Firefly - Carnival, page 22
part #6 of Firefly Series
“Catch the girls,” River said, swaying back and forth in her seat. “Make them smile. They’ll be safe now. They’ll be happy. Never ever ever put back in their box.”
Simon, hearing her, had to look away. He thought of her arrival on Serenity, when Mal opened her cryo-case, and she fell out screaming. Life had not been easy since then, but Simon knew one thing for sure. I’ll never regret the choices I made, mèi mèi. Never.
“My thinkin’,” concluded Mal, “is that everyone here can be content—more’n content—with what they’re taking away from their time on Bethel.”
“Gorram girl’s brain’s addled,” muttered Jayne. “My bright idea.” But no more complaint came from those quarters. Whatever hold Mal had over Jayne, it was enough for the minute.
Speaking for himself, Simon was certainly content. So he’d won himself another black eye. That was fairly standard, these days. On the other hand, there was the money he’d made at the hospital, which was unequivocally his, and earned entirely legally. Almost entirely legally. Sufficiently legally, given his current circumstances. Very soon, he would be in bed, asleep, which was really all he’d wanted all along. But most of all, River was the happiest he had seen her in ages. She, head tilted, was looking at the state of his face. “Lucky charm,” she said. “Saved you.”
Simon reached into his pocket for the silver coin. “You hold onto this, mèi mèi. It’s yours—and, you know, you’re my real lucky charm.”
* * *
Zoë, having given what passed in her world for a statement, which largely consisted of words denyin’ much and affirmin’ little, was happy to find herself back on Serenity, and even happier to learn what Mal wanted her to do next. What she wasn’t so sure about was the presence of Anna Liu on this particular mission.
Zoë still wasn’t sure what to make of Anna Liu. Seemed like the woman knew how to carry a gun, but nothing good ever came of working with amateurs. Still, this was Anna’s world, and from what Zoë had heard about her parents she had a serious stake in this whole business, so perhaps she’d do for the job at hand. She’d have to. Zoë eyed her thoughtfully as she came into the cargo bay.
“Any news on those girls?” she said.
“Kay’s with them,” said Anna. “They’re all fine. One or two breathed in a little more smoke than was good for them, but they’re going to be fine. Those who aren’t staying in the hospital tonight are back at our residence. Zhao’s got some of his people keeping an eye on the place.”
“Good,” said Zoë. “And Kay?”
“Shaken, but she’s okay.”
“Huh,” said Zoë.
“You don’t like me, do you?” said Anna.
“Don’t know you, Ms. Liu.”
“You think I’m an amateur.”
“Are you?”
“Maybe.” Anna, she saw, was looking at her coat. “Were you in the war?”
“Some,” said Zoë.
“Browncoat.”
“One name for us. Not the worst.”
“I was too young for the war,” said Anna. “I thought at the time that I understood what was going on. You know what teenagers are like. Never short of opinions.”
Zoë wasn’t sure she cared to hear this rich young woman’s opinions of the war. As far as she was concerned, Bethel had picked sides when its wealthy citizens had decided to stay neutral.
“I thought of running away. Joining the Independents.”
“Last thing we needed,” said Zoë, “was more bright-eyed kids playin’ at soldiers.”
“I worked that out,” said Anna. “And you know what? I realize now that wasn’t my war. These girls—they’re my war.”
Zoë thought about. “Then I reckon that we’re on the same side. For today.” She looked up. Inara was coming out of her shuttle. She looked devastating. Well and good, thought Zoë, since there was a mite more warfare ahead of them yet today.
* * *
Zoë had never been inside a Guild House before, and while it was more or less what she might have guessed, she still felt like a fish out of water. The furnishings, well, they were perhaps more or less as expected; lots of curtains and cushions and fussy little bits and pieces of whatever they were. Zoë wasn’t averse to comfort, but vesselside life was a mite more austere. The smell—well, she didn’t mind that so much; these days she was used to the occasional waft of incense drifting from Inara’s shuttle. And now she thought about it, she wasn’t so surprised to find that this was a working building. The salons, where the companions met and socialized with the clients; the big reception rooms, for parties, Zoë guessed, and suchlike; and the doors that led to more private, intimate spaces.
