TITLE: "A QUESTION OF BALANCE"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: No specific pairing.

RATING: G.

STATUS: New. SEQUEL to "ROUGH JUSTICE"

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: http://carlajane.50megs.com/Ali00.html

SUMMARY: "No one is in the mood to listen. The crowd want

a hanging so Book decides to give it to them."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"A QUESTION OF BALANCE"

A "Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

Sheriff Martin Bowman could not recall the exact moment when he and his men lost control. One moment he had a firm grip of his prisoner. His men providing a protective cordon amidst the surging press of angry townspeople. But the anger had not been aimed at them. Now it was as if all bets were off. Even faces he knew well seemed not to identify him as a friend but fought against the rule of law he had given his life to uphold. He was not perfect. No man was. But in an unjust 'verse he did the best he could for all the people not just those who could afford what the rest of them only dreamed about. The first blow glanced across his right shoulder. The sharp pain surprised more than hurt him and he lost his grip. The prisoner somehow went rolling to the ground, many hands and feet following him. Panic pierced him. Oh God if they got him to the ground he was a dead man.

If possible the chaos grew. People moving like a swarm, his footing unstable, his men being pushed aside like dolls, figures ripped away from the centre by a human whirlwind. He lifted his head, could not do much with his right shoulder so held his firearm in his left hand, eyes squinting but seeing no clear target. Gorrammit where was the man? Surely they had not killed him yet? They would want a public display, a