Name's Reynolds. Rap Reynolds, as in Bum Rap Reynolds. Not that I'm a bum. I just carry around this sign says, "Veteran of the War of Independents, Will steal for food. " And the paper cup for folks to put coins in , well--

Mainly it's about that charge on Shadow. I was just a kid. Talk about your bum rap-- that sheep was a damn liar. I was just trying to help it over that fence.Bad rap, that's what it was.

And that thing about losin' the war at Peaceful Valley. That wasn't my fault either. That incindiary went off all by itself. Wasn't my fault it burnt down the Warehouse with all the food in it, so we hadda starve for a month before we

surrendered.

So I'm thinkin' of changin' my name. Somebody told me that Mal means Bad in Latin. Mal Wrap Reynolds. I kinda like that.

And, o'course they're all callin' it Peaceful Valley now. Ever since that big company built the cemetary and monument there, buried alla them folks got killed. Nothin' much more peaceful than a lotta dead folks. Lowest bidder they was, too. All that gose about them havin' political connections to the Alliance gover'ment, and Blue Sun Corp.is 'xackly that, gose.

And I think that the high rise hotel and the casino and the housing subdivision are perfectly honorable and respectful of the dead. Why, that shopping mall ain't even built on the battlefield.

That's my ship over there. Even called her Peaceful. She's a fly-on-fire. I don't believe those recall orders the Manufacturer keeps puttin' out, bout how she's a deathtrap, like to explode all of a sudden fer no reason, while yer eatin' dinner er havin a birthday party. And I think it's cute the way her ass end lights up when ya put her in full burn. Kinda like somebody who had too much beer with his burritos for lunch yesterday, the ones with the extra hot salsa on 'em.

That's my crew. The tall gal is Zooey. Called her Zo oncet, and she whacked me with that goofy sawed-off rifle she carries. Ain't worth a damn as a gun, but it looks mighty bad, and i