Chapter 3

40 Minutes later, Zoe and Kaylee parked the old four wheel mule outside of the 'Muddy Rudder.' Kaylee's worry quickly began to melt into confusion as she approached the establishment and heard curious chanting and cheering.

"Drink! Drink! Drink!"

"-Hold on, Doc need's more medicine!"

"Goh beh!"

"Dr. Pain! Dr. Pain!"

Kaylee paused and asked Zoe tentatively "Dr…. Pain?"

Zoe turned to face Kaylee and sighed "If they ain't in danger now, they're gonna be. Stay close, looks like this place can get a little rough, and I don't think many womenfolk come by here very often."

Before they could enter Mal staggered out of the bar. His black eye, split lip and slurred speech were not lost on the two as he hiccupped and greeted them, "Zoe! I swear darlin' I was gonna call-"

"Where's Simon?" Zoe interrupted him.

Mal responded by clutching his sides and convulsing with laughter.

"Don't see this as a laughing matter, Sir."

Mal regained control of himself, stood up a little straighter, and pointed inside. "You will," he said as he took a deep breath and let it out a contented sigh, "You will."

The three of them walked through the doorway, progressing three steps into the establishment before Kaylee and Zoe were frozen in confusion. Mal resumed his laughing as their minds raced to make sense of the bizarre scene in front of them. Kaylee was too stunned for words. Zoe could only manage a quiet "Son of a bitch" in disbelief.

A large capture of Simon hung on the wall amongst many smaller captures of much tougher looking men. Simon's picture did not need the size advantage it was afforded to stand amongst the others. His pale skin and nearly nonexistent shirt showed his wounds to be far more numerous and obvious than those of his contemporaries. His expression set him apart as well. While most of the men in the captures appeared enraged or triumphant, Simon looked like he would collapse any minute or die of confusion. Well, confusion and blunt force trauma. Below Simon's capture hung