Chapter 2: “I love your hair, River,” Katie, Kaylee’s fourteen-year-old cousin said as she ran a horsehair brush through the long brown locks. “It’s so pretty.” “It’s just fabric,” River said to Joanne, Kaylee’s sixteen-year-old cousin, ignoring Katie and her observation all together. “It should be soft.” “Well, we’re gonna stuff it with somethin’,” Joanne said, taking the doll River had stitched together away from the girl. It wasn’t very complicated, the body was made out of the scraps from an old apron, it was red with little white flowers on it and very, very soft from years of wear. A flour bag made up the bonnet and the baby’s hands. Zoë’s baby, Joanne was positive, would absolutely adore it. River had never sewn a doll before. She’d never sewn anything before. She didn’t know why, but this activity, Joanne had insisted, would be the most rewarding of all the many things they could do that day. Joanne had said that Jack wouldn’t want to be around ‘them girls’ if they were sewing. River didn’t know why anyone wouldn’t want Jack around, but she didn’t feel nearly confident enough to say so. It had turned out all right though, after much protesting from Joanne, Katie and Miriam (Kaylee’s nine-year-old cousin), and an intervention by their mother where River was forced to make her opinions of the situation known: Jack was allowed to stay as long as he didn’t get in the way. Much to Joanne’s displeasure, he’d spent the entire afternoon totally out of the way, sitting in the windowsill whittling and observing as Joanne patiently showed River how to cut and pin and stitch. “Not sand,” River said. “Sand is little, little rocks. ‘If your son asks for a loaf of bread, will you give him a stone’?” “Oh-kay,” Joanne said, glancing at Katie significantly. From across the room, Jack glared spitefully at his sisters. “What else we got?” “Sawdust,” River said, petting her little doll. “Heart and soul of wood. Living, breathing, growing.” “Good idea, River,” Jack said before his sisters could throw each other more significant glances. “Uncle Collin’s got loads a sawdust. That doll’ll be soft as a baby bunny.” “But it won’t bite,” River said, glancing at Jack. He smiled at her and chills she couldn’t quite account for flew down her spine. It was an alarming yet very pleasurable experience. She wanted him to smile at her again. “You girls comin’?” Jack asked. “Yeah, I guess,” Joanne said as she stood up. She’d really wanted to be River’s bosom friend, but Jack was stealing the new girl away. Perhaps it was for the best. Joanne was starting to think that River must be totally loopy, in which case, she didn’t really want to be her friend so much after all. “I’m sorry,” River said to Joanne softly as they followed Jack, who was showing off by walking nearly three feet above them on a rickety fence post, to Collin’s workshop. “You’re sorry?” Joanne asked. “What did you do?” “I don’t know how to be your friend,” River said. “You’re mad.” “I’m not mad,” Joanne gasped. River looked at the girl, quizzically, “Yes, you are.” “How would you know what I feel?” Joanne practically screamed. “What, do you read minds or something?” “I’m sorry,” River said again, more than a little cowed by Joanne’s violent overreaction. “The girls, they talk and they know the words to say and I lost the script, forgot my lines. Maybe they dug into my brain and they pulled them out, or maybe they were just never learned to start with. It’s blurry.” Joanne starred at River absolutely horrified. “What the hell . . .” “I’m sorry,” River said again. “If you lend me a script I’ll read off it. I can memorize real fast.” “I . . .” Joanne said. “I think my mom’s calling me.” “No, she’s not,” River offered helpfully. ”Yeah, I think she is,” Joanne insisted. “She’s calling all us girls. You can stay with Jack.” “All, all right,” River said softly. She’d been lied to before, she didn’t know why this particular lie made her feel so bad, like she was stupid and silly and just not good enough. “Katie, Miri, come on,” Joanne ordered. The girls looked at their older sister curiously, but followed her lead as she turned and started heading back towards their house. River heard a thud as Jack jumped from his precarious position on the fence post and landed slightly behind her. “I really am sorry,” River said. “I want to be fixed but they took a way the tools.” Jack laughed, but not meanly. “You’re really different.” “I’d like to be the same,” River said honestly. “But I’ve never matched.” “The same is boring,” Jack said, scrunching his nose. “Joanne’s the same as every other girl in this town and she’s boring.” “She’s not like Kaylee,” River observed. “Kaylee’s from this town.” “Kaylee was different too,” Jack said, slipping his hand into hers and, with that leverage, turning them both back towards his Uncle Collin’s. “Now come on, we wanna finish that doll ta give ta your friend Zoë, don’ we?” “You don’t think I’m crazy?” River asked, not defensively but rather curiously. “’Cours you’re crazy,” Jack laughed. “Crazy wonderful.” “That, that doesn’t . . .” River began. “I mean," Jack went on, “The way ya danced last night, and the way you talk and the way you do, well, everythin’, it’s all different from everybody else. It’s all crazy, but it’s all pretty wonderful too.” River stared at the boy, overwhelmed by how earnestly he meant everything he’d just said. For the first time in her life she didn’t have a thing to say. Even since the Academy, since she’d become confused, she’d still had something to say, regardless of whether or not anyone else understood. But now, looking at Jack’s very deep brown eyes, she was dumbstruck. “Hey, there, kids!” Wash said, drawing Jack’s attention and startling River so badly that she screeched, stumbled back a few steps and finally took a somewhat defensive position behind Jack. “He’s a tattle-tale,” She whispered harshly into the boy’s ear. “He’ll tell the big people and we’ll have our tongues cut out.” “It’s ok, River,” Wash said, holding his hands up as if to prove they weren’t blue. “I promise not to tell anyone anything that will lead to your tongue being cut out,” the pilot couldn’t help but wince at the thought. Jack, as soon as he got over the initial shock of hearing her scream, and his brain had processed what exactly it was she’d said, laughed. “You’re such a nut,” he said playfully. “You think I’m joking,” River said, a little defensively. “Well,” Jack asked, his smile slipping just a little, “Ain’t cha?” “Of course she is,” Wash quickly said, stepping forward and pulling River out from behind the boy. She moved jerkily, like a marionette or a rag doll, but without a struggle. “That’s just what we call her up on the ship, crazy, joking River.” “You don’t . . .” The girl started softly, looking up at Wash with a curious expression that reminded him very much of Simon. “You two look so good together,” Wash said, overpowering the girl’s protests as he deposited River right next to Jack. “Like one of those old pictures, you know?” “Why not a newish picture?” Jack asked. “Well I guess you guys look like one a them too,” Wash replied a little deflated. “Just old ones are, ya know, quainter.” Neither Jack nor River seemed entirely taken by Wash’s arguments. He switched tracks. “Where you two headed?” “Collin’ an’ Margie’s,” Jack said. “River’s gonna stuff the doll she made with sawdust.” “You made a doll?” Wash asked. “Can I see it?” “It’s for the baby,” River said, shoving her left hand, which had been holding the doll since they left Jack’s home, behind her back. “It’s a surprise.” “You can show it to me,” Wash insisted, “The baby’ll still be surprised.” “Go on,” Jack insisted, nudging the girl encouragingly with his elbow, “Show ‘im.” Timidly, River raised the floppy construction up for Wash to examine. “River, this is adorable,” Wash said, his voice sounded surprised, as if he half expected the girl to sew a doll with too many arms or a horribly misshapen head. “And you’re gonna put saw dust in it?” The girl nodded. “Neat,” He said, handing the doll back to River. “I promise not to tell Zoë about it.” “We don’t need to surprise Zoë,” River said softly. “We need to surprise the baby.” “I don’t see that as being too hard,” Wash muttered, then added, “Why don’t you take my advice and just keep it a secret from Zo? I’ll tell you when ta give it to her.” River turned to Jack and whispered in his ear, clearly not wanting Wash to know her thoughts: “Is that a good idea?” “Yeah,” Jack said, smiling back at her. “Probably. I don’t know ‘bout baby stuff.” “Ok,” River said, eyeing Wash shrewdly. “I’ll trust you. But if you tell the big people . . .” “Not really an issue,” Wash assured her, once more demonstrating that his hands were not blue in the least. “Hey, I won’t even tell Simon.” “Simon,” River said, her brow wrinkling, “Why would you?” “I, ah,” Wash said a little awkwardly. “I wouldn’t.” * * * “Yeah, yeah,” Kaylee grunted as she pushed herself out from under the R-8-30 engine. “That’s what'll happen when ya drive a hover boat on land. Ain’t ment ta go over lumps, just nice smooth water.” “But can ya fix it, Kay?” Henderson Ringwood asked, leaning down so that their faces were pretty much parallel. “I could,” Kaylee said, pushing herself into a sitting position. “But I don’t much see the point. Your just gonna break it again.” “Swear I won’t,” Henderson said, putting his hand over his chest and holding his arm up. “Swear on the Holy Bible.” Kaylee sighed. “Ya know, I wouldn’t even be doin’ this ‘cept I love your hover boat so much. It’s too good a machine for an old loser like you.” “Yeah,” Henderson said softly from low in his throat. “’Sides the ‘bout thirty rips ya got on the pad here,” Kaylee said pushing herself up and away from the hover boat, “your equalizer’s shot. And I can’t just fix it, it’s been rerouted and cross wired so many times that there ain’t hardly nothin’ left.” “You oughtn’t a gone on that ship, Kay,” Henderson said, out of the blue. “What?” Kaylee slurred, turning her head, only vaguely aware of what he’d said. “You should have stayed here, Kay,” Henderson asserted, stepping closer to her. “The town misses you.” “And I miss the town,” Kaylee said, sweeping a loose wisp of hair behind her ears. “Ain’t nothin’ so nice as comin’ home.” “Ya should stay,” Henderson said, taking yet another step forward. “Town ain’t the same without cha.” “That ain’t true,” Kaylee laughed, a little nervously, turning back to the hover boat so she could pretend to examine it further. “I get waves from my folks. All the same people doin’ all the same things.” “Well, it don’t feel the same,” Henderson said, taking still another step closer. She could practically feel his breath on her neck. It was annoying, he was annoying. He was the boy next door, literally, and she may have liked him when she was younger, when her world was smaller, but now she looked at him and couldn’t help but see a cocky hick who liked not having to learn anything new, not having to try anything different, not having to suffer, even a little, regardless of the pay off. “Get back, Henderson,” Kaylee growled over her shoulder, “We ain’t like that, haven’t been for a long time.” “Seein’ ya again Kay,” he said, putting his hand’s on her waist, pressing