Chapter 2: A Fool’s Errand

Mal and Zoe entered what looked like a cross between a tea house and a junk shop. Shelves full of kettles and cups and all kinds of junk, most of which Mal thought with a smile Kaylee’d be wild for.

A small bell rang them inside.

“Hello,” said a thin, balding man, half there size. “Interested in a purchase?”

“No thanks,” Mal said still looking about him thinking this had to be the oddest meeting place he’d been too yet. “We’re just looking.”

The man nodded once and began dusting the shelves behind him.

“Are you sure this it?” Zoe asked, saying exactly what Mal had been thinking.

“This is where the wave said.”

Zoe picked up a cup, imitation porcelain, shaped to resemble a lettuce leaf and raised an eyebrow at him.

“We need this job,” was all Mal said as he too began to look around.

“Miss,” the man said coming up to Zoe, “you look like you need a cozy.”

”Excuse me?” Zoe asked, somewhat taken back.

“A cozy,” he said again, smiling holding what looked like a knitted green and purple rag. “For your kettle at home. It’ll help you keep the tea warm for your husband.” He had indicated Mal at the end, causing the captain to smile and fight down a laugh.

“No,” she answered with as much good humor as she could, “I don’t have a kettle. Or a husband.”

“Oh,” the man said, “Oh. I see. Are you sure there isn’t anything I could do for either of you?”

”Well,” Mal said, the amusement gone from his face, “don’t suppose anyone was here earlier looking for us, where they?”

”And you are?”

“Malcolm Reynolds. Maybe they left a note or directions?”

“Captain Reynolds?” he asked and then smiled broadly, “Why didn’t you say so. I’m Edmund. You answered my wave two weeks back.”

”Your wave?” Mal said in disbelief.

“Yes, yes,” he continued, growing more excited, “Come into the back. We have lots to talk about.”

****

It wasn’t more then two hours before Mal and Zoe had returned and gathered everyone into the common area.

Edmund was a tr