Inara was moving with ease through the place, of course, and while there were many beautiful people here, Zoë could see the difference. The extra gloss and polish. Inara shone like the biggest jewel in the crown. They were led through the main hall toward the big stairs. Zoë, looking round, saw signs on all sides of the preparations for the big party that the Guild was hosting that night. They went upstairs, walked along a richly carpeted corridor, and came at last to a wooden door that opened onto a room that looked, to Zoë’s eyes, something between a private office and a boudoir. Hilde Becker, the head of the House, was waiting to meet them.
They were strangers, but she and Inara greeted each other with warmth; a kind of sisterhood, thought Zoë, must exist between companions. Hilde led them over the window, where three low but comfortable chairs were set up around a pretty little carved wooden table. The inevitable pot of tea was there, and three cups. “Do sit,” said Hilde. “I’ll pour.”
As she made good her promise, Inara arranged herself comfortably in her chair. Zoë sat with both hands upon her knees, watching Hilde carefully.
“Thank you for finding the time to see me this morning,” said Inara. “I’m aware that this evening is the highlight of the Guild’s social calendar, and that you must have a great deal to do.”
“It’s nice to welcome visitors from the central worlds,” said Hilde. “Bethel has its own charms, but it is, ultimately, somewhat provincial.”
“I travel a great deal around the Rim,” said Inara, pleasantly. “But I do consider Sihnon to be my home. I’m in regular contact with my former house there. In fact, I received a wave from them just this morning.”
“Yes?” said Hilde. She passed a cup to Inara, who accepted it gratefully.
“Yes,” said Inara. “They’ve been very interested in all that I’ve had to say about Bethel. To the extent that they’re sending their own people to come and see about the House’s arrangements here.”
Zoë was now watching Hilde very closely.
“One thing puzzled me,” said Inara. “They were surprised to learn that there was in fact a Guild House here on Bethel.”
“I’m surprised in turn to hear that,” said Hilde. She picked up the pot again and poured out a cup of tea for Zoë. Zoë took the cup and put it straight back down on the table.
“And one that’s been in operation for several years,” said Inara. “If I understand correctly.”
Hilde smiled. “Perhaps their records aren’t as good as they would like.”
Inara laughed. “Oh, Ms. Becker, we’re both trained companions, and you know as well as I do that if there’s something in which the Guild excels, it’s attention to detail.” She took a sip of her tea. “All of which helped, I imagine, when you arrived here.”
“I don’t know what you mean—”
“How would people here know the difference? This tea is very pleasant, by the way.”
“Thank you. What do you mean by ‘the difference’?” Hilde was holding the teapot again, making ready to pour a cup for herself, but had stopped to look at Inara.
“This is not an official Guild House, Ms. Becker. It may look the part—it’s practically indistinguishable—but you and I both know better. Who here on Bethel would know what questions to ask? Just after the war, a confusing time… People happy to welcome the Guild here. Quite a coup for Bethel. Few questions asked.”
Hilde resumed pouring. She filled her cup with a steady hand, but she did not put down the pot. “This is quite the tale,” she said. “You have quite the imagination, Ms. Serra.”
“I assume the intention was to retire quite soon,” Inara said. “Move on. Leave the Guild to someone else. If the fraud was uncovered—because it is fraud, Ms. Becker, and the Guild frowns upon it—then you would be long gone. Using yet another name. Probably not your real name. The Guild knows that one. Knows that you were expelled ten years ago.”
Hilde was smiling. Zoë readied herself.
“Your mistake was aligning yourself with Jacob Roberts. He’s under arrest, by the way. They have people willing to testify against him. What happened? Did he find out about you? Or did you come to him with the idea?”
