Author's Note: Scroll-over titles added for those who want to see Chinese translations.

Ta ma de!

Wash grimaced in pain. Once their eyes had become accustomed to the gloom, it had become apparent that they were underground. The earthen room was irregularly shaped, with a beamed ceiling about 4 meters high. A sack of dusty potatoes in the corner bore lonely witness that this was indeed a root cellar. Judging by the room's size, the potatoes must, at one time, have had a great deal of company. Tufts of straw were scattered about at random, emitting a sharp, acrid smell that mixed with the musty air, itching their noses to the brink of sneezing. Rough, uneven wooden stairs led from the hard dirt floor to a pair of very solid, very solidly locked double storm doors.

From his vantage point, flat on his back, left side throbbing accusingly, Wash could see thin gaps in the mocking planks, through which a weak light was filtering in. So much for the hurling of his semi-muscular body at the door to break the lock asunder. "Sorry." His voice rose discouraged from the floor, followed by the rest of him. "We're humped."

Kaylee scooted up the stair to examine the results of Wash's manly efforts. "Not even loose. There ain't no way outta here, 'cept someone unlocks that door," she said with sad finality. She descended slowly, absentmindedly brushing dirt off her clothes. Wash put a consoling arm over her shoulder.

"Hey, now," he said softly. "At least it's not raining. I mean, then we'd be standing around in mud. And wet straw, which smells foul, I can tell you!" His voice took on a slightly manic edge. "Especially when it's from a horse stabl