his body inappropriately close to her. “It’s makin’ me crazy. I didn’t know what I was missin’ ‘till it was gone.” “And I didn’t know what I was lakin’ ‘till I hade it,” Kaylee said forcefully, turning herself around and grabbing Henderson’s wrists so she could pull them off her waist. “What would that be?” Henderson asked seductively, clearly not reading her mood. Kaylee opened her mouth to tell him that she’d found a big, wonderful universe full of people who were smart enough to take care of their hover boats, and clever enough to see when a girl wasn’t interested, and kind enough to not try and rekindle old flames, especially when they were the ones to dump water on the fire in the first place so they could chase after a pretty blond girl from across town who was three years younger. That’s exactly what she was going to say, but she didn’t. Because as soon as she opened her mouth, she saw Simon poke his head around the door and into the workshop. His mouth was open, as if he has been about to say something, probably call her to dinner, but what he saw chased all those words from his mind. He just stood there, wide eyed, slack jawed, trying to think of what to do next. “Simon,” Kaylee said, pushing herself away from Henderson and running over to the doctor, who’d finally managed to take a deep breath, close his mouth, and blush. “I, ah, I didn’t realize . . .” he stuttered, taking a few steps back, away from the door. “If, if you were . . .” “He’s an old friend,” Kaylee tried to explain as Simon continued to inch away from her. “A friend?” “Just a friend,” Kaylee said. “I mean, we were once . . . but now, now he’s . . . he’s not even a friend. I was doin’ him a favor ‘cause I like his boat.” “His boat?” Simon laughed bitterly. “What kind of favor?” “Fixin’ it” Kaylee explained. “Fixing his boat?” Simon nodded, his voice squeaked a little. “No,” Kaylee gasped, exasperated. “The hover boat, idiot don’t know enough ta keep it on the water. And don’t you go findin’ innuendo in that!” Simon looked at her, a muscle in his jaw twitching a little. She thought he looked hurt and frustrated and a little angry. She wanted to walk up to him and squeeze his arm and ask ‘what’s the matter baby?’ but she knew that would only make things worse. Besides, she knew what was the matter was. “You’re mother wants you,” he said stoically staring at her. “Dinner’s almost ready; she needs you to . . .” he faltered a little, his eyes drifting to the ground. “She didn’t say why she needed you. She just wanted me to let you know.” “Right,” Kaylee sighed. She didn’t even turn to say goodbye to Henderson, who had gotten as far as he was going to get on the virtue of owning and neglecting a hover boat. She pushed past Simon in a huff and started heading towards the back of her house where the long tables were set up for yet another community dinner. She’d gone nearly five paces before she realized that she wasn’t being followed. “Ain’t cha comin’?” She demanded, spinning around, her loose whips of hair falling right in the middle of her face in the most annoying way. “I was going to go find River,” Simon said, a little tersely, “If that’s all right.” “River’ll be at dinner,” Kaylee practically yelled. “You’ve been away from her all day, I don’t think couple more minutes is gonna kill either a ya.” “Forgive me for caring about my severely traumatized sister,” Simon snapped. “I do,” Kaylee replied. “All the time!” Simon looked at her, his eyes were cold and hard and unmistakably hurt. But he didn’t yell, he just shook his head and sighed before turning and walking away. Kaylee felt suddenly cold. “Stupid Simon,” Kaylee muttered as she turned back to her house. “Assumes stuff, don’t ask, obsessed with crazy River. Might as well run back ta Henderson, least he likes me right now.” But then, Simon did like her, he’d said as much, while he was sober nonetheless. And he’d said more too. She could remember, very clearly, him saying ‘I respect you.’ That was something that none of the boys in town or the men that had come to port had ever told her. Simon was the only one who saw in her something that deserved respect, and she knew enough about men, and about herself, to know just how much that was worth. “Stupid Simon,” she said again, wiping hot tears out of the corners of her eyes with her jumpsuit before she reached the yard and her mother could see that she’d been crying, or at least been almost crying. “Stupid, stupid Simon.” * * * “And so,” Shepherd Book said, gasping for breath as was most of his audience, between laughs. “We finally got the fish in the boat and by this time, Mr. Frye, Cap’n Reynolds and Zoë were beside themselves with laughter over in the other boat, but we were all soaking wet and, frankly, pretty mad at each other.” The table burst into laughter, with the exception of Jayne, who said, “Still are.” “But the fish,” Book said, drawing the audience back from their mad laughter. “It wasn’t dead. And none of us had gone fishin’ for this, so we weren’t aware that it can sometimes take quite a while for a fish ta die if you don’t kill it right out.” The table continued in its near hysterics. Kaylee had to wipe tears from her eyes and gasp for breath. Wash laughed so hard he thought he was going to faint. Zoë and Mal kept exchanging glances, snickering about how the story would end. Even Simon, who hadn’t enjoyed the events which were being recounted, managed to smile and laugh. Jayne alone didn’t see the humor. “So we just sort of stood there, trying to keep our balance in this boat with this huge fish flopping around and Simon was trying to calculate how long the fish could survive out of water given and oxygen intake and force exerted as it flopped around and I was trying to untangle myself from the fishing line and then Jayne,” Book gasped and struggled to compose himself as he pressed on with the story. By now Mal and Al were laughing so hard at the memory that they couldn’t possibly be listening and Simon’s snickers had turned into actual laughter. Jayne still didn’t find the situation at all amusing. “Jayne,” Book said. “Jayne, he . . .he pulled out his revolver and he said, he said, ‘I can fix this’ and, and he shot the fish’s head right off.” The table erupted into his strongest bout of laughter yet, “No,” Book insisted, “No, it gets better, the fish was still moving, twitching ya know, so he shoots it again, and then again!” The table was roaring. “Damn fish wouldn’t die,” Jayne muttered in weak defense of himself. Wash, who was sitting next to Jayne and was the only one to hear it, laughed so hard that he sprayed water all over his plate. “Y’all right there, honey?” Zoë chuckled. Wash was laughing to hard to answer her; he just waved at her with his napkin and nodded. “So, Simon reaches over and pulls Jayne’s gun down, and the fish, it’s pretty dead, still twitchin’ and what not, but not floppin’ like it was so we all settle down right and get back to the fishing. Well, about a minute later I notice this puddle of water at my feet. We’d been so preoccupied with the fish that we hadn’t even realized Jayne’d shot holes in the bottom of the boat! It was sinking!” The table, once again, burst into uncontrollable laughter. The party was almost calmed down enough for the Shepherd to tell the next part of the story, which involved the three men swimming haphazardly to shore, when a high-pitched, terror-filled, entirely-too-close, scream interrupted him. “What was that?” Kaylee asked, gasping a little as she tried to overcome her laughter. “Where’s River?” Simon asked, scanning the table for the first time since Book had started his long and hilarious retelling of the afternoon’s events. “Yer sister?” Hubert asked. “She went off with Jack a bit ago.” “Ma zi song xie sha zi, ” Simon muttered, pushing himself awkwardly away from the table and running in the direction the scream had come from. He didn’t notice that Mal, Kaylee, Book, Hubert and his wife, and a couple other assorted Fryes were following him. They ran back into the edges of the large yard, where there was the beginning of a small forest that dipped into a gully with a peaceful stream. It was a wonderful place for young people who didn’t want to be around adults, yet didn’t have the confidence to stray to far. There was enough privacy for all manors of mischief, yet it was within earshot of the house. The group found Jack running up the gully, right at the place where the yard met the trees. “I didn’t do anything!” the boy said, before anyone could ask. “I swear, I just, we just . . . it was innocent.” “What happened,” Simon demanded, “Where’s River?” “She ran off, she freaked,” Jack said. “I thought she liked me, I mean, I didn’t think she’d get so spooked, I’m really, really sorry.” “Son, what did you do?” Mal demanded, pushing his way through the crowd. “I kissed her,” Jack admitted, quickly adding. “It wasn’t dirty or mean or anything, just a kiss, a peck. I mean, I really thought that . . . she was holding my hand and we weren’t going to . . .” “Which way’d she run?” Simon asked, too afraid for his sister to care what set her off. “North east, long the stream,” The boy said, pointing. Simon immediately started to stumble down the hill in the direction Jack had indicated, Book and Mal following. “Jack,” Kaylee said, not unkindly. “Why didn’ ya go after her?” “I didn’ wanna scare her more,” Jack said. “Honest, I didn’ do anythin’ bad. And I’m real sorry, I’ll apologize an’ everything.” “What happened?” Zoë asked, as she, Wash, Jayne and most of the rest of Kaylee’s family caught up with them. “I didn’t do anything,” Jack said imploringly again. “He tried ta kiss her and River got spooked,” Kaylee explained to the rapidly growing crowd. Then turning to her cousin, she said, “Don’ worry, River’s a very special girl, but she ain’t quite right.” “Nuttier than a peanut butter factory,” Jayne interjected. Kaylee glared at him, then turned back to Jack. “I’m sure ya did nothin’ wrong. We’ll jus’ wait until they come back and maybe you’ll be able ta patch it up with River.” Jack nodded, trying to take Kaylee’s word for it, but obviously feeling very rotten about the whole thing. “Well, all right,” Nora said loudly, “Ain’t nothin’ ta be done here. Them men’ll bring back River soon ‘nuff. Come along.” The crowd started filing back towards the house, Jack and Kaylee lagging behind, trailing at the end of the group. “I’m really sorry,” Jack said, glancing behind him at the shadowy forest. “I didn’t mean nothin’ wrong, really. I though that’s what she . . . I mean, she’s just . . .” “Yeah,” Kaylee laughed, throwing her arm around her cousin’s shoulders and hugging him affectionately as they walked back towards the house. “They’re both like that. It’ll be fine.” * * * “River!” Simon called, running along the side of the gully, trying not to fall into the little stream. “River!” “River!” Book echoed, “Sweetie, where are you?!” “Ben dan nu sheng mi huo gaun yu qin gai !” Mal spat. “Where is that rutting sister a yours Doc?” “I don’t know,” Simon said. The boy sounded almost sick with worry. Mal decided not to ask him any more questions, instead he joined the other’s in yelling; “River!” They tromped through the forest for nearly ten minutes before Book saw