CHAPTER 4

River moaned like a tired child when Zoë set her down on the Infirmary bed. Simon rushed quickly to splint River’s broken hand, but Zoë’s thoughts were elsewhere.

“River, honey, can you tell me where we are?”

“We’re on a ship. Mid-bulk transport—”

“Where in the ‘verse, River?” Zoë interrupted. “What world are we near?”

“Close to home.”

Zoë furrowed her brow. River’s home was Osiris – a core planet, and nowhere close to here. Still, Mal must have oriented himself. The ship shuddered and swayed as they entered atmo and set down. She was concerned about the lack of fancy flying, wondering if Mal had found them a crater or some place to hide, because setting on the open range would be suicide. Her heart pounded when she heard the back door open, and she ran out of the Infirmary, drawing her shotgun.

The cool autumn air swept through the cargo bay, carrying the smell of manure and hay. The room filled with the echoes of mooing cattle, triggering memories of a time when the cargo hold was full of those smelly animals. The sun gleamed through the back door, blinding Zoë, casting Mal into silhouette. Stealthily, she crept sideways around the bay, angling away from the sun until she could see outside.

From her view behind the aft bulkhead, Zoë could see a half dozen ranchers, all with long barrel shotguns aimed at Mal. She could only imagine that the circle extended around the whole back door. Qian Chung loyals, she assumed, watching Mal’s every move. He had one hand shielding his eyes in his typical “don’t shoot me, I’m no one of consequence” posture.

“You best stay on that boat and turn back to the black you came from!” one of the ranchers bellowed in the deep, strong voice of a foreman

“Dekker?” Mal hollered, squinting and leaning forward. A shot fired, grazing Mal’s arm. Instinctively, Zoë tackled Mal to the ground and aimed her weapon, but Mal stayed her hand. Staying down, out of the line of fire, Zoë watched as Mal stood, brushed off his coat, and addressed Dekker again.

“Sorry