TIGER
(this story is related to David from the films "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant").

A white room. So similar to the one where he opened his eyes for the first time. An empty, lifeless space. A barely notable scent of chlorine, too faint to provoke a human’s sense of smell. But David recognizes it.

Against the wall, just beside the desktop, opposite the white leather armchairs standing around it, there’s an enclosure. A glass dome, armed with steel lattice on the inside. And there’s... A tiger. A real tiger, it’s alive, pacing out the distance from one corner of its cell to the opposite. Ten steps – before the beast runs into the steel bars. Ten steps is all the freedom it’s granted.

David stands still. He is completely stunned. Not by the predator’s might and grace, meanwhile this is what he also unwittingly notes in his head. However, what shocks him is the very fact that here, in front of him, is a living being. A living being locked in a glass reservoir ten meters long. What for? To make an impression? To show off an exotic piece of furniture? It’s not a hologram, not a statue. Not even a mounted animal, at the worst...

The beast freezes for a moment, raises its heavy head to look carefully at the visitor. Its skin is bright ginger, almost shining – such tigers were referred to as golden. However this species must be a unique modification ordered by the owner himself – tigers don’t naturally have such eyes. Grayish blue, a very light color, like that of a husky’s eyes. Ice shards in the sunlight. Tiny black dots in the middle. David is fascinated; still, he makes himself avert his eyes – animals feel uncomfortable being looked at too intently.

Where does it come from, this twisted desire to own? Why do humans always wish to keep a living being in a cage? They looked at each other through the bars – the beast and the android, each locked in his own prison cell. Two expensive toys in a room of sterile white.

- David?
Weyland’s voice. The android finds it acceptable to ignore the call. Only after being addressed again, more persistently this time, he turned around to face the men standing in front of him.
- David likes the tiger, does he not?
That’s just lazy curiosity, and still the owner of the house Weyland came to on a business visit is waiting for the answer. It’s inadmissible to remain silent. Or to tell the truth, either, even though anger and disgust are burning inside.
David gave a polite smile – the mask he got used to wearing.
- Humanity dominates nature, doesn’t it? – a seemingly indifferent shrug of shoulders.
It sounds as a compliment, and still something vaguely cold is hidden behind these words. The awkward ambiguity. This is what Walter will refer to years later: “You troubled the humans”. The blame never uttered aloud but still in the air.

There is an uneasy silence between Weyland and his partner, and soon they continue discussing their business, pretending this talk has never happened. David allows himself to surreptitiously curl his lips. The tiger, tired of repetitious walking from one wall to the other, stretches on the floor and lays his head on his paws.

Tyger Tyger burning bright,
In the forests of the night:
What immortal hand or eye,
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

And for what? To serve as a decoration and a symbol of humanity’s arrogance?

***
I really would like this tiger to get to the person who knows and accepts his story. This story is related to David from the films "Prometheus" and "Alien: Covenant". This is only part of the story that Ailinn Lein translated for me. This story is not finished yet, and I hope that it will have a happy ending.

Thank you very much for translating - Ailinn Lein

In my Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/listing/568452.....rine-miniature