her. She was sitting with her knees to her chest the middle of the stream with her backs to them about twenty yards away. “River!” Simon shouted, relief resounding in his voice as he ran lumberingly towards her slight form. Mal and Book joined the doctor in his charge, but Mal couldn’t help but feel that the fact she hadn’t even turned to look at them was a bad sign. As soon as he reached his sister Simon fell to his knees in the stream in front of her, but instead of reaching out to comfort her, like he always did, he just stared at her in horrified shock for a moment. When Mal reached them, he saw why. River’s hands were covered with blood, which was streaming out of a series of cuts on her forearms. She was muttering to her self, “Bad girl, bad bad girl. Eve tempted Adam and they were all damned. Damn, damn bad girl goes to hell. You burn and the devil laughs, everyone laughs at the bad, bad girl.” And as she muttered she stabbed her arms, drawing blood with every slash of a very sharp gray stone she must have found in the streambed. “River stop!” Mal yelled, grabbing the girl’s wrist and pulling her up while twisting her arm and forcing her to drop the bloody stone. “What the hell you think you’re doing?” “I was bad,” River said, gasping from surprise. Tears had started streaming down her cheeks. “Physical affection is inappropriate, superfluous, a waist of potential.” She seemed almost in a trance, like she was reciting something she’d been forced to learn, true meaning of her words seemed lost on her. “What the fei gan xing hou do you think you are doing, shen tong ?” Mal demanded again, a little more forcefully. “It has to stop, it can’t happen again,” River sobbed, “She has to be punished. Punish the bad, bad girl.” “River, no,” Simon said, finally finding his voice as he stood up. “You don’t have to be punished.” “But I do,” She said, looking at her brother sadly over her shoulder, “I do, I do.” “Should we be concerned about her arms?” Book said, interjecting himself rather awkwardly into the tense moment. “Could she bleed . . .?” “No,” Simon said a little sharply, stepping towards his sister and reaching out for her. Mal relinquished his grip warily. The last thing he wanted was for her to slip out of her brother’s arms, dive for the rock and start cutting on herself again. “These wounds are just superficial,” Simon said, stroking his sister’s arms gently as she stood shaking and sobbing. “It’s all right, mei mei,” he told her softly, maneuvering so that he could look her in her downcast eyes. “You didn’t do anything wrong or bad. We’ll go back to Kaylee’s house and I’ll bandage you up and everything will be all right.” The girl looked at him and laughed softly. “You don’t know.” “Then tell me,” Simon insisted. She shook her head, “You don’t . . .” “Tell me,” Her brother said forcefully, but not unkindly. “Please, River, tell me.” The girl blinked a few times, and then nodded. “Seems I pay for each transgression, Victim of another’s scheme, Every growth becomes recession, Every cry for joy, a scream. Longing, look I for a lesson; Facts are never what they seem, So I struggle for possession Of myself, of what I dream. Lost forever is a something, Wish I knew just what they took, What they left is worthless suff’ring Truth is, I’m afraid to look. Feel my soul is leaking, less’ning River’s now a babbling brook.” After a very long, very heavy silence, Simon managed to pull his sister into a protective hug, “Oh, mei mei,” he sighed. It was obvious that he was trying very hard not to cry. “Was that a poem about her?” Mal asked. “Did she write it?” “Come on,” Simon said softly. He’d found his composure and started leading his bloody sister away, back towards Kaylee’s family’s house. Book and Mal gave the siblings a good start before following. “That poor girl,” the shepherd said softly. “The road ahead of her is going to be very difficult.” “That may be, preacher,” Mal said. “But the truth of the matter is that she’s lucky to have a road ahead of her at all.” * * * “This is very important mission for me, personally,” Gov. Comworth told his first lieutenant Christopher McMeal in their unofficial meeting. So unofficial that Comworth felt it was necessary to intrude into the lieutenant’s private quarters late at night. “These children mean the world to me and there is every reason for you to be discreet when collecting them.” “Of course, sir.” “He won’t want to come,” The Governor said, taping on the picture of Simon and River Tam that was lying on the table between them. In this picture River was about fourteen, with her hair done up in curls and her face painted, wearing her best blue satin dress. She was facing the photographer, smiling, beaming, but her eyes were on Simon, to her right. He was standing, staring straight ahead, smiling with a sort of modest pride as he held his diploma showing he’d graduated from med school with honors. “Chose your team wisely,” Comworth continued, regrouping his thoughts. “If either of them is hurt you’ll pay dearly for it, and if this mission leaks out it will be all our skins, is that clear?” “Of course, sir,” McMeal said a little nervously. Comworth was such a good and beloved governor because he didn’t play the subversive political games that lesser leaders often engaged in. This meeting was highly unusual, and just a little concerning. “Good,” the governor said, pushing himself away from the table and standing. “You will leave as soon as you’re team is assembled. I expect them here by this time tomorrow night.” “Of course, sir,” the lieutenant snapped again, standing out of respect. “Good,” the older man said, nodding and looking once more at the picture on the table. “Good, I know I can depend on you.” “Sir,” McMeal asked, tentatively. “My I ask you a question?” The governor looked up and smiled, which was a good sign. “I make no promises about answering it, but go ahead.” “Who are these children?” Comworth looked down at the photo again; it was his favorite picture of the children. It was a few years old but he felt it captured who they were. No matter what happened, for better or for worse, Simon would always be the modestly proud brother and River the dreamy eyed adoring sister. “They are siblings, who have found themselves in a very, very difficult position. I am trying to protect them.” He finally said. “I understand that, sir,” McMeal insisted. “But who are they, to you, sir? Why do you care so much?” “The boy, Simon,” the Governor said, clearing his throat as he turned away and made ready to leave. “He’s my godson.” * * * “I’m sorry,” River said, her voice was hoarse from sobbing and screaming, her eyes were bloodshot and scratchy from crying and she couldn’t stop breathing in uneven gasps. “It’s all right,” Simon said softly, setting the rag he’d been using to clean her arm back in its bowl of warm water and picking up the tube of anti-bacterial, pain-killing, blood-clotting cream. It smelled like menthol and had always made Simon a little nauseous as a child. As he used the cream so often during his time in the ER it got so that he didn’t even smell its sticky-sweet alcohol sent. But for some reason as he squeezed a dollop of the white cream into his hand he felt almost overwhelmingly queasy. “I won’t see Jack again,” she offered, hoping some way to make it up to her perfect, long-suffering brother. “I thought he was a quite pool but then we kissed and it was like a waterfall and I got swept over the edge and cut myself on the sharp rocks.” “I know,” Simon said, his voice tight. “I’ll never see any boy ever again.” “That’s, that’s not what I want from you, mei mei,” He said, glancing up at her quickly, before turning his focus again to her scarred arms, running his warm hands gently from her elbow to her wrists. “That’s not what I want for you, either.” “Tell me what you want,” River begged. “I want to obey, I want to be good. I’m so sorry.” “River,” Simon said. “You didn't disobey, you weren’t bad.” “I was,” River insisted. “You’re trying to be kind, make me feel better, but you shouldn’t. I needed to be punished.” “Give me your other arm,” Simon said, his voice strained and just a little trembely. His eyes were focused on the tube as he squeezed out another glob of the white goo. He was blinking furiously. “Tell me Simon,” River said begged. “Your thoughts are drowning you, you can’t breath and there’s water leaking out of your eyes.” “It’s the cream,” Simon said, taking her wrist gently and rubbing the cream up and down her other arm. “You know it makes me sick.” River reached up with her free hand and petted her brother’s face. “Fear and sorrow make you sick,” she said, smiling at him. “The cream’s a scapegoat. Hurry, soon you'll be sinking beneath the waves.” “I don’t know what to tell you,” Simon admitted, turning his full attention to rescrewing the cap onto the tube of cream so that he wouldn't have to look at her arms. “Don’t ever cut yourself like that again seems flawed in its simplicity. But I should tell you something, I should, I should have some sort of . . .” “I hurt you more, didn’t I?” River asked softly, her hand dropping. “More than what?” “I cut my arms,” River said, leaning in closer, whispering. “I cut your heart.” Simon pulled away from her, took a deep breath, and cleared his throat “Your, your arms are. . . .” “They’ll heal,” River said, a little angrily. “Punishment, you have to learn something.” Simon closed his eyes, took a deep breath and scraped together his courage. “Mei mei,” he said in his kindest, gentlest voice as he reached up and stroked her soft, tear-soaked cheek with his knuckles, “let me decide if you need to be punished from now on, ok?” “You wouldn’t do it,” she said, grabbing his hand and pulling it down to her lips. Her dark brown eyes sought out his and Simon’s breath caught in his throat. He had to blink to find his voice again. “Promise me you’ll never punish yourself again, River,” Simon said very seriously. “She can’t make promises,” River said. “They’ll make sure she doesn’t keep them.” Simon looked at her for a moment, his broken heart clearly visible in his eyes before he eventually nodded, “Right.” River watched as he turned to wipe the excess cream of his hands on the wet cloth, “Right,” He muttered again. She’d been scared, when Jack kissed her, and a little guilty, and extremely exhilarated, which, for some reason she’d never understand, made her feel guiltier still. She didn’t know why she did what she did, but physical pain seemed the only way to burn off the guilt. Catharsis was the only door she saw open. But now, as Simon was forcing himself not to look at her arms and his usual bafflement spiraled down into broken-heartedness, she wished for all the ‘verse that she’d never found the sharp rock. “I’m sorry,” River said again, she knew it was the wrong thing to say but it was all she had. Simon turned to her and forced a smile, “I know you are.” “What should I do?” Simon took a deep breath and shook his head. “I don’t know.” “I thought you knew everything,” River said meekly as more large tears started rolling down her cheeks. “I need you to know everything.” “Shhhh,” Simon soothed, moving so that he was sitting next to her and could wrap his arms around her slight, trembling frame