BLUE SUN ROOM FAN FICTION - SUSPENSE

SHINY

Orphaned Soul, Part 8
Friday, August 20, 2004

Inara and Shephard Book try to help a troubled girl who has lost her brother, and perhaps her mind.


CATEGORY: FICTION    TIMES READ: 3996    RATING: 9    SERIES: FIREFLY

Read: Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7

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Book paused as he stepped into the shuttle, giving his eyes a moment to adjust to the darker interior. Inara was seated crosslegged in front of her writing desk, her brush gracefully tracing the rhythmic strokes of a long-forgotten caoshu script. River was seated beside her, intent on her own parchment. Book noted River’s calligraphy was every bit as flowing and beautiful as Inara’s.

Except she was writing it upside-down.

Book cocked his head.

And mirror-imaged.

River looked up from her calligraphy. “Is Simon home?”

“River…your brother – ” Book trailed off as Inara’s eyes narrowed in warning. “No, sweetheart…Simon’s not home.”

“Don’t forget that your brother is a doctor, River…he stays very busy taking care of people,” added Inara. River pouted slightly, but returned to her own calligraphy.

Inara set down her brush and stood, leading Book away from the table. “Any luck?”

“There aren’t many reputable transports going back to the core, but I’ve managed to secure passage with some families making a pilgrimage to Al Mahdyr. I’ve asked them to drop us off at Santo; we’ll have to make our way as best we can from there.”

“It shouldn’t be too difficult to find passage from there to Persephone.”

“Yes, although I had hoped we wouldn’t have to return; those searching for River have no doubt already traced the lawman to Ser…to the Eavesdown Docks.”

Inara smiled at his attempt to spare her feelings. “Well, I suppose we should get packed.” She knelt to open the lacquered chest at the foot of her bed.

“There’s one other thing…the folk we are travelling with don’t permit unmarried men and women to share a cabin…so I’ve told them we are both missionaries escorting an orphaned child to distant relatives in Ariel.”

Inara looked from the delicate sari she was folding to the satin gowns in her chest. “Missionaries?”

“It was either that or tell them you two were my wife and daughter.”

Inara had no response.

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Continue to Part 9

COMMENTS

Friday, August 20, 2004 2:06 PM

SHINY


Just a little light-hearted installment to tide y'all over for a bit. I'm hoping to overcome my writer's block this weekend...

Friday, August 20, 2004 4:10 PM

MYORANGEHAT


The Anonymous comment was from me. I was logged in, but it still posted as anonymous. Weird.

Friday, October 29, 2004 5:28 AM

SABACEANBABE


This is really, really good. I know it's been around for several months, but I just discovered it today. Better late than never!

You have a very visual style of writing and you have the characters' voices down pat. Will there be any more to this intriguing tale? Please?

Wednesday, January 26, 2005 8:19 AM

COSMICFUGITIVE


That was good!

The character voices are spot on. I could imagine the conversation between Book and Inara happening on the show.

I'm enjoying the way the story's heading too.

Moving on to part 9!



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