked to
Lambert, who could receive the signal. She waited a proper interval,
waited longer before shaking her head slowly.
?What do you think's the matter??she asked.
?I don't know, I don't know. Maybe he's fallen and damaged his power
cells.?He hesitated. ?He can't or won't answer. I think we'd better haul
him out.
?Isn't that a bit premature? I'm concerned too, but...?
Dallas had a slightly wild look in his eyes. When he caught Lambert
staring at him he calmed himself.
?I'm okay. I'm okay. This place,?and he
97 gestured at the cold walls, ?got to me for a moment, that's all. I
still say we bring him up.?
?It'll yank him right off his feet if he's not expecting it. Could hurt
him, especially if he has fallen and he's lying in a twisted position.
If there's nothing really wrong you'll never hear the end of it?
?Try him again.?
Lambert thumbed her own communicator. ?Kane ... Kane. Goddamn it, answer
us!?
?Keep trying.?While Lambert continued to call, alternately pleading and
threatening, Dallas reached across the shaft opening and examined the
cable. It moved easily in his hand. Too easily. He tugged, and a meter
of line came up in his grasp without the expected resistance.
Page 52
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
?Line's slack.?He glanced back at her.
?He still doesn't answer. Can't or won't. Do you think he could have
gone and unhooked himself? I know what you told him, but you know how he
is. Probably thought we wouldn't notice a temporary reduction in cable
tension. If he spotted something and was afraid of the cable getting
snagged or not reaching, I wouldn't put it past him to go and unlatch.?
?I don't care what he might've found. I do care that he doesn't
answer.?Dallas adjusted the winch motor, switched it on. ''Too bad if it
upsets him. If there's nothing wrong with him or his equipment, I'll
make him wish he had unhooked.?
A flip of another switch and the winch began to reel in cable. Dallas
watched it intently, relaxed a little when he saw the line snap taut
after a couple of meters had been rewound. As expected, the cable slowed.
?There's weight on the end. It caught?
98 ?Is it hooked on something??
?Can't be. It's still coming up, only slightly different speed. If it
had gotten caught and was dragging something besides Kane, the different
weight would make it rise slower or faster. I think he's still there,
even if he can't answer.?
?What if he objects and tries to use his chest unit to try to descend??
Dallas shook his head curtly. ?He can't do it.?He nodded toward the
winch. ?The cable override's on the unit there, not the portable he's
wearing. He'll come up whether he likes the idea or not.? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl exclamation.htw.pl
That eye ... if it was an eye and not simply some shiny excrescence ...
deserved a closer look. Despite the feeling of repugnance churning in
his belly, he moved still closer and raised the light for a better view.
Page 51
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
The eye moved and looked at him.
The ovoid exploded. Propelled outward by the sudden release of energy
contained in the coiled tail, the hand opened and leaped at him. He
raised an arm to ward it off, too late. It fixed itself to his
faceplate. He had a horribly close glimpse of the weaving
96 tube in the center of the palm stroking the front of the glass,
centimeters from his nose. Something started to sizzle and the material
of the faceplate began to deliquesce. He panicked, tried to tear the
creature away.
It was through the plate. Alien atmosphere, cold and harsh, mixed with
breathable air. He felt faint; continued to pull weakly at the hand.
Something was pushing insistently at his lips.
Beyond all horror now, he staggered about the chamber, trying to wrench
the abomination from him. The long, sensitive fingers had slipped
through the open faceplate. They reached over his skull and around the
sides of his head, while the thick tail slid inside to wrap itself
snake-like around his neck.
Barely getting air, the awful tube feeling like a fat worm sliding down
his throat, he stumbled over his own feet, tripped, and fell over backward.
?Kane ... Kane, can you hear me??Dallas was sweating inside his suit.
?Kane, answer me!?Silence. He thought a moment. ?If you can't use your
communicator, give me two beeps off your tracking unit.?He looked to
Lambert, who could receive the signal. She waited a proper interval,
waited longer before shaking her head slowly.
?What do you think's the matter??she asked.
?I don't know, I don't know. Maybe he's fallen and damaged his power
cells.?He hesitated. ?He can't or won't answer. I think we'd better haul
him out.
?Isn't that a bit premature? I'm concerned too, but...?
Dallas had a slightly wild look in his eyes. When he caught Lambert
staring at him he calmed himself.
?I'm okay. I'm okay. This place,?and he
97 gestured at the cold walls, ?got to me for a moment, that's all. I
still say we bring him up.?
?It'll yank him right off his feet if he's not expecting it. Could hurt
him, especially if he has fallen and he's lying in a twisted position.
If there's nothing really wrong you'll never hear the end of it?
?Try him again.?
Lambert thumbed her own communicator. ?Kane ... Kane. Goddamn it, answer
us!?
?Keep trying.?While Lambert continued to call, alternately pleading and
threatening, Dallas reached across the shaft opening and examined the
cable. It moved easily in his hand. Too easily. He tugged, and a meter
of line came up in his grasp without the expected resistance.
Page 52
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
?Line's slack.?He glanced back at her.
?He still doesn't answer. Can't or won't. Do you think he could have
gone and unhooked himself? I know what you told him, but you know how he
is. Probably thought we wouldn't notice a temporary reduction in cable
tension. If he spotted something and was afraid of the cable getting
snagged or not reaching, I wouldn't put it past him to go and unlatch.?
?I don't care what he might've found. I do care that he doesn't
answer.?Dallas adjusted the winch motor, switched it on. ''Too bad if it
upsets him. If there's nothing wrong with him or his equipment, I'll
make him wish he had unhooked.?
A flip of another switch and the winch began to reel in cable. Dallas
watched it intently, relaxed a little when he saw the line snap taut
after a couple of meters had been rewound. As expected, the cable slowed.
?There's weight on the end. It caught?
98 ?Is it hooked on something??
?Can't be. It's still coming up, only slightly different speed. If it
had gotten caught and was dragging something besides Kane, the different
weight would make it rise slower or faster. I think he's still there,
even if he can't answer.?
?What if he objects and tries to use his chest unit to try to descend??
Dallas shook his head curtly. ?He can't do it.?He nodded toward the
winch. ?The cable override's on the unit there, not the portable he's
wearing. He'll come up whether he likes the idea or not.? [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]