and talk softly into her ear. “Shhhh, I do know some things. I know that you are a very pretty, very sweet girl who probably liked that a boy was paying attention to her.” River sniffled and nodded. “And I know that there’s nothing wrong with that,” Simon said. “In fact, those feelings are about as normal as feelings can be.” River chuckled softly, “Joanne an’ I could match.” Simon ignored the seemingly nonsensical comment and kept talking in his soothing, kindly way. “But I also know that you’re confused. And that’s not your fault. You have to decide whether or not you want Jack’s attention, and all those confusing feeling that come with, or not. And you have to deal with the consequences of that decision, one way or another.” River turned to look at her brother, her red-rimmed eyes were, for the moment, dry, “And I have to not cut myself.” “Yeah,” Simon chuckled a little sadly, “You have to not cut yourself. You think you can do that?” River thought for a second and then nodded, forcing a soft smile for her brother. “Good,” Simon said, smiling down at her, “I’m proud of you, mei mei.” “Wo ai ni, xiong zhang, ” River said, burring her head in her brother’s chest. Simon planted a kiss on the top of her head in the mess of brown hair, “I love you too,” he muttered. “Da dai. ” * * * “Gabe, dear,” Regan Tam said somewhat spontaneously, shattering the silence as they drove home from a very lively, yet refined, dinner party with Senator Hector Bullox. “I received a surprising wave today.” “Did you?” Gabriel asked, forcing his voice to sound interested. “Yes, I meant to tell you earlier, it was from Regina Comworth.” “Reginald’s daughter, no, granddaughter?” “That’s the one,” Regen said, she didn’t add ‘River’s old friend’, but she thought it. “She invited us out to Newhope.” “Really?” Gabriel asked. This was obviously going to be a conversation; he cleared his throat. “How charming.” “She said she’d love to show us around the world before she was shipped off to the core.” “What a little darling.” “She said her grandfather would pay our fare.” “That’s very generous of Reginald.” There was a very long pause before Regan found the courage to say. “I want to go.” “What?” Gabriel laughed casually, turning to look at his wife, very amused. “I would really like to go,” Regan said with some more confidence. “It’s the off season here; you’ve been working very hard . . . of late.” “It’s been busy.” “Please, Gabriel, let’s go,” She was practically begging now. “What possible harm can come of it?” “You’ll turn into a blubbering fool,” her husband snapped, far more meanly than he meant to. “Well I think I have a right to,” Regan said, just as viciously. “My children . . .” “I know all about what happened to your children!” Gabriel yelled, before she could say a word more. “They were my children as well! I think some times you forget!” “I’m going!” Regan said. “I want to see Regina and I want to speak face to face with Reginald, and I want to go someplace new so that I don’t hear the echoes of my children’s laughter in every damn room! And I want you to come with me because you are my husband and I know they were your children and I know you hear those damning echoes as loudly as I do.” There was another very heavy, very long, very audible pause in the conversation. Gabriel broke the silence by clearing his throat again, “You’re right. We’ll go.” “Good,” Regan quipped, taking a deep breath and wiping the slight dampness in the corners of her eyes away with her pinky finger. “We leave tomorrow at eight a.m., express flight. Two day’s hence we’ll relaxing with Reginald and his granddaughter at their lovely villa.” “Wonderful,” Gabriel harrumphed.

SUNDAY “Hey,” Kaylee called from across the yard. Simon glanced up and was about to call back but his voice got caught in his throat. He didn’t manage to find it until she ran up to him. Her hair was pulled up in a series of pink ribbons and braids, she was warring her teal kimono to keep of the slight early fall chill, a pretty pink shirt Simon had seen her wear a hundred times, and the most flattering denim jumper the boy’d ever seen. Of course, truthfully, it was the only denim jumper he’d ever seen. “Kaylee,” he finally managed to say as she reached them. “You’re in a dress.” “Yeah,” the girl said, beaming. She was also wearing makeup, nothing much, but her eyes seemed bigger and her lips shimmered. “Ya like it, my ma sewed it together fer me,” She said playing with the pink ribbon lacing down the front. “It’s adorable,” Simon said, finally coming to himself. “I can’t think of any time . . . You look very pretty.” “Thank you,” She said, “I gotta say that you and River are lookin’ quite dapper yourselves. Dressed up for the service?” “Ah yes,” Simon said, glancing at River who’d been lent one of Joanne’s long black skirts to go with her pain yellow shirt. Her hair was also tied back with a slip of yellow ribbon borrowed form Miriam. He’d dug out a suit coat and managed to find a clean white shirt. He didn’t really understand why people dressed up for church, but today he was not going to let lack of understanding hinder his observance. “Everybody was going and we . . . ah . . . came too.” “Ya know, Shepard Book was asked ta preach,” Kaylee said. “Don’t know how many time’s I’ve called him preacher and I ain’t once heard him give a true sermon.” “That is,” Simon stuttered, “Um, ironic.” “Guess we’ll get ta see if he’s any good with it.” Simon nodded. As pretty as Kaylee was, and as much as he loved looking at her, and as much as he usually was able to, quite easily talk to her, he found himself on this particularly brisk Sunday morning, unable to find a word to say. He was very nervous about the church service; he hadn’t been to one since River was baptized. And he was nervous about River, he could hear most of the godly, upstanding church members mutter as they passed him and his sister and by the way her eyes darted from spot to spot on the ground, he was pretty sure she could hear those mutterings too. The town was too small and the Frye family was too big for what had happened between Jack and River to have stayed privet. And he was ashamed that he was nervous because, he honestly believed, being afraid of a church service was about as silly as being afraid of bunny rabbits. Besides which, not going to see his friend and shipmate preach would have been extremely rude. He desperately wished that he, like Mal, could have ignored the tolling of the church bells in this small town on moral grounds. Mal refused to go to services because he was furious at God for abandoning him, no one thought the less of him for it. Simon’s excuse, however, was more along the lines of “I just never really found it necessary” which lead to a long discourse on the sin-nature of man and the mortal sin of arrogance. Thankfully, before the silence became too awkward, the threesome was intruded upon by a fourth person. She was very pretty, about Kaylee’s age. Tall and thin as a stick, she had long black hair and shallow brown eyes. “Well, Kaylee Frye, bao bei ,” She said, sweetly, putting her hand on Kaylee’s shoulder. “Imagine my surprise ta see you here.” “Why’d ya be surprised, Peggy?” Kaylee asked defensively. “It’s Sunday, I’m at church.” “Well, it’s just,” Peggy said, glancing at Simon as if he’d surely take her side in the argument. “We all know how you got off the planet.” “On a ship?” Kaylee asked. “That’s pretty much the only way to leave any planet,” Simon observed, hoping to be supportive. He had no idea what was going on between these two girls, but he could recognize a snob when he saw one: the benefit, he mused, of an aristocratic childhood. “Now who’s this, then?” Peggy asked. “It’s not Bester?” “You know it ain’t,” Kaylee said. “And ya probably already know just who he is.” “But you’ll still introduce me?” Peggy asked. Kaylee sighed; Simon wished he hadn’t said anything. “This here’s Simon Tam and his sister, River.” “Pleased ta meet you,” Peggy said, offering Simon her hand. He shook it warily, “I’m sure the pleasure’s mine,” he lied. “And this is River.” “Oh,” Peggy laughed, shooting a knowing glance at Simon. “So this is River Tam.” “What do you mean?” Simon asked abruptly. “Excuse me?” Peggy said, putting her hand on her somewhat unimpressive chest. “You said that like, like . . .” Simon couldn’t quite find the words, Kaylee, however, could. “Like she was a joke or something,” the mechanic said, taking an aggressive step forward. She looked like she was about to throw a punch in defense of River’s reputation. Simon had never admired any other woman more than he admired Kaylee that moment. “I’m sorry,” Peggy said. “I just heard about what happened with her and Jack last night.” “What did you hear?” Kaylee demanded. “Gossip?” “Word spreads.” “It don’ have to,” Kaylee insisted. “’For you come up here ta try and shame me outta this church, you ought’a look at yerself and see if you ain’t gotten a little pleasure outta doin’ something a little wrong.” “You can’t compare a little talk with being a trollop,” Peggy said. “I never hurt nobody,” Kaylee said honestly. “And I never, never, pretend ta be good and godly while doin’ something damnable and dirty.” “Hum,” Peggy said, turning around and heading into the church, where the first few bars of ‘Fount of Every Blessing’ were being pounded on an old piano, interrupting countless interesting conversations. “I suppose on Judgment day God will vindicate the righteous.” “Look forward to it,” Kaylee smiled. “Pride is a sin you know,” Peggy said. “One with which, I’m sure, you are well acquainted,” Simon said. “It was nice meeting you.” With another brisk “hum” Peggy turned around and entered the church. By now, Kaylee, Simon and River were the only three outside of the whitewashed doors. “Come on,” Kaylee said, grabbing Simon’s arm. “Jack saved us all seats near the back, ‘case River, ah . . .” “Wonderful,” Simon said, smiling at Kaylee. She looked so amazing. Still he had to turn his head and look away: “River, come on.” “Do we get to sing?” the girl asked excitedly, jogging a few steps to catch up with her brother. “As long as you sing the correct words to the song,” Simon said. “I don’t care how clever or funny or theologically accurate your substitutions are. Shepherd Book may not care anymore, but we’re guests here, we need to be polite.” “Yes, Simon,” she muttered, disappointed but obedient. * * * The first twenty minutes of the service were more horrible than Simon would have thought possible. River didn’t sing the wrong lyrics; instead, after every hymn she leaned over to him and explained (not terribly quietly despite his shushing) what her improvements would have been. Jack found this habit extremely entertaining and laughed at just about everything she said, which only encouraged her. Simon could have dealt with the embarrassment produced by River; she was, after all, not really aware of her actions. However, his own ignorance as to the procedures and traditions in a frontier church made him feel not only conspicuous, but also inadequate. Kaylee would tug on his shirt to get him to sit and stand. She’d whisper in his ears the appropriate congregational response to the myriad greetings, blessings and prayers, all of which