PART FIVE

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Do you hear the people sing?

Singing the song of angry men?

It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again.

When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums,

there is a life about to start when tomorrow comes.

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Do you hear the people sing

Lost in the valley of the night?

It is the music of a people

Who are climbing to the light.

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For the wretched of the earth

There is a flame that never dies.

Even the darkest night will end

And the sun will rise.

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They will live again in freedom

In the garden of the Lord.

They will walk behind the plough-share,

They will put away the sword.

The chain will be broken

And all men will have their reward.

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Will you join in our crusade?

Who will be strong and stand with me?

Somewhere beyond the barricade

Is there a world you long to see?

Do you hear the people sing?

Say, do you hear the distant drums?

It is the future that they bring

When tomorrow comes!

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Les Miserables - Do you hear the people sing

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[If you haven't seen 'Les Miserables'; please do yourself a favour and either see the live show or get a copy of the DVD]

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Mal was still searching the first floor when the explosion happened. He grabbed Inara and ran in the opposite direction. In the confused melee outside, everyone apart from Jayne and Vera appeared to be accounted for. Then the second explosion happened and everyone went running pell-mell a second time.

Hori was nearby, watching the conflagration, “Deliberate Alliance booby-trap. Vera and Jayne were heading to the top floor.”

Mal nodded, “I know.”

Hori squinted, “Think I can see them up in the atrium area.” He began to walk towards the blaze.

“Don't be a fool, Hori. It's suicide. You'll never reach them in time.”

Hori shook Mal off and kept going, moving faster now, “I have to try.” He found an empty truck and swiftly hot-wired it, then headed towards the inferno. At the end of the street, another figure jumped onto the passenger footplate and joined Hori.

Inara touched Mal's