Hilde’s retaliation, when it came, was very sudden, but Zoë was way ahead of her. She grabbed the other woman’s wrist, and the teapot, which Hilde was getting ready to throw at Inara, went crashing down onto the table. Finest of porcelain, shattered everywhere. Hot water, everywhere. She’d’ve done it too, thought Zoë, in disgust, she’d have thrown that in Inara’s lovely face…
Suddenly, Zoë found herself pushed back, hard. “Tā mā de!” Inara had told her, once, that companions were trained in self-defense. Hilde, having broken free, was heading for the door, which opened—to reveal Anna Liu, pistol drawn, with two lawmen from the sheriff’s office behind her. “No way out this way,” she said. And then her face convulsed. “They were girls,” said Anna. “Young girls! Not an opportunity!”
The lawmen made their arrest, and Hilde was taken away. The three women looked at each other. “Well,” said Inara. “That’s finished.” She looked at the broken teapot and the water drip-dripping. “Thank you, Zoë. I believe that might have done some damage.”
She knows, thought Zoë. She knows what Hilde was tryin’ to do.
Inara sat, almost inelegantly, back in her seat, and took a sip of tea. Zoë, coming back round to sit beside her, squeezed Inara’s shoulder on the way past. “You know,” she said, looking round the plush room, said, “We done some good work here the past couple of days.”
“Yes,” said Inara. “I think so.” She drank a little more of her tea. “Am I right that this is your first time inside a Guild House, Zoë?”
“One so big.”
“I’ve lived in spaces like this my entire life,” said Inara. “It’s hard to imagine how they might look through outside eyes.” She looked at broken pieces on the table. “You’ve never said, Zoë, whether or not you disapprove of my profession.”
“You’ve never said whether or not you disapprove of mine.” Zoë shrugged. “I’ve killed a lot of people, Inara. Maybe lovin’ ’em is the better way.”
“I’m glad to know you think that way.” Inara gave a sigh of relief. “It’s restful, isn’t it, when the men aren’t around?”
“Ain’t sayin’ they don’t have their uses,” said Zoë. “But it surely is.”
Anna came back into the room. “She’s gone,” she said. “Off to the sheriff’s office. I can’t quite believe she’s gone…” She looked round the room. “What happens now?”
“The Guild have sent someone,” said Inara. “They’re due to arrive in a couple of days, when they’ll begin their own investigation as to how this place was set up, how it’s been operating. They’ve asked me to act as their representative until their people arrive.” She glanced at Zoë. “I assume Mal can be persuaded to delay departure until then.”
“Reckon so,” said Zoë. She watched as Anna sat down in what had been Hilde’s seat and nodded at her. Nice work. Professional.
“Their main task will be to restore the Guild’s reputation here on Bethel. Make clear that Hilde Becker was rogue, and not representative.” She sighed. “They’ll have to find out which companions here knew what was happening, which ones were entirely innocent… I don’t envy them their task.” She looked around. “All of these preparations—such a shame it’s going to go to waste.”
“What do you mean?” said Anna.
“Tonight’s event can hardly go ahead—”
“But it has to!” said Anna.
“I’m not sure that would be appropriate,” said Inara.
“I mean it,” said Anna. “Listen, Inara, this is important. People here like a show. They like to be seen in the right places and they like to have money spent on them while they’re there. The truth is that most people won’t care who’s running this place—whether it’s Hilde, you, or someone brought in from outside. All they know is they’re expecting to be spoiled tonight, and the quickest way to put the Guild out of favor will be to cancel the biggest party on Bethel on the last night of Carnival.”
“Sounds convincing to me,” said Zoë. “Trust her to know her people.”
“All right,” said Inara. She sighed. “Someone will have to host—”
Zoë stretched out her legs and, crossing her feet at the ankles, put her boots up on the pretty little table. “Done my job,” she said. “Time for you to do yours.”