River seemed to know as if by instinct. Not a lot could make Simon Tam feel stupid, this church service did. When Book finally stepped onto the pulpit, Simon let out a sigh of relief. He’d known the preacher for several months and had heard clippings of various sermons from the older man hundreds of times. Whatever came next, he figured he was prepared. “I grew up with brothers,” Book started. “There were four of us and we drove our mother crazy. None more than my brother, Steven, though. He was the second and seemed to be a magnet for trouble. As her hair grayed she told folks that it wasn’t silvering, it was ‘stevening’.” The congregation laughed. “I remember one time Steven was playing with blocks. By playing, I mean stuffing them into an atmo vent.” The congregation laughed again. “As providence would have it, that night there was a cold spell. My mother tried to turn up the heat, but nothin’ happened. For nearly a week we shivered and no one could figure why the atmo wasn’t working properly. “Finally, my father had enough. On the seventh day of our family ice age a repairman came and looked at the controls. Nothin’ wrong there. He looked at the furnaces, nothin’ wrong there. Finally, he looked at the vents.” The congregation chuckled. “My mother was so mad at us boys that she nearly tore out all of her stevened hair. She lined us up and ask who’d done it. No one said anything. Now, we all knew it was Steven, they were his blocks, we’d all seen him shove them in the vents, and his face was redder than a cherry, there was no doubt, even, I’m sure, in my mother’s mind. But no one said anything. She told us that, unless the guilty brother stepped forward, she was going to punish us all. I saw Steven glanced at our oldest brother, Patrick, and Pat did the most wonderful thing I can think of. He said ‘I did it.’ He took the punishment.” The congregation was silent, drawn into a very predictable sermon about sacrificial love by the mildly amusing antidote, River among them. She seemed to soak up every word Book said, as if she’d never heard of grace before. Simon had never seen her so attentive; she’d never needed to concentrate fully on what anyone was saying; she’d always understood it as soon as it was out of their mouths. He wondered what she thought she was learning and wondered if he should be trying to learn something too. He wondered if faith would help or hinder River as she tried to get better. He wondered if a good God would let an innocent girl be tortured and scarred the way River was. He wondered if an inattentive God could be a god at all. He wondered what kind of evidence could successfully be presented for or against a good God, or any type of God. He wondered if choosing to be an atheist after some sort of trauma wasn’t a perverted kind of faith. In short, he wondered through the whole sermon and couldn’t have recalled a word if River’s life depended on it. Kaylee tugged his shirt, pulling him out of his wondering, and nodded that they were about to stand. He was able to rise with congregation, accept a benediction, and breathe easier as the service was finally over. “I thought he did real good,” Kaylee said, leading the way out of the pew in the back of the church. “Don’t you?” “Ah, yeah,” Simon said uncertainly. “Very good.” “You didn’ hear a word did you?” Kaylee said, smiling at him wisely. Simon opened his mouth to defend himself, but realized that there was nothing to gain by lying to the extremely pretty girl. “No,” He admitted guilty. “My mind sort of . . . wondered.” “Well, so long as you were thinkin’ godly thoughts I think the shepherd’ll forgive ya,” she said, stepping out of the church and walking a few paces forward, away from the door, before she paused and waited for her pew-mates to catch up. “Ya were thinkin’ godly thoughts, weren’t cha?” “Well, I was thinking about God,” Simon said. “Close enough,” Kaylee said quickly before nodding towards Jack and River: “Ain’t they cute?” The boy and girl were dallying, walking slowly and whispering to each other quietly. Whatever they were saying, it was clear that the mistakes of last night had been forgiven or if not that, then at least forgotten. The two were closer than ever. “I can’t help but feel a deep sense of foreboding,” Simon confessed. “She’s going to be crushed when we leave.” “Naw,” Kaylee said. “She smart enough ta know it’s a fling.” “I don’t feel confident in assessing what she knows and what she doesn’t.” “Well,” Kaylee said brightly changing the subject as River and Jack reached them. “I think it’s time fer lunch. How ‘bout it Jack?” “Lunch sound’s just great,” Jack said. “You finally gonna show us yer spot?” “Yup,” Kaylee nodded. “Finally gonna show you my spot.” “Your spot?” Simon asked, a curious twinkle in his eyes. “Yup,” Kaylee nodded. “It’s this grate place I know. Where I used to take all the boys.” “All the boys?” He was somewhat less enthused. “With a waterfall,” River said, smiling softly to herself. “Like kissing.” “Yeah, you can see Trickle Falls from my spot,” Kaylee said, a little bewildered. “How’d ya know that?” “That’s how she described kissing last night,” Simon explained quickly. “Like falling over a waterfall.” “That certainly sounds like praise ta me, Jack,” Kaylee said, making her cousin blush. “I didn’ know you were so poetical,” the boy said, turning to River, who’s only response was to smile back mysteriously. * * * "I've found them, sir, " Officer James said, jogging up to his commanding officer. "Definite positive ID?" McMeal asked. "Yes, sir," James replied. "They just got out of church." "Out of church?" McMeal muttered. "So, there are other people?" "A crowd, sir," James said. "But I do have good news concerning that." "Yes?" "They went off with only two companions," James said. "Woehlck is tracking them now, sir; they seem to be headed out of town. Frankly, sir, it looks like a picnic." "A picnic," McMeal said. "How quaint. I hope they don't mind an interruption." "Orders?" "Call everyone back," McMeal ordered. "We're going to go get them while they're out of town. These two aren’t natives, so no one should notice their disappearance so long as no one sees it. This needs to be a precision operation, quiet and as unnoticed as possible." "Understood, sir," James said, nodding curtly. "Good," McMeal replied. "Now go." "Yes, sir." * * * "Kaylee," Simon said, reclining on an old wool blanket she'd brought. They'd spread it over the ground, which was covered in last year's fallen leaves, broken sticks, acorns, pinecones, and a host of other things that made the ground gross and uneven. But Simon didn't notice that as much as he noticed how pretty Kaylee was surrounded by the soft light that streamed in through the canopy of trees. She was so pretty that Simon was almost embarrassed to look at her, he knew he’d stare. So he focused his eyes in front of him about twenty yards, on River and Jack, who were wading in the cold, knee deep pool at the bottom of Trickle Falls "I’m sorry about yesterday." "What?" Kaylee asked, turning to Simon, somewhat surprised. "I wasn't fair, yesterday," Simon said, glancing up towards Kaylee and, as he knew it would, his gaze got caught in her deep russet eyes. "And I'm sorry." "Oh," Kaylee said, laughing. "Yer talkin' about with Henderson." "I don't know who . . ." "Ya fell in a lake," Kaylee said with a shrug. "That's bound ta make anyone snappy." "Thanks for understanding," Simon said smiling up at her sweetly. "Well," Kaylee said, glancing away from his soft blue eyes. "I wasn't exactly bein' reasonable. Henderson got all pushy and I," she sighed in disgust. "I suppose I was hopin' I could come home and not have ta be who I'd been. But that ain't happenin' and I got tetchy on account." "When you say 'not have to be who you'd been,' what do you mean by that?" "Aw, Simon, I don't . . ." Kaylee said, shaking her head and scrunching her nose. She was sitting, her back to a large oak tree, so that Simon, propped on his elbows, was looking upward at her. "I want to know," the young doctor insisted kindly. "I don't mean to pry, and I'll understand if you don't want to tell me. But I can't imagine you ever being anyone but who you are." She looked down at him curiously; Simon was compelled to explain further. "I mean," he stuttered, "You, you're not repressed, you don't pretend to be who you're not. You have a confidence in yourself. It's just, it's hard for me to think of you without that." "You're sweet," Kaylee said, smiling down at him. "But it’s not like that. Me and Henderson, we had a thing a long time ago and I guess that he jus’,” she shrugged, “He thought it’d be ok with me if we had it again.” “What kind of thing?” Simon asked with not-so-innocent curiosity. “Ah, ya know,” Kaylee said. “He’s a boy, I’m girl, we had a thing.” “So . . . you were dating him?” Simon pushed. “Not . . . not datin’, not really,” Kaylee said. She was chewing on her lip and her eyes were scanning the leaves of the trees above her, obviously searching the lush, shimmering greenness for the perfect way to describe her relationship with Henderson. “We had fun together,” Kaylee said, turning and looking at Simon. “Ya know, like boys and girls do.” “Like boys and girls do?” Simon asked, almost rhetorically. Kaylee didn’t like his expression, it seemed cagey and cool to her, and she didn’t like being looked at that way at all. “We had sex, Simon,” Kaylee said, her frustration at his questioning making her a little defensive. “We had fun sex. That’s all.” “I see,” Simon said, nodding, not moving his lips. It was a bad sign when he didn’t move his lips. “And when I walked in on you, did I interrupt any of that ‘fun sex’?” “I told ya,” Kaylee sighed with exasperation. “Henderson and me . . . he’s got the greatest hoverboat ever, that’s it. I ain’t wanted ta sleep with him fer years, certainly not yesterday.” “How many guys did you have ‘fun sex’ with?” Kaylee was clearly taken aback by the question. She could understand Simon getting tetchy about Henderson. They did, after all, sort-of, kind-of, have a type-of understanding between them. They’d never discussed the terms of their relationship, exclusivity and so forth, but they hadn’t had to. There really wasn’t anyone available on Serenity that could draw them away from each other in the first place. And, in retrospect, his jealousy and suspicion were kinda cute. But now he was getting a little nosy and just a tad judgmental. “What do it matter?” “What do you mean, ‘what does it matter’?” Simon asked incredulously. “You afraid I got some STD?” Kaylee asked. “I been checked--” “I’m just curious,” Simon said, pushing himself up so he was eye-to-eye with the pretty mechanic who seemed, for some reason, slightly less pretty than she had in the church yard. “What, you wanna know where I’ve been?” Kaylee demanded. “No,” Simon said, clearly disgusted by her crude phrasing. “But, I . . .” he sighed and tried again. “You don’t seem like the type.” “Like what type?” Kaylee asked. There was no right answer to that question so Simon couldn’t help but pick the wrong one. “You seem innocent.” Kaylee laughed, “So, I’m what, guilty?” “You know what I mean.” “Maybe I don’t. Maybe you should explain it.” “I don’t want to play this game.” “Too