“You can’t fix faith …”

“And we shall call it, this land …”

“There’s only the truth of the signal …”

River stood in the middle of the old saloon and turned slowly, listening to the voices coming from every corner, some familiar, others strangers.

“Help me …”

“They’re breaking through …”

“Mother of God …”

She wasn't surprised. It wasn't the first time the dead had come to visit, but generally she’d put it down to the fact that she was crazy. Although now, after having that conversation with Kaylee …

“Do you know what day tomorrow is?” Serenity’s mechanic had asked, tucking the blanket around David Gabriel as he took his afternoon nap.

Days are a vestigial mode … “No,” River admitted. “I don’t keep track.”

“You’re as bad as Jayne.”

“My Jayne.” The psychic smiled indulgently. “My rock.”

“Yeah, he’s kinda built like one, isn’t he?”

“In every way.”

“I used to wonder ‘bout that.” Kaylee blushed lightly, just a hint of warmth across her cheekbones. “You know, ‘fore I met Simon.”

“I'm not jealous.”

“Good.” Kaylee coughed. “Anyways, it’s a kind of holiday. Tomorrow, I mean.”

“Oh?”

“Used to be called Hallowe’en.”

“Festival to encourage the spirits, to remember those gone before.”

“You’ve heard of it?”

“No.”

Kaylee slapped her arm playfully. “Shouldn’t be peekin’. More fun for me to tell you.”

“Then tell me.”

“Me and my brothers, we used to go trick or treatin’ – nothing bad, a’course, and mostly we’d get treats from the neighbours. Although there was a time …” The blush deepened as she remembered a long-ago mischief, and River smiled secretly. “Anyway, my Ma and Pa always decorated, putting out pumpkins with candles in, and if there was the cashey-money to spare we’d have real apples in a bowl, and …”

River let the words wash over her, knowing she shouldn’t have lied, but it was such a smallness to allow Kaylee to enjoy telling her something, and the real truths behind the tricks and the treats and