* * *
Perhaps it was a mark of how low his expectations were these days, thought Simon, that he was so happy to wake up in his own bed, in this little cabin, feeling properly rested for the first time in days. Perhaps it was a mark that he was coming to terms with the decisions he made, learning to live with them, starting to move on. He looked round the tiny space and thought fleetingly of his apartment back in Capital City. Brand new block of apartments, chic part of town, very desirable. His place had been on the eighth story of the building, with the most incredible view of downtown, and bought outright with the bonuses he made at the end of his first year at the hospital. Quickly, as soon as the line of thinking started, Simon shut it down. He was never going to see the place again—seized along with the rest of his assets, no doubt—and it was no use dwelling on what was lost. He’d made his choices. He’d swapped it all—the money, the outward trappings of success, the reputation, the parental approval— all given up for a living, breathing sister.
The ship was quiet, almost uncannily so. No sound or sight of River, and he tried not to worry. He’d hear right away if she needed him. He made himself tea and went to the infirmary. There were two boxes piled up on the bed. He opened one and realized that someone had been shopping and picked up the supplies he’d asked for. Mal? He guessed so. Simon began to sift through the contents of the open box. Mal, or whoever he’d deputized to perform this job for him, had done a good job. Not missed anything he’d asked for, and not always gone for the cheapest alternative. Simon had complained about that on several occasions. So did Kaylee, for that matter. You got what you paid for, after all. He was putting away the bandages in a cabinet (surely Jayne couldn’t snack his way through all these before they next made planetfall), when Book came by.
“Hello son,” said the Shepherd. “You get some shuteye?”
“I certainly did,” said Simon.
“Good,” said Book. He tapped his cheek. “And how’s the…?”
“Oh,” said Simon, gently touching the affected area. “I’ll live, I guess.” Just another black eye. Maybe Mal was right and he had one of those faces that asked to be punched.
“Can’t ask for much more than that,” said Book. “If you’re wondering where River is, I left her sitting quietly in the cargo bay. She was drawing.”
Simon smiled. “What is it this time?”
“Hot air balloons, of all things,” said Book. “I think she saw some in the sky above the city earlier. Beautiful patterns. That girl has real gifts.”
“Yes,” said Simon. “I know.” More—the girl was a gift. And drawing meant she was calm. That she was happy. Simon felt his shoulders ease down, ever so slightly.
“So with River peaceful,” said Book, “and me here to keep an eye on her, maybe you could join the others at the Guild House?”
“The Guild House?”
“You know,” said Book. “Inara’s party. You were thinking of joining them, weren’t you?” He looked round the infirmary. “Can’t spend the rest of Carnival hiding away in here.”
“Oh… I’m not sure… I don’t really like to leave River, not if I can avoid it…” Simon gave a short laugh. “Last time I left her alone she somehow ended up breaking a casino.”
“Hand on heart, son,” said Book, “I can promise you that me and that little girl will not be hitting the casinos tonight. I’ve seen more than enough of Neapolis. And Mal’s here too.”
“He didn’t want to go to Inara’s party?” said Simon. And what exactly was going on there? Everyone on this ship seemed to have an opinion on him and Kaylee but nobody seemed to want to talk about Mal and Inara and their weird whatever-the-hell-that-was.
“Hard as this might be to credit, but Mal does not want to go to a party at the Guild House,” said Book. “But you really should go.” He gave Simon a meaningful look. “Kaylee would glad to see you there.”
“I know…” Simon closed the door of the cabinet and started to empty the second box. He thought about Kaylee and River and where his life was now.
“Something troubling you, son?” The preacher’s voice. The man of God. Someone wise, with good ideas about how to conduct yourself. How to live your life.
“Sometimes,” said Simon, “I think I make some very bad choices.”
“Son,” said the Shepherd, quietly, “you don’t know what it means to make bad choices.” A little warmth came into his voice. “You know, while the rest of us were running around causing mayhem, breaking casinos and, well, all the rest of it… While we busy making all kinds of trouble, you were busy saving a young man’s life.”
“Oh…” So someone else had noticed. Someone else had cared. “I… That’s nothing, really, I was just doin’ my job—”