late now,” Kaylee observed. “Gotta at least finish the round.” “I’m surprised, ok?” Simon said simply. “Surprised?” “You don’t seem like the kind of girl who would sleep around,” he told her honestly. “You seem . . . well, I thought you’d have more self respect than that.” “What does havin’ some fun behind a barn or under the bleachers or on the floor of a gorramn engine room have to do with self respect?” Kaylee demanded. “I can’t respect myself if I know what I want and I get it?” Simon shook his head, “You don’t understand.” “And I suppose the doctor who went to school for so long and is such a genius, I suppose that he could explain it to silly little me.” “I’m not belittling you,” Simon said angrily. “Stop putting words in my mouth.” “Ain’t no need,” Kaylee observed. “You got plenty a words in there.” “If we can’t have an intelligent conversation then maybe we should just stop talking,” Simon snapped. “Oh, I was serious,” Kaylee said. “I wanna know what I don’t get about sex and self esteem and a host of other things I’m sure.” “Fine, then,” Simon said angrily. “I’ll tell you. Sex isn’t just a good time. It means something. And who you have sex with and when and where, they all mean something.” “They don’ have to,” Kaylee interjected. “It’s not a matter of choice,” Simon insisted. “They do mean something, say something about who you are. And the fact you don’t see it that way, well, that says something about who you are, too.” There was a very icy pause in the warm glen. The boy and the girl stared at each other, eyes locked, neither willing to back down, both feeling they had the moral high ground, neither willing to give an inch. “Well,” Kaylee said after a moment. “You seem to know so much. What does my ‘loose’ view of sex say about me?” The doctor looked at her for a moment and then looked down at the blanket. “I respect you, Kaylee,” He said, not glancing up at her. “You are beautiful and cheerful and . . . delightful.” “And a slut,” the girl added. “You’re putting words in my mouth again,” Simon said, glaring up at her angrily. “That’s not fair.” “An’ I don’t think it’s fair of you ta change how you think about me when I ain’t changed,” the girl said. “This mornin’ you stood up fer me when Peggy called me a trollop, and now . . .” “How did you get on the ship?” Simon asked pointedly. “It don’t matter,” Kaylee insisted. “I paid a fare to get on Serenity,” Simon said. “A hundred and fifty credits.” “I remember,” Kaylee spat. “Do you remember I paid in cash? I did that because I knew I could be traced though my credit account. I was running as quickly and as far as I could get. River was smuggled in. She was unconscious, in a box, and woke up in Serenity. Neither of us entered the ship with particular dignity.” “I was humpin’ the mechanic at the time, fella named Bester, in the engine room when Cap’n walked in,” Kaylee said, unashamedly. “Weren’t dignified, as you said, but I wasn’t hiddin’ nothin’ and I wasn’t expectin’ anyone to do anything fer me.” “I didn’t expect anyone to do anything for me,” Simon said annoyed. “If that’s what you say,” Kaylee said, rolling her eyes. “I think, maybe, we should just end this conversation,” Simon said, trying to keep the anger out of his voice. “’Cause it’s gettin’ mean?” Kaylee said. “If we’re going to talk about something we should do it intelligently,” Simon said. “Not slinging insults at each other like children.” “Like you want ta have sex be?” Kaylee asked. “Cool and collected with it’s meain’ all understood proper and appropriate.” Simon opened his mouth, searching for a response more sophisticated than ‘Shut-up!’, when he was interrupted by River screaming. Simon and Kaylee’s argument was instantly forgotten as they both jumped to their feet, expecting to have to save the poor girl from some one else or, just as likely, herself. But River didn’t’ look like she was hurt or afraid or even insane. She looked innocently and childishly excited. “They’re coming! They’re coming,” the young girl said, running frantically towards her brother, who caught her as she reached him. “They’re almost here, Simon,” she said excitedly. “And we’ll fly away home, just like in the song.” “The song?” Simon asked, before remembering that they’d sung the spiritual ‘I’ll Fly Away’ that morning in church; a realization that made him more nervous not less. “River, what are you saying?” “We’re going home,” She said, smiling so broadly that Simon’s natural sense of apprehension was almost overpowered. “Serenity’s locked up, sweetie,” Kaylee said, stepping forward. “But if you need anything, I’m sure the captain will—” “Not the ship,” River said, “Home.” “My God, River,” Simon said, his voice chilled. “What’d you do?” “Simon and River Tam,” a clear authoritative voice called from behind them. Simon and Kaylee turned to see a tall, muscular man in an official uniform holding a very large gun step out of the forest. “The Governor of Newhope demands you’re presence immediately.” “Newhope?” Simon asked, gasping a little. Mal had never told him what planet they were going to land on, probably assuming the young doctor would let the info slip to Kaylee. And Simon hadn’t cared because he didn’t think which planet they landed on from one trip to the next made much of a difference. He didn’t dream that they’d end up on the one planet in the ‘verse where he personally knew the alliance governor. The odds seemed so slim, minute; the possibility hadn’t even accrued to him. “See,” River said. “They’ll take us home, Simon. And Uncle Reggie will tell us stories and give us hot cocoa and we’ll play tag with Genie and it’ll be all better.” Simon knew that guards with guns rarely lead to bedtime stories, games of tag and hot coca, but was too worried about not being hauled off to prison, or possibly someplace a thousand times worse, to correct his sister. “Are we bound by law?” He demanded, squaring his shoulders and looking as intimidating as his slight frame would allow. He’d turned around to face the man and tried to keep River behind him. She, however, was not cooperating; she was trying to push her way past him, towards the armed man. He had to concentrate, had to focus, had to keep total possession of himself and control of the situation. If he let his considerable fear show for a second, he could quite possibly lose whatever advantages he had against the armed officer. “No,” the man said. “But you cannot refuse the Governor’s request.” “Simon,” River said, “Uncle Reggie sent him. He’s taking us home.” “Home’s not exactly a place we want to be, River,” Simon said, not turning to look at his sister but keeping his eyes focused totally on the officer. “Give the Governor my apologies, but my sister and I are going to have to refuse the invitation.” “Simon,” River pleaded, pulling on her brother’s arm. “That is not an option.” “Unless you have a warrant, it is,” Simon said forcefully. “I wanna see Uncle Reggie,” River pleaded. “Who’s Uncle Reggie?” Kaylee asked. “Who’s this girl?” the officer demanded. “She’s nobody, just a pretty girl,” Simon said quickly, answering the officer. “Since you can’t arrest us, please leave.” “Your godfather said you’d resist us,” the officer said. “Don’t make me use violence.” “Simon, wha’s going on?” Kaylee demanded. “My godfather would strip you of your office if you hurt either River or me,” Simon said with the confidence of someone who knows a bluff when they see it. “But he wouldn’t if we hurt her,” the officer said, nodding his head. An until-that-moment unnoticed man stepped out of the trees to Kaylee’s right and, before anyone could react, gabbed her arm roughly. He had a large handgun in his other hand and was holding it so everyone could see that he was perfectly equipped to hurt Kaylee as severely as necessary. “No,” Simon said, his voice, and heroic façade, cracking. “Don’t hurt her, she’s . . .” “A very unfortunate bystander if you don’t come with us.” “Simon,” Kaylee whimpered. She was trembling. “We won’t,” the boy said, as much to the pretty girl as to the officer. He was regaining his confidence, but it was clear that Kaylee’s position made him nervous; he kept glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. “You can’t hurt her, she’s a free citizen of this planet. The Governors guard does not go around assaulting free citizens.” “Simon?” Kaylee said again, fearful tears were streaming down her cheeks. “Ce lve hong se ,” the officer shouted. And then several things happened at once. The man who was holding Kaylee, raised his pistol and cracked the pretty mechanic on the head. She fell, unconscious to the ground. Simon saw this and tried to rush to her, but before he got even a step closer, someone tackled him from behind. He was slammed onto the ground hard enough to knock the breath out of him. He heard River scream as someone grabbed her, but her scream was cut short, presumably because she’d been gagged or, perhaps, knocked unconscious. Simon felt his hands being pulled behind his back, he knew in a matter of seconds he’s be handcuffed and practically helpless. With all the strength he could muster, he tried to shove off the large man on his back. This resulted in a sharp pain at the back of his neck that made his vision blur. He tried to move again, purely out of instinct, and another sharp pain in the back of his neck made the world go black. * * * “Cap’n Reynolds, Cap’n Reynolds!” Jack called loudly, running through the Frye’s yard. The mass of people assembled, chatting, at the long tables turned and looked at him, some amused, some confused, and some alarmed. Mal stood up, a sick feeling starting to settle in his gut. The boy went off with Kaylee, Simon and River. He came back alone, screaming. This did not bode well for Mal’s youngest crewmembers. “What is it, boy?” Mal called, climbing over the bench he was sitting on, untangling himself from the many people and working his way towards the near-hysteric Jack. “Where’s the others?” “I’m so sorry Cap’n, but I didn’t know . . .” he was practically sobbing. By the time Mal reached the boy, Jack was surrounded by his father, mother, and one of his sisters, Mal didn’t know which one. “I’m really sorry, I just, I didn’t know what ta do.” “What?” Mal said. He could feel Zoë come up behind him. “Tell us what happened.” “The Governors guard’s,” Jack gasped. “They came and they took Simon and River, they hit Kaylee.” “The Governor,” Mal said, his voice was more strained than he’d of liked it to be. “The Alliance appointed governor?” “’Couldn’ a been the Governor’s guards,” Jack’s mom said, with a sort of nervous laugh. “Gov’ner Comworth’s a good man.” “Where’s Kaylee?” Zoë asked. “I couldn’ wake ‘er up,” Jack said. “She’s breathin’, I made sure she was breathin’, but I couldn’ wake ‘er up.” “Show us,” Mal said. “Can you do that?” Jack nodded and, after glancing at his father, who nodded. Then the boy turned and started running back in the direction he’d come from. Mal, Zoë and Hubert started to follow. “Jayne, come with us,” Mal yelled over his shoulder. “Zoë, you stay here.” “Sir, I . . .” his fistmate started. “There could be trouble, don’t want you in it,” Mal said assertively. By this time Jayne and Book had reached the group who were, despite their conversations, trying to