?Move your fucking ass!?In no mood to debate what their theoretical relative positions ought to have been, Gregor accelerated wordlessly. William trailed in his wake.

In a side corridor Jude linked up with Kevin, and they glanced knowingly at the other. ?You too??

?Yeah.?Kevin was fighting for air.

?Okay. Over to E. Everybody.?

Kevin made a face, trying to remember. ?Where the fuck’s E??

His companion gestured impatiently. ?This way. Get a fuckin’ move-on.?

David was still alone, and he didn’t relish the continuing solitude. According to plan, he should have linked up with someone else by now. He did, however, find what remained of Vincent. It slowed but did not halt him.

?Kevin? Gregor? Morse? I found Vincent.?There was no response. He kept moving, unwilling to stop for anyone or anything. ?Let’s shut this fucker down.?The section of tunnel directly ahead was darker than the one he’d just vacated, but at least it was empty.

In the main corridor Dillon glanced at Troy. ?Help them.?

The other prisoner nodded and headed into the maze of corridors, hefting his map.

Prisoner Eric stood nearby, his gaze shifting constantly from Dillon to Ripley. He chewed his lower lip, then his fingernails. 202

Alan Dean Foster

She studied the monitor panel. It showed Gregor going one way, Morse the other. Her expression twisted.

?Where the fuck is he going? Why don’t they stick to the plan??

?You’re immune,?Dillon reminded her. ?They’re not.?

?Well, what the hell are they doin’??

Dillon’s attention was focused on the dimly lit far end of the corridor. ?Improvising.?

She rested her hand on the main piston control, saw Eric staring at her. He was sweating profusely.

David stumbled through the darkened corridor, holding his flare aloft and trying to penetrate the blackness ahead.

?Here, kitty, kitty, kitty. Here-?He broke off. The alien was clearly visible at the far end, pounding ineffectually on the door through which Jude had recently vanished.

He cocked his arm as the alien turned. ?Here, pussycat. Playtime!?He heaved the hissing flare. The alien was already coming toward him before the flare struck the floor.

Turning, he raced at high speed back the way he’d come. The distance to the next barrier was relatively short and he felt confident he’d make it. Sure enough, he was through in plenty of time. His hand came down hard on the close button. The door slipped downward… and stopped.

His eyes widened and he made a soft mewling noise as he stumbled backward, one faltering step at a time.

As he stared, the door continued to descend in halting jerks. He quivered as the alien slammed full speed into the door. Metal buckled but continued to descend in its uneven, herky-jerky fashion.

An alien paw punched through the gap and made a grab at David’s leg. Screaming, he leapt onto a ledge in the

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