CHAPTER 6

Mal recognized the church from three blocks out. He wondered if it really did stand out from the other buildings or if it only did to him. It was as if the entire building was surrounded by a repulsive aura. He swallowed the lump of his dead faith and considered the building again. It was no newer or older than the other buildings on the block. None of the passers by stopped to consider its architecture. It was just another building to them. As he and Simon approached, he noticed the gate tip open and Shepherd Book peaked out.

Simon rushed into the gate, bursting with questions, but Book maintained his silence. Mal kept his gait steady until he was inside, and even after Book locked the gate behind them, he did not feel safe. Three crew unaccounted for, hot cargo … at least Inara was safe.

Kaylee came running up as they went inside. “Are you okay?”

“How could you lose River?!” Simon exploded, directing his fury at Kaylee.

“I looked for her,” Kaylee stuttered. “She must’ve run off.”

“Run off?! She’s my sister! She’s your friend! You’re supposed to watch out for her!”

Kaylee’s eyes were wide as saucers. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry?! This world is crawling with feds!”

“Jayne and Wash are probably with her.”

“How is that better? Jayne—”

“Doc, no need for a fit,” Mal interrupted, rescuing Kaylee with a quick hug.

“They lost my sister!”

“And we’ll do everything we can to find her again,” Mal assured calmly. “No need for yelling.”

“The feds—”

“We got bigger problems than the feds right now,” Zoë cut in. “Three men out, boat’s blocked off—”

“And all of us are in mortal danger from a man named Prio who takes offense to us transporting this cargo,” Mal finished. Zoë had filled him in as to the nature of the cargo and Prio’s threat had finally made sense. Between them, they only had three guns, so their next move would have to be a very careful one.

“Calm down, son,” Book said. Everyone stopped in surprise because it was the first thing he’d said all day. His day of silence was finally