keep up with Jack as he wove through the forest. “Sir,” Zoë started again. “Stay,” Book said, “I’ll go for you.” “Stay, Zoë,” Mal said. “That’s an order.” “Yes, sir,” the firstmate said a little bitterly, breaking out of the run. As she watched the four men follow the boy disappear into the forest, she couldn’t help but think that it was going to be the longest nine months of her life. * * * “Ah, and how are my two beautiful women?” Governor Comworth said, approaching Inara and Genie as the younger girl was learning the fine art of applying mascara. “Fine,” Genie grumbled. “Soon to be more beautiful still,” Inara said pleasantly. “Genie’s got a beautiful face, especially when it’s clean.” “Don’t I know it,” the Governor laughed. “I was wondering, Lady Inara, if I could stretch your graciousness just a little further? With full compensation, of course.” Inara didn’t exactly like how that sounded. She laughed softly and prettily, “I’m sorry, governor, but I don’t quite understand your meaning.” “There is another girl, a girl Genie’s age, old family friend, who’s come to visit me for a few days. She, this girl, is a dear friend of my dear granddaughter’s and I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind tutoring them both.” “Papa, who is it?” Genie said, turning away from the mirror with only one eye lash accentuated. Her face looked off balance. “What do you think, Lady Inara, could I impose that on you?” “Of course,” Inara said, smiling warmly. “Another pupil would be delightful. I’m sure Genie would appreciate having a friend and it is somewhat difficult to teach social graces without there being other people to interact with. “Wonderful,” Comworth said, offering Inara an equally warm smile. “You are too gracious.” “Papa, who is it?” Genie insisted again. “You’ll see,” he said, a sort of chuckle in his voice. “She’ll arrive late tonight and attend classes with you in the morning.” “Papa, please,” Genie implored. “It’s a surprise, Genie dear,” the governor said, walking up to his granddaughter and kissing her lovingly on the forehead. “Now, finish your lesson. You might not want to look your most beautiful when your friend comes, but by then I expect you to know how you could look your most beautiful.” “Yes, Papa,” the girl sighed. “Good,” the Governor said. “I, for one, cannot wait until tomorrow.” * * * “Chi dai mi lu er nu ” Jane grumbled as they forced their way through the thick woods. “Can’t go a gorramn day without fishin’ the gan ao man yi out a some trouble or another.” “The boat thing was yer fault, Jayne,” Mal said, a little pointedly as they jogged through the woods. “As were some other scrapes the boy’s found himself in.” “All right, all right,” Jayne snapped. “There she is!” Jack said, pointing to a little clearing at the edge of the woods in front of them. Kaylee was sprawled on a blanket on the forest floor. She looked for the world like she was dead. Mal knew she wasn’t, but he’d seen enough dead bodies to hate the awkward slackness that comes when someone suddenly, violently, loses consciousness. Mal broke into a run and outdistanced Jack, reaching her first. “Little Kaylee,” Mal said, falling to his knees, carefully touching the young girl’s head around the large greenish gray bruise on her right temple. “Shui xing mei mei. ” “It looks like she was pistol whipped,” Book said, dropping down besides Mal. “There don’t seem to be any other injuries.” “What happened?” Mal demanded, turning to Jack, who was standing beside his father at the edge of the small clearing. “River and I,” He started, sucking in a deep jittery breath, “We were . . . we were playin’ in the stream over there. Just goofin’ off, ya know, nothin’ bad.” “Nobody thinks ya did anything bad, son,” Mal said, trying not to snap at the poor boy. But Jack’s continual apologizing was wearing thin on Mal’s already taunt nerves. “Jus’ tell us what happened.” “Well, River, she gets this look in her eye, like it’s Christmas or somethin’ and she runs off ta Simon and Kaylee. They were watchin’ us, talkin’ to themselves, from just right here.” “Right,” Mal said, very eager to get to the part where his crew was assaulted and kidnapped. “Well, she screeched and startled me an’ I fell inta the river, and by the time I got myself up, that’s ta say my head outa the water, I saw that there was a guy there, one a the governor’s guards. An’ he had a big gun. I could see there were a whole mess of them, six at least, surroundin’ River, ‘n Kaylee, ‘n Dr. Tam. I should’a gone an’ tried ta help. I should’a been brave.” “No,” Hubert said quickly, trying to calm his near-hysterical son. “What you did was right. If you’da tried ta attack them guards you’da ended up like Kaylee or worse. It’s good now you kin tell us just what happened.” “Well,” Jack said, gasping a little for breath, “they was talkin’ that is, Dr. Tam an’ the guard what he saw was talkin’. I couldn’ hear ‘cause I was stayin’ low in the water so’s they wouldn’ find me.” “Good plan,” Mal said. “Then what happened?” “Well, Dr. Tam mustn’t a seen all them guards surriounding ‘um, ‘cause one stepped out and grabbed Kaylee and then there was more talkin’ and then, all a sudden, the guard that had Kaylee knocked her on the head with his gun and another two jumped outa them trees and tackled the doc, knocked him out, an’ then anoth’n grabbed River an’ tied her up and they carried them off an’ they just left Kaylee . . . they jus’ left her. An’ I waited a bit, ta make sure they was all gone. Then I came up an’ I tried ta wake her. When I couldn’ then I ran straight ta you. That’s jus’ what happened.” “I see,” Mal said, nodding soberly. “I guess all that’s good to know.” “Here that, Jackobeam?” Hubert said. “You done a good job.” “I’m real sorry, sir,” Jack said again. “I know it,” Mal nodded. Simon and River were missing. Again. If Mal didn’t know better he’d half suspect one of those two contacted the feds, it was the only way anyone official could have known they were there. The only way. “Captain," Book’s clear voice seemed to slice through Mal’s concern over Simon and River as his attention was drawn back to the weak and helpless Kaylee. "She’s coming around." "Dao xie cis han tian shi, " Mal muttered, returning to his dazed-but-conscious mechanic side. "Little Kaylee, can ya hear me?" "’Couse I can," Kaylee muttered, her voice a little slurred. "Yer talkin’ so loud." "You got a nasty bump there, sweetheart," Book said, smiling down at Kaylee. "Do you think you could sit up?" "My head hurts," the girl muttered. "I know," Mal said kindly. "We’re gonna get you to a doctor." Kaylee starred up at her captain, her large brown eyes were hazy and unfocused. "What happened to Simon?" She asked. Mal swallowed, "You don’ know?" "We were talkin’," Kaylee slurred. "I remember talkin’ . . ." "It's all right," Mal said. "You just take it easy and don’t worry none. Preacher," he said, turning to Book, "You think it’d be all right ta move her?" "You’re guess is as good as mine," Book said. What he didn’t say, yet Mal was certain the preacher was thinking, ‘I wish Simon was here’; he was so certain because that was exactly what Mal himself was thinking. "Come on, xin gan, " Mal said, slipping his hand underneath Kaylee’s head and pushing her gently into a sitting position. "Side from your head, how ya feelin’?" "Just shiny," the girl said, although her voice wasn’t convincing. "I’m gonna carry you back to your folks," Mal said, moving a little, positioning his feet under his body, so he’d be able to pick her up gently. "No," Kaylee said, pushing him away with shaky arms. "I kin walk home." "I don’t know that that’s such a good idea," Book said, placing his hand on her shoulder. "You shouldn’t stress yourself." "Help me up," Kaylee said stubbornly, taking Book’s supportive gesture and trying to turn it in to leverage to hoist her unsteady self to her feet. Book quickly stood, as did Mal, and between them they managed to get Kaylee standing, although it was very clear to all those watching that the girl was not standing by her own power, but rather being braced by the kind men on either side. "See," she said, although she seemed to be forcing the words out, "I can stand . . ." Suddenly she pitched forward. She would have fallen if Mal had not reacted quick enough, throwing his arms around her and pulling her towards him. An action which he almost instantly regretted. "Cap’n," the young girl said after a minute. "Yes, little Kaylee," he was trying very hard to be kind, not mad, not disgusted, and not to let the fresh smell of vomit upset his stomach. "I’m real sorry," she said. "I didn’ mean ta throw up all over ya like that." "I know you didn’t," he said, wrapping one arm around her back while he hunched a little so he could pick her up by her knees. "Come on, let’s get you home." "Kay," Kaylee mutter, resting her head on her Captain's shoulders. "Didn't mean ta be such a burden," she muttered into his now-vomit-soaked shoulder. “You ain’t,” he said so softly that only she could hear. “You were kind ‘nuff ta make yerself lighter fer me ta carry you.” The girl laughed softly. “You ain’t a burden at all.” * * * Simon woke up and the first thing he thought was that his mouth was unusually dry. Then he turned his head and fireworks seemed to go off in his head, creating red flashes of painful light in front of his eyes and setting the base of his neck on fire. He gasped for breath and realized that the reason his mouth was dry was because he was gagged. He moved his arms to try to take the gag off and realized they were tied behind his back. The doctor closed his eyes and tried to remember what had happened; how he'd come to be bound and gagged with the worst headache he'd ever had. But the last thing he could remember was Kaylee's pretty face smiling down at him and the sound of River and Jack's laughter in the background. Whatever happened, Simon realized, must have happened during their picnic, which meant whatever happened, Kaylee and Jack had been caught in the middle of it. Despite his best efforts, Simon couldn’t keep his mind from wondering back to their escape from St. Lucy's in Ariel City. He didn't want to think of Kaylee and Jack screaming the way those guards had screamed, but he was too logical and too realistic to dismiss the thought. Simon took a deep breath and told himself that, whatever had happened to Kaylee, it didn't matter. All that mattered now was getting free. Once he got free he could find River. Once he found River he could figure out a way for them to escape. Once they escaped they could find their way back to Serenity. Once they were back on Serenity he could ask Mal what had happened to Kaylee. But before that time, considering the possibilities would not only be fruitless but had the potential to be a harmful emotional and intellectual distraction. Simon took a deep breath and, as smoothly as possible, pulled his knees forward so they were, more or less, parallel with his chest. Then, when he felt he'd have enough leverage, he closed his eyes, bit down hard on his gag and tried to ignore the explosions in his head as he tried to push himself onto his knees. He'd only managed to get his face a few inches off the ground before he felt himself start to faint. He'd