“River, what are you talking about?” Freya sat down next to the young woman. “Jayne’s upstairs in the shuttle with Ethan and Jesse. He’s fine.”

“Won’t be.”

Freya glanced at Mal, who went down onto his heels in front of her. “Albatross, you seen something?”

River nodded slowly. “If I stay, he’ll die.”

“Not sure that won’t happen if you leave anyway,” Mal pointed out, not looking at Freya.

“What did you see, River?” his wife asked, knowing exactly what he was referring to, but deciding, this time, not to pursue it.

“Does it matter?”

“Of course it does.” She pointed out of the door. “That man loves you so much and now thinks he’s done something wrong.”

“He hasn’t!”

“Then you need to tell him.”

“I … I’m scared.”

“Of Jayne?”

“No. That he’ll die.”

Mal stood up, his knees complaining. “This don’t make sense, River. And if you don’t tell us some more, it never will.”

“Can you show me?” Freya asked, taking River’s hand.

The young woman shook her head. “Too much static.”

“We could try.”

“Might hurt you.”

“Then tell us.”

River screwed her eyes closed for a moment, her face taking on an agonised expression. “I can’t. It’ll make it come true.”

“That doesn’t happen,” Mal said softly. “Point of fact, if you talk about a bad dream –“

“It wasn't a dream!”

“No, okay, so it wasn’t a dream,” he backpedalled a little, the anger on her face making him pause. “But if you don’t tell us, we can’t help.”

“Won’t be able to help,” she whispered. “Can’t stop it.”

Mal and Freya looked at each other. Can you see? He let the words coalesce in his mind.

No. Too much static to get through. Freya pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling the ache already behind her eyes. “Sweetheart, you have to be clearer.” She took River’s hand. “I … we don’t understand.”

“I can’t. The words won’t come.”

“River?” Simon came out of the infirmary. “Are you okay?”

“Your sister wants to leave us,” Mal said, crossing his arms.

“Leave?” The yo