He lay on his back, eying the ceiling and puffing contentedly. ?Like I said, what’s wrong with that??

Footsteps came pounding down the corridor outside the big man’s room. He sat up curiously as Ripley turned.

Morse halted, breathing hard. His gaze darted from one to the other. Clearly he hadn’t expected to find Ripley there. ‘Hey, Dillon!?

The big man removed the smoker from his lips. ?You’re interrupting a private discussion, brother.?

Morse glanced anew at Ripley, then back to his fellow prisoner. ?Put it on hold. I think we got a very large fucking problem, mate.?

Aaron was no medical tech, but it didn’t take a doctor to see how the two men had been killed. Their heads had been bashed in. That wasn’t the alien’s technique. The bloody club lying nearby only confirmed his suspicions. As 174

Alan Dean Foster

for the one who’d killed them, he hadn’t profited by his deed. Golic’s mutilated corpse lay nearby.

Aaron rose to join the others in gazing numbly at the gap in the toxic storage chamber’s doorway. Dillon had stuck a torch inside, confirmed that it was empty.

?This cuts it,?the acting superintendent muttered angrily. ?Miserable son of a bitch let it loose. Crazy fucker. Got what he deserved, by God. Now what the fuck are we gonna do? Andrews was right. We should’ve kept the dumb shithead chained up or sedated. Stupid-ass rehab ‘experts’.?He paused, eying Ripley with some concern. ?What’s the matter? Side effects again??

She was leaning against the wall for support, sucking air in long, awkward gasps and holding her stomach with her other hand.

?Piss on her,?Morse growled. ?The fuckin’ thing’s loose out there.?He looked around wildly. ?Now what the fuck are we gonna do??

?I just said that,?Aaron growled. ?You’re the dumb prick that let Golic go. You miserable little shit, you’ve killed all of us!?

For a man of undistinguished physique he packed an impressive punch. Morse went down hard, blood streaming from his nose. As the acting superintendent loomed over him he was grabbed from behind. Dillon easily lifted him off the floor and set him aside. Aaron glared back at the big man, panting.

?Cut that shit out,?Dillon warned him.

?Watch yourself, Dillon! I’m still in charge here.?

?I ain’t disputing it. But you don’t be doin’ that. You get me? You don’t be beating on the brothers. That’s my job.?

They regarded each other a moment longer. Then 175

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Aaron took a deep breath and looked away, back down at the cringing Morse. ?Then tell your fuckin’ bozo to shape up. All this shit is his fault!?

Dillon ignored both of them as he turned to Ripley. ?What do you think? We took care of it once. We still got a chance??