just decided to try to lower himself back down before he fainted when a gentle pair of hands grabbed his arms and, with a soft strength, pushed him up so that he was hunched upright, sitting more or less on his feet, still dizzy but balanced. When the pain in his head subsided he was able to open his eyes and, after several blinks, focus his blurred vision enough to make out River’s smiling, ungagged, unbound, form. "Apple a day keeps the doctor away," She said with a little laugh. Simon tried to say his sister's name, but it came out as an unrecognizable muttering. His head was pounding, he wanted to be lying down again. "Apple in the morning; Doctor's warning," she giggled as she reached behind her brother's head and carefully untied the gag. To the young doctor, this whole thing seemed like a dream. " Roast apple at night; starves the doctor outright." Simon gasped and tears of pain flooded his eyes as she accidentally brushed the spot on the back of his head. His dream-like perception was shattered as the reality of why his head hurt so much was made perfectly clear. "Three each day, seven days a week; ruddy apple, ruddy cheek," River said, glancing apologetically at her brother as she pulled down the gag with increased caution. "You look pale." "River," Simon managed to say. His voice was raw and stretched thin by fear and pain. "How did you get free?" "You're not a prisoner if you don't want to run away," she explained. "You're a guest." "If you don't want to . . ." Simon said. Maybe it was the head injury, but he was becoming more confused, not less. "River, we were kidnapped." "We were invited," River said. "Uncle Reggie wants to see us as much as we want to see him." "Uncle Reggie?" Simon said. "What does he . . .?" "Poor Simon," River said, leaning forward and kissing her brother softly on the forehead. "If you hadn't been so rude they wouldn't have had to hit you on the head." "So, wait," Simon said, trying to pry memories from his brain and make them fit with his sister’s ramblings. The exercise made his head hurt even more. "Uncle Reggie sent men to get us. I resisted and they hit me on the head and tied me up." "Eat an apple going to bed, knock the doctor on the head," River said, almost as if she were scolding him. "What happened to Kaylee and Jack?" Simon asked, despite his well thought out plans. The girl glanced away; she looked almost guilty. "Jack saw everything," She muttered. "He'd help her." "What happened to Kaylee?" Simon asked again, a little more fervently. "They hit her head," River said sadly. "She fell down." Simon took a deep breath and told himself, with renewed resolve, that he wasn't going to worry about Kaylee because he could do nothing for her. "So," he said, a little louder than he meant to, loud enough to make his head hurt. "I take it we are going to see Uncle Reggie." River nodded and smiled, her thoughts were still clearly on Kaylee. "Well, we'll just have to find a way out before we get there," He ignored the shocks of pain every time he moved his head so he could look around him more closely. They were in a room about six feet across and twelve feet long. He had been lying, and now they were sitting, on a plush red velvet bench on the left side of the room. There was an identical bench on the right and a green carpet between them and windows over the benches covered with thick shutters, the metal kind that can lock from the outside. The front and back walls, the doors, the ceiling and the floor were all made of dark polished rosewood. "Where are we -- on a train?" "Genie drew me a picture of this once," River said, her voice warm again. She had, apparently, worked through her worries for Kaylee. "It's the governor's private transport. We're almost there." "River," Simon said. "He'll send you back. Back to the Academy." "No," River said shaking her head lightly, like Simon was joking. "He wouldn't." Simon opened his mouth fully intending to tell her that no one, not even their parents, had believed him when he told them about her message. He wanted to tell her that they thought he was insane for even trying to reach her. He wanted to tell her that he'd had to cut every tie with their family just to keep her. The reason they'd had to create a new life was because no one in their old lives would have them. But just thinking those things made his own heart break, he didn't know how he could do that to River. But as he sat there, mouth open, his amazing sister reached up and petted his cheek. Smiling sweetly and knowingly at him, she said: "You may think this whole thing accidental; That you weren't meant to take this trip, For you never chose the sentimental So now will you accept from me a little tip: Don't tumble into dark transcendental Thoughts, (I know how your mind can slip) But rather trust your heart's elemental Ways of keeping a steady grip. I can't wait 'till our destination's nigh, Even though I know my excitement does annoy, But my voice longs to shout into the sky, Communicate the depths of my souls deepest joy. We're almost home, why do you want to cry? Please smile, brother mine, you hun, bei ai boy." "You've gotta stop talking in poems, mei mei," Simon said, swallowing hard so he wouldn't sob. "I like it," River said. Simon nodded and took a deep breath. “So, we’re going to Uncle Reggie’s?” River smiled broadly and nodded. “Did they tell you how they found us?” “I told them.” “River, that doesn’t . . .” “I sent him a message,” River explained. “A code, an easy code, so he could break it.” “That’s how they knew,” Simon nodded. River’s poem, to an extent, had produced the desired affect. He’d resigned himself, for the time being, to waiting and being received by his godfather. It was possible, Simon knew, that his Uncle would listen with an open mind to what Simon had to say. It was possible that the Alliance-appointed governor would have his heart moved by seeing the change in River. It was possible that the man who’d never forgotten Simon’s birthday, who’d been to all of his graduations, who’d been the only person Simon knew to offer him comfort, not criticism, in the period after he’d been bailed out of jail, would trust him, and let them go. It was possible; Simon couldn’t bring himself to believe it wasn’t. “I need you to do something for me, River,” Simon said very seriously. “You have to make me a promise.” “I told you,” River said, with equal seriousness. “They don’t let her keep promises.” “I remember,” Simon said. “But you have to try. We’ll be at Uncle Reggie’s house soon. He’s going to ask us questions about where we’ve been, who we’ve been with.” “You want me to lie.” “You don’t have to lie,” Simon insisted. “We can tell them that we won’t tell them.” “Genie would like Kaylee.” “I know. But if we tell them about the ship, they’ll find the ship. Mom and Dad will be angry and everyone will get in trouble. You understand?” “They were helping us.” “Not everyone can understand that,” Simon said. “Will you try not to tell anyone about the ship? Not a word about the crew, where we’ve been. Nothing at all.” “What if she asks me?” “You can’t tell Genie,” Simon said. “You can’t tell anyone.” “Not Genie,” River started, but she was interrupted by one of the thick wood doors being slid open. Lieutenant McMeal and two other guards stepped into the small room and stood imposingly over Simon and River. “Are you ready to meet the governor, Doctor?” McMeal asked. “We’ve met, actually,” Simon said, carefully pushing himself up and off of the couch before the guards had a chance to haul him. His vision blurred and he felt like he was going to faint again, but managed to keep his feet by sheer force of will. “Would you mind untying my hands?” “You’re a flight risk.” “No,” Simon said. “I’m not.” “He’s telling the truth,” River said, smiling adoringly at her brother, who was to busy being cold and stoic to smile back. She didn’t mind. “Uncle Reggie always has a tin of Simon’s favorite peppermints in the top drawer of his desk.” McMeal was unmoved, “I’m sorry, Doctor, but your godfather is very eager to see you and I don’t want to run the risk of disappointing him. So,” the officer jerked his head and turned to walk out the same door they had entered. River followed, excitedly, then with some urging from one of the officers, came Simon, the other two officers followed. The Tams were escorted through the area of the transport designed to carry the governor’s guards and headed for the exit where Uncle Reggie and Genie would be, undoubtedly, waiting for them. The guards all looked edgy, as if they were ready to jump Simon the moment he showed the slightest sign of making a break for it. Their heightened alertness made what Simon had to do even harder. “Please, River,” he whispered, hoping the guards didn’t assume he was planning any thing nefarious. “Remember what we were talking about. It’s very important.” “I know,” She said over her shoulder as they reached the transport door, which McMeal was carefully opening, his eyes trained on Simon as if the young doctor could break loose his bonds and snap all their necks the second his back was turned. “Their lives could –” Simon began to insist before she cut him off. “I’ll remember,” She said. "One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, seven for a secret never to be told." “Good,” Simon said, nodding despite the well of uncertainty he felt. “Good.” The door slid open and River jumped out. “Uncle Reggie,” she said, running excitedly across the cream-colored brick transport pad towards her brother’s godfather. The older man reached out and swooped the girl up into his arms. She laughed, childishly and joyously. “How are you, my sweetheart?” “I’m happy,” The girl said. “But Simon is afraid.” “Is that so?” Comworth said, setting the young girl down on her feet and turning to her brother who had just been pushed violently out of the transport door. His hands were bound behind his back but his shoulders were squared. He looked proud and defiant, not at all happy or grateful like his younger sister. “Do you think he’s afraid of me?” the old man said, leaning in and whispering to the young girl. River laughed. “No,” She said, shaking her head. “He’s afraid for me.” This time she leaned closer and whispered. “He thinks one of us should be.” “But, darling, what do you have to be afraid of?” River’s smile slipped a little and the light in her eyes seemed to dim. “Eyes that see and ears that hear,” She said. “Greedy hearts and malicious minds. Ignoble people who would . . .” her voice got caught in her throat and she started gasping for breath. “River,” Simon said, trying to take a step forward only to be pushed back roughly by the guards. “It’s all right, sweetheart,” Comworth said, wrapping his arm protectively around the young girl. “I know you’ve been though a lot. Tonight you’re going to sleep in a feather bed and in the morning you’re going to put on a pretty new dress and have you’re hair done and play with Genie. How does that sound xiao hai zi? ” “It sounds like home,” River said softly. She was not excited, but neither was she terrified. “Like before.” “All that’s in the past now, sweetheart,” Comworth said, kissing the top of the girl’s head. “You are home.” * * *

To Be Continued . . .