“It’s a damn fortress,” Jayne remarked, leaning against a tree.

“It is that.” Mal gazed at the house in the dawn light, half hidden behind tall trees. “Lots of cover, though.”

“Which kinda suggests there’s things around we don’t want to meet.”

“Could very well be,” Mal agreed.

The green light shimmered round the forcefield perimeter once again, as an errant moth was detected.

“Likely be pressure pads, at the very least. Maybe gas. Even explosive charges,” Jayne went on.

“Hmn.”

“If you’d like, I could get to the house via the trees,” River offered, breathing deeply of the fresh air.

“No, don’t think that would be appropriate,” Mal said quickly. “You’d be on your own, and … no. But thanks for offering.”

Jayne glared at her and went on, “If he has got ‘Nara in there, be about a full assault to get us anywhere near the house. Or landing Serenity on the front lawn.”

“Thinking pretty much the same thing myself.” Mal stood straight. “In a way I'm hoping he hasn’t. Be easier to get her back in one piece if it’s someone a little less paranoid.”

“Regretting challenging him to a duel now?” River asked.

Mal shot her a look. She was getting to be all too like Freya now they were spending so much time together. “I seem to recall it not so much being a challenge, as a … misunderstanding.”

“Never heard it called that before,” Jayne added, chuckling deeply.

“Anyways,” Mal said firmly, “we’re gonna have to hope Harrow can find out something.”

“He did promise men.”

“Yeah, but they’re not likely to want to do something quite as illegal as this, are they?”

“Let me try something,” Jayne said. “Got an idea.”

Mal looked at the big man sceptically. “Should you be doing that?” he asked. “Thinking?”

“Hey, I wanna get Inara back much as you do. Just give me ten.”

Mal nodded. “No more, though. You get pinched, we can’t come in after you.”

“Wasn’t gonna let that happen.” Jayne grinned and melted away into the shadows.

"Is that a good idea?” River asked.

“We’