|
|
|
|
The Woman “Ai ya! Let me go,” she croaked, finally finding her voice. She shrugged, trying to throw him off. However Simon held on tight. “Guan ni ziji de shi!”
“Mikiko, is it really you?” Jayne watched the pair with open interest. “You know her?” “Boy, you turn her loose,” one of the new-comers said. “We have business with her.” “Yes, I heard.” He still did not release the woman. “What business would that be, pray tell?” The leader smirked. “Like the lady said, it’s none of your business, son.” “Please,” the shopkeeper pleaded, “no fighting in my store. Please.” “There’s no fighting,” Book said. “Not yet,” Jayne stated, pulling out his gun. He aimed it at the leader’s head. “Now, let’s take this outside.” Kaylee shifted nervously. The movement caught Simon’s notice and he felt bad for her. All she had wanted today was a trip dirt-side and possibly a new dress. “Why don’t you go pay the man, honey,” the shepherd suggested. He was rewarded by grateful smiles from her and the shopkeeper. Book followed the men and Jayne out. Simon went as well, pulling the woman with him. She continued to struggle but the doctor’s grip held. “What is going on, Mikiko? What do those men want from you?” “Tian xiao de! Simon, would you just leave it!” She cursed under her breath at the look of triumph on his face. “This isn’t your fight.” Simon glanced outside and sighed. “Give it enough time and it probably will be.” “We’d better get moving,” Kaylee said, arms laden with supplies. “We’re bound to draw the notice of whatever law this town has soon.” “Let’s go,” Simon agreed. * * * * * “Should we be worried that they aren’t back yet?” Wash asking, keeping his eye on the landscape. “I think we should be worried.” “They’re not late,” Zoe replied. She noted the reddening color of the sky. “Well, not yet.” Mal frowned at them. “Wash, get the ship prepped. I have a feeling that we’ll need to be leaving in a hurry.” “Don’t we always,” the pilot muttered, quickly heading to the bridge. “Anyone home?” Jayne growled over the radio. Zoe exchanged a look with the captain as she walked to the radio. “Yeah, we’re here, Jayne. What’s your ETA?” “About ten minutes. You may want to have the ship ready. We had a little, uh, encounter.” “Define encounter,” Mal ordered. “We met up with some of the locales and apparently an old friend of the doc. We’re not parting on friendly term.” “Zhen dao mei!” Mal spat. “Always seem to be,” Zoe murmured. “Jayne, lose them if you can. If you can’t, gain as much ground as you can. We’ll be ready to take to the air.” “Roger that.” Mal stared at the radio, silently cursing. With a sigh, he began to clear the cargo bay. “Just once I would like something to go as planned.” “That would be something different, wouldn’t it, sir?” * * * * * They made it back to the ship in just over seven minutes. Jayne had a gleam in his eyes that only came with battle. The sounds of guns in the distance meant that he hadn’t left the battle too far behind. “Let’s move it!” he ordered, shoving River’s lithe form onto the ship. “Glad you got the ship ready, captain.” “Well, I—” He paused as he noticed the dark-haired woman the doctor was dragging bodily on board. “Who is this! I didn’t give you permission to take on passengers, doctor.” “Not now,” Simon hissed. “You don’t order me on my ship! Who is this!” The ping of a bullet ricocheting off the ship echoed in the cargo bay. Kaylee grabbed River and ducked behind a crate as another bullet hit Serenity. Zoe, shotgun ever ready, returned fire. “Might want to think about leaving, captain,” she called. “We’ll talk later,” he growled at Simon. “Looking forward to it,” Simon muttered. He tightened his grip on the woman’s arm. She was cursing in at least four different languages, but the doctor seemed deaf to her grumbling. “Wash, we’re closing up. Take her up.” “Roger that.” They watched the barren landscape fall away as the cargo bay door closed. Mal turned as glared at his crew. As he moved from face to face, they could tell he was deciding who would bare the first brunt of his questioning. Then River started screaming. “Shh, River, honey,” Kaylee cooed, although uncertainty was present in her own voice. “It’s okay, sweetie. You’re safe.” Simon dropped the woman’s arm as he moved toward his sister. “River, I’m right here. There’s nothing wrong.” “Everything’s wrong!” River wailed, hands twisting in her own hair. “Stupid whore! Raping and raping to gain only a few words of praise!” “River, you’re—” “Bright light just a match. Bright eyes that couldn’t see!” “I’m sorry! I’m sorry.” All eyes turned from the crazy girl to the ship’s newest passenger. Her face had gone white. But what surprised Simon the most was there were tears running down Okada Mikiko’s face. * * * * * Chinese to English translations from http:// fireflychinese. home. att. ent Ai ya—damn Guan ni ziji de shi—Mind your own business Tian xiao de—Name of all that’s sacred Zhen dao mei—Just our luck |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|