The Return – Part 15

“It sounds…unbelievable,” was all the Shepherd could say after Mal told him about their chances of getting home at the exact place and time as they had left their quadrant. Simon and Book had returned late to Serenity, both with duties occupying much of their time away from ship, but they still bunked on board and Kaylee would have it no other way for Simon and neither would Mal for all the crew. Despite their friendship with Will’s gang there were other people in Melbourne who might not be so kind and Mal ordered everyone of his crew back on board ship every night. Will’s people provided armed escorts for moving about the city, especially for Simon, as he was the only fully trained doctor alive on Earth as far as they knew. Now the two men who had been absent from the meeting sat at the dining table eating a late supper as Mal, River, and Kaylee sat with them and tried to explain all Tanya and Gregori had said about time travel.

“It makes the head swim, doesn’t it?” Simon said as he barely lifted a spoonful of soup to his mouth. He was exhausted, Kaylee could see, and she decided to put an end to this meeting so her man could get some rest.

“Time for bed, mister,” she said in a commanding tone and Mal and Book looked at each other with grins.

“My doctor,” was all Simon could mumble as he stood and Kaylee led him away toward her bunk.

“He works too hard,’’ River said after they had left.

“Lots to do,” Mal replied. “And more to do yet. It’s time for getting a rest. I’m gonna lock up the boat.” Mal put his coffee cup in the sink and headed aft, leaving Book and River alone.

“Do you believe, Shepherd?” River asked him and he paused before answering, wondering what she was getting at.

“Believe? I believe in God, if that’s what you are asking. Did we time travel? No, I don’t believe in that. Time is relative to the observer. It does not exist except in our minds as a reference point in order to make our lives more organized. We cannot “time travel” anymore than a pig can