Chapter Eighteen: A Shrine to the Blind
Soundtrack suggestions: anything Trans-Siberian Orchestra, "The Blind Harper" – Kate Rusby, "Memory" - Sugarcult
Kate stepped into the small shrine, tears in her eyes. It was a simple memorial; two small statues rested on a cement ledge underneath an overhang strung with twinkle lights. It was in a long line of shrines along Widget Alley, a back street in Cadence where it was perfectly acceptable to erect shrines, thanks to new legislation forbidding the placement of explosives anywhere near a shrine, solving the problems that had plagued Snozlund's pagan worshippers for decades. One statue was Crickit, the protector goddess of lost children. The other statue was Alliy, father-like god of the family. Candles encircled both statues, red glass covers shielding the flames from the wind, and a pot of ever-growing holly sat in between them. Inscribed above each statue was the pertinent informationabout the two children who had gone to become "star girls," and a picture of each. "Goodbye," Kate whispered, touching each picture in turn. "I will miss you."
"Kathryn," Mother Mary said gently, putting her hand on Kate's shoulder, "it's time to go."
"It always is," Kate said, and turned to leave the shrine.
She didn't see the two little girls sitting on the ledge, holding hands and watching her leave with smiles on their faces, but River did. But, remembering her lecture from Kaylee about saying "nice stuff," she said nothing, but waved goodbye to her bird-girl friend, who waved back with a smile, for now she was free.
They celebrated Christmas in the black under a small tree Kaylee had bought on Snozlund. Everyone got gifts, true to Simon's statements about everyone receiving something at Christmas. Even Mal received a few things – a new holster from Kaylee, some chocolates from Zoë and Wash, a hat from Jayne (really from Jayne's ma), and a book of philosophy from Simon, who said River had chipped in. He didn't elude as to what River had chipped in, as the book was free of pen markings.
After Christmas dinner had been eaten, Zoë pulled Mal into a corner. "Sir, ya know we didn't get the cargo."
Mal looked as though he'd forgotten that. "Aww…"
"There's a wave fer ya, "Jayne said, interrupting. "It's Ol' Snakebite Cider."
Mal looked as though he was going to jump out the hatch.
"You best go talk t' him, sir, explain things," Zoë suggested.
With a heavy heart, Mal went up to the screen. Eddy was smiling at him. "Merry Christmas, Malcolm!"
"Merry Christmas, I a' spose, Eddy," Mal said grimly.
"Lemme guess," Eddy said broadly. "You didn't steal the Rockport Bones."
"How did ya know?"
Eddy shrugged. "Could be th' news that's all over th' 'verse, talkin' 'bout a right righteous fight that went down at Snozlund's annual Christmas ball. Somethin' tells me ya weren't able t' get outa there with cargo."
"No, we weren't," Mal replied.
Eddy threw back his head and laughed. Mal was confused. "What're ya laughin' fer? I failed ya and yer client, Eddy!"
Eddy wiped some tears of laughter from his eyes. "M' client. That's a good 'un!"
Mal slowly understood that there was something very wrong with either him, or Eddy. His bet lay with Eddy. "Eddy, what in the ruttin' hell are ya talkin' 'bout?"
Eddy finished laughing. "Mal, there was no client."
Mal took this with some shock. "No client? No job? Ya mean we just wasted fuel 'n supplies gettin' us t' Snozlund fer… what?"
"A vacation," Eddy said.
"What in the hell are ya talkin' 'bout?"
"I bet m' wife ya wouldn't take a vacation," Eddy said. "It was a no-holds-barred sorta bet. Talk t' ya later, Mal. Got a job comin' up fer ya in the next couple 'a weeks."
Mal was still looking at Eddy's image with horror when Zoë and Wash came in. "What's wrong, Cap'n my Cap'n?"
"It was a bet," Mal said slowly. "He bet his wife that we wouldn't take a vacation."
"Vacation?" Zoë asked.
Wash began to tick things off on his hands. "Picked up some strange passengers, almost died, River killed a guy, Jayne bought a cat suit… sounds like a vacation t' me." He threw back his head and began to laugh. Zoë joined him.
Mal had a feeling he was the only one who didn't get the joke. After all, it had been played on him.
"Mei-mei, there's still something I don't understand," Simon said as he finished wrapping River's wounds in bandages that night. "How did the Shepherd have those pictures of us that are in the locket?"
She shook her head. "Silly. I am not only memories in the mind."
"You put the pictures in?"
"Who else?" She smiled. "Shepherd only sends treasure; it is what you do with it that changes things."
"And what is that verse he wrote?"
"Proverbs 3:3. A beloved verse by many, especially Shepherds. 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength,'" she recited. Upon his confused look, she smiled and said, "I am only a moral good girl of God. Sister Rebecca, they call me."
"Well, Sister Rebecca," Simon said, returning her smile, "you are all wrapped up and good to go. Behave yourself."
She left to go to bed, and he cleaned up. Kaylee appeared in the doorway. "Simon," she wheedled, "it's bed time. Come on."
He gave her a lascivious grin. "Let me just check on River, make sure she's all right."
"She's fine, I just passed her," Kaylee said.
"I know… I just worry. I'll be right there," he promised. "You… go… get ready."
She grinned, clearly getting his meaning. She disappeared.
He switched off the infirmary lights and walked slowly down the hallway to River's bunk. The light was still on, so he knocked. "River? You asleep?"
There was no answer. Concerned, he opened the door. She was sitting with her legs crossed on the bed. Tears were rolling down her cheeks, but her eyes were closed.
Now even more concerned, he moved into the bunk quickly. "What's wrong?"
She opened her eyes, and he felt as though a bag of sand had whacked him in the stomach. "Everything is black," she said weakly.
Her eyes were cloudy.
His sister was blind.
Author's Note: Dun dun DUN... what will happen next? Stay tuned for the third epic!