PART SEVEN

*

We all now can see you; all eyes are upon you

Fly now, Bladud, head the calling

Born to a bird's cry; sworn to the open sky

Fly now, Bladud; aethro vates

Your life is a-ripening, friend of fools

Your wings are opening; sail on air

Fly now, Bladud; aethro vates

Sower and reaper, harvest is here

Swine were your keeper,

Breaker of promises.

Seeker and dreamer, ride on air

Fly now, Bladud, aethro vates

*

Fly now, Bladud - Avalonian Free State Choir

[See part 1 for a guide to this song]

*

Everyone who was old enough to drink alcohol was getting on the outside of a beer or three, whilst the children had some kind of local lemon-flavoured cola. Vera had one beer, then ordered alcohol-free lager. It wasn't great, but the taste was close to acceptable.

Mal peeked up at the windows, “Getting gorram hot out there.”

“Usually does, sir.” Zoe commented dryly.

“I know; we've been in forty plus degree heat for some time now, but I think today's gonna be a belter. Barkeep...is it me, or is it fixing to be extra hot today?”

The barman, a weathered man somewhere in his fifties nodded, “Sirocco winds off the desert, sir. Hits everything with an extra hot gust 'bout this time of year. It'll be as dry as old Maggie's nipples out there, over fifty for a good month or so. We heard about what you and the others did 'gainst that bunch of Reavers out in the desert. Drinks on the house.”

Jayne slashed a grin and waggled a mostly empty pint glass of ale, “Well, in that case, keep 'em comin'!” His left arm was mercifully free from metal now and merely had a firm bandage from shoulder to wrist to help it finish healing.

“I'll see about some fixings to go with that.” The barkeep returned with a tray of drinks and a lazy Susan which had olives, seeds, grapes, some small round cheeses, dried tomatoes and nuts on it, “We don't generally do a lunch menu here; it's too hot to eat much. There'll be camel steak and goat tonight, late on.”

Mal nodded, “Hoping to be setting off into the black afore that; but