Freya squatted down and picked up a handful of dirt, letting it run through her fingers.

“You feeling antsy?” Jayne asked, shouldering Vera.

“Something’s not right.” She scanned the horizon. “There’s no sign of any habitation. And we’re a hell of a long way from a town.”

“I know what you mean. Seems to me Mal’s been taking what those folks have been saying a mite too easy.”

“It’s Maddy,” Freya agreed. “He won’t believe she isn’t everything she seems. What he remembers.”

“I’m thinking he’s beginning to regret that about now.” He sniffed. “I’m gonna take a bigger walk around. You comin’?”

Freya nodded and stood up.

---

“Mal, did you say they could use the mule?” Hank asked, looking out of the bridge window.

Mal joined him. Outside, just in view, Jess Adams was sitting on Serenity’s old mule. Even at this distance they could see he was fidgeting. He was looking around anxiously.

“No. Maybe they’re considering borrowing it for all their gear. They sure had enough.”

“Without asking?”

“I’ll see.” He headed off the bridge and down the main stairs. He could see Maddy in the cargo bay, moving boxes. “You planning on stealing my mule, Maddy?” he asked.

Maddy gave a start and almost dropped the box she had in her hands. “What?”

“Jess Adams. He’s outside, waiting. Looks suspiciously as if he’s on my old mule, which I see isn’t where I left it.” He nodded to the corner where the old vehicle still lived. “It may not be much, but there’s sentimental value in that thing.”

“We were just going to borrow it.” The trembling in her voice gave her away.

“Borrow.” Mal took a deep breath and looked down. When he raised his eyes again there was honest bafflement in them. “What’s going on, Maddy?”

“Nothing? Why should there be anything going on?”

“Here we are on Whitefall, at the coordinates you gave us, and there’s nothing here. No ranches, no towns. Just a whole load of nothing. And you’re about to run out on everyone with Jess Adams.”

“Mal, that’s ri