“We can’t just leave him up there. He saved my life.”

Mal climbed into the ATV. “He really didn’t, doctor. Zoe.”

Zoe rolled the ATV.

“We can’t leave him.”

Mal stared ahead, “And what kind of help can you be doc? Jayne’s right, if we stay, we all die. If anyone’s to get away, someone has to hold them.”

Zoe was silent, driving.

Mal glanced at her. “What?”

“I ain’t said a thing, sir.”

Mal frowned. “Faster. He won’t hold ‘em long.”

The six-wheeled crawler threw up a wake of fine grey sand as it sped down the cratered valley. Suddenly, Jayne’s voice filled their helmets,

“Time for some thrilling heroics... “

Zoe shook her helmeted head.

“Keep drivin’” commanded Mal.

Jayne muttered to himself, “Ni ta ma de. Tianxia suoyoude ren. Dou gaisi!”* They couldn’t hear him firing.

The radio crackled, “Ai ya! I got two rounds left, you better be clear!”

Mal’s voice was flat, “We are.” The car swerved around a promontory, clear of the valley.

“Tzao gao! Very last one…” They heard a faint percussion. “Ok, I’m out. Mal - don’t tell ‘em what I did.”

No one in the cabin said anything. Simon was trying to look behind. Mal stared ahead. Zoe steered.

* “Everyone (under heaven) deserves to die”.