PART SIX

But I had a most funny feeling

it wasn't me they were shouting for.

So when the tall dark lady smiled at me

I said, "Oh, baby let us go for a ride."

*

Rainbow Blues – Jethro Tull

*

Love's maze is a crazy kaleidoscope

All roads leading diff'rent ways

Love's maze, like a swaying calliope

One dance where the piper pays

Love's maze is a hatter's mad party time

One feast lasting nights and days

Love's maze is a firework spectacular

Bright skies as the bonfires blaze

Love's maze is a magical labyrinth

Close paths hidden far from gaze

Love's maze is for lovers in jeopardy

Lost there in a rainbow haze

All praise as we dance in its corridors

All part of these grand displays

Behold every lover who's ever born

All lost in their own love's maze

*

Love's Maze – By Jeeves

*

*

When everyone was dressed in their freshly laundered clothes, the cleaned mules had been retrieved and they were walking back to Serenity, Mal took Jayne aside.

“You didn't go with Patience.”

Jayne made a disgusted noise, “Nah. Ya showed me some time ago there's such a thing as family and friends in the black. Weren't lookin' for it, but a spell close to breaking atmo and the prospect of not breathin' any more got my mind working powerful fast.”

Mal wisely bit back any comments about the state of Jayne's mind, “So; it'll take more 'n five year's wages to buy you.”

“Don't ruttin' like Patience either; she's a hard, ornery old crone. Plus, she offers me that much, tells me her grip's slippin' on that moon o' hers. And the six guys with her were just winder dressin' and not even worth my spit. They could barely hold a gun right!”

Mal was impressed that Jayne seemed to have grown some extra brain cells. Maybe Vera was rubbing off on the big merc in more ways than one, “There was that. We've been double crossed by her before. Glad to have you still on board.”

“I'll be stayin'; long as Vera's around somewhere.”

Mal couldn't resist, “Your gun?”

Jayne glowered at Mal, then realised he'd been teased, “Gorram; bot