Chapter 11

“I’m having difficulty seeing the benefit of this,” muttered Simon as he helped River put the hooded cloak over her new outfit.

“It’s all right, son, you shouldn’t,” said Book. He took a small scissor and cut a small piece of hair from his ponytail. “Those of your background should see things as black and white, and black doesn’t flaunt itself under one’s nose.”

Simon tied River’s hair into a topknot and then covered it with the hood. “How did you—”

“I know how the world sees my profession,” answered Book quickly. He pulled a pen from Simon’s bag and began to take it apart. “Are you well read in philosophical works?”

“I don’t know,” said Simon, attaching his collar with difficulty and glancing down the alley where they were located. “I’ve read all the classics, we debated in school...but improv is not—”

“I’ve spoken with you before, you’ll be fine,” assured Book. Taking the ink cartridge of the pen, he shook it over the hair clipping that he had lain on a handkerchief.

“And River?” asked Simon nervously.

“She can do what she does best,” said Book, smiling at the girl who was now clad in Shepherd’s garb. “Do you have the adhesive?”

Simon nodded, and River raised one finger to her lips to say: “Shh.”

~*~*~*~*~

“It’s not going to be easy,” grumbled Jayne as he tried to balance on Mal and Zoe’s shoulders.

“Just don’t break your arm,” said Mal. He tried not to breath too heavily, bracing himself under Jayne’s massive bulk.

Taking a deep breath, Jayne drew back his arm and then gave a powerful strike. His forearm crashed through the wooden board ceiling, leaving a hole a foot and a half across. Pulling his arm back, he gave it a shake, and then plowed through the weakened boards.

“All set!” he cried, as a key rattled in the door.

“Hold there!” cried a guard, before Jayne plowed through his face as well. Mal and Zoe quickly pushed the body into the guard behind and slammed the door shut. The locked clicked, and the key lay abandoned on the floor.

“We’re good, p