The Pillow Book of Inara Serra

Interlude: Dreams in Three Tenses

Homecoming

The war was finally over. He had come home at last. But the ranch was gone, burnt to the ground.

“River . . .”

Only its shell remained. Mal walked through what used to be the living room. Charred bodies covered the floor. Was this what he had fought for? Killed for?

“Kaylee?”

A large corpse slouched against the wall still clutching Vera. Was this god’s justice?

“Serenity!”

“They’re not here.” A tall blond kid, no more than twenty, stepped out of what used to be the kitchen casually cleaning a gun.

“Where are they? Who the diyu are you?”

“Don’t worry, Sir,” he winked. “I took good care of them. Followed orders to the letter.”

He was outside standing in the gorge. They used to picnic here. He shouted for his family.

“Mal . . .”

That voice. He spun around and leveled his gun at the nightmare. “What the fuck are you doing here?”

Glossy red lips curled in a smile. “You left them all alone down here. Someone had to look after of your responsibilities.”

He cocked his pistol. “What have you done to them, Inara?”

The smile widened displaying her perfect white teeth. “Xiao bao come on out.”

Serenity came running out of one of the nearby caves. “Papa’s home! Papa’s home!”

He had to drop the gun to catch the spry seven-year-old as she leapt into his arms. He held on tightly silently swearing to never let go. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry baby.” Tears spilled from him falling on her rosy cheeks.

Wide blue eyes stared at him curiously. “Why are you crying Papa?”

Inara beckoned to their daughter. “Come to me xio bao. Come to Mama.”

“No don’t!” It was too late. He couldn’t hold on to the child. She wriggled free and ran to the thing that called itself mother.

They were wearing matching dresses. Mal remembered Inara making them for Serenity’s sixth birthday. Her left hand gently stroked his little girl’s shiny black hair. “He’s crying because he thought h