When Mal awoke the next morning and extricated himself from Jia's arms, the only person around the campsite was Roxton. He was sitting on a fallen log that was sitting on the outskirts of camp.
As he was about to say something to Roxton when Marguerite came out of the tent. She immediately saw Mal and gave him a scathing glare. She then stormed off towards the river they had stopped by last night.
Mal turned to John, "What did I do?"
Roxton scoffed, "That is nothing. I get worse looks than that all the time." He got up to follow his lady.
Mal called after him, "Yeah but you usually do something first."
He heard Roxton chuckle as he walked away. Mal stood there trying to figure out what he could have possibly done. Jia walked out of the tent and smiled at him. He turned and half smiled back. She looked around, and seeing they were alone came up to him and wrapped her arms around him. He returned her embrace.
"Good morning." Her voice was still sleepy.
Mal smiled and thought of how much he liked her voice like that, "Good morning to you too."
"Where's the others?"
"The river. Marguerite glared at me. Know what that's about?"
Jia shook her head, "She never said anything to me about you."
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"I just have a hard time believing nothing happened John."
"For God's sake Marguerite. Even if it did why is it any of your business."
She scoffed, "You just never will understand women Roxton."
"There are things men were never meant to understand. All you will do is embarrass Jia by asking about it. If it happened and she wants to talk about it she will. Nothing you can do about it either way."
"I won't say anything. It's just that... she won't even admit she likes him John. How can she be ready to sleep with him?"
Roxton grinned at her, "You won't admit you like me."
Marguerite gave him a look, "That is different."
"How?"
Marguerite searched for an answer, "It just is."
Roxton hid his smile and nodded, "Of course it is."
Marguerite glared at him and walked towards the campsite.
They found Jia cooking over a small fire and Mal reclining on the fallen log. Marguerite smiled at them both and started taking down the tents. Roxton looked at Mal and shrugged. He really didn't know what to say.
The rest of the way to the village was very uneventful. Besides Marguerite's strangely absent complaining, everything went as planned. The stay in the village was a short one on account of the chief meeting them on the outskirts. He refused to let them in the village, but traded for what they needed from the outside. They all thought this odd but since the chief and his guards were quite insistent, they agreed and left as soon as they had everything on the professor's list. They camped in the same place as the previous night, but Marguerite would not let Jia leave this time. Jia tried to argue but Marguerite wouldn't even do that. Jia sighed and went to sleep beside her. They started off the next morning in a much worse mood then the day before.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Back at the Zanga village, Veronica was having a discussion with her friend. Veronica and Simon had stayed the night and now Assai was adamant they leave before nightfall.
"I don't understand Assai. You have never asked me to leave before. Have we offended you in some way."
"No Veronica it is not you. Our celebration continues tonight."
"What celebration Assai? What is going on around here?"
The Zanga girl sighed, "This month is my sixth in my pregnancy. Since I am the chief's daughter and my husband will be chief," she blushed. "our village has a fertility celebration to bless our child. It is not something you would be interested in Veronica."
"What happens that you are so sure I wouldn't be interested?"
Assai blushed even deeper, "I will say this, nine months after a fertility celebration, many children are born."
Veronica now blushed, "Oh."
"It is a blessing for the rule of my child. With more children in the village, it is a symbol that the village will still be prosperous in the child's time of rule."
"I've never heard of this before."
"That's because the last celebration was when my mother was pregnant with me. Both people involved are, by nature of participating in the celebration, agreeing to pair with another member of the village. I did not believe you would be interested in that."
Veronica cleared her throat, "Simon and I will leave before sunset."
At that moment Simon walked up, "I do appreciate the hospitality your village has shown us Assai. I have had several women ask me if we are staying tonight."
Veronica smiled, "We are leaving to get back to the tree house before sunset."
Simon nodded and moved on, back to his patients.
Assai turned back to Veronica, "many women in the village will be disappointed. I have had several ask me about him."
Veronica blushed again.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The other four were a half hour away from the tree house when Malone joined them.
Jia was concerned, "Where is River?"
"Challenger is watching her. He wants sulfur too."
Roxton sighed. Marguerite groaned.
Jia looked around, "Apparently that is not a popular chore."
Marguerite threw up her hands, "I am going back to the tree house. If anyone wants to join me, I will be over there." She pointed to and walked to a tree close by and rested against it.
Jia smiled, "I'll go with her, you guys can help Challenger with his little request."
She walked over to Marguerite and they walked towards the tree house. Malone handed the other two the rock picks necessary for the chore.
Mal grimaced at it, "You know, on Serenity I give these chores to Jayne. Guess this is my punishment."
The others nodded and started walking towards the sulfur 'patch'.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
An hour later found the three men picking pieces of sulfur up off the ground and putting them into a bag that Malone had brought.
Mal still was not happy, "What a filthy, disgusting job."
Ned smiled at him, "Could be worse."
"How?"
"Could be raining."
It was of course at that moment when the skies decided to open up and dump a hard, driving downpour on the plateau. Roxton and Mal looked at Ned. All he could do was smile.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Simon and Veronica had run the last half mile to the tree house in the rain. They went up the elevator to find Jia and Marguerite sitting at the table talking.
Veronica asked, "Where are the others?"
Marguerite sighed, "Challenger sent them on a little sulfur trip."
Veronica's eyebrows shot up, "In this?" She gestured to the rain.
Marguerite shrugged, "In his defense it wasn't raining when he asked."
Veronica sighed, "I guess they are smart enough to find shelter till it's over."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a cave next to the sulfur pit sat one embarrassed man and two angry ones.
All had been silent until Ned spoke up, "I really didn't..."
Roxton didn't look at him, "Shut up Malone."
"But I..."
The other two looked at him and said, "Shut up Malone!"
Ned didn't attempt conversation after that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The tree house was alive with conversation and good smells. Jia was cooking and the others were talking about their adventures. Veronica had just ended her story of what was nicely referred to as the giant bee incident.
"Adama was very grateful for the rest of the royal jelly."
"Did you..."
Simon's question was interrupted by a rustling of the thatched roof. Before anyone could move close to fifteen men came rushing in from various angles. River had disappeared just before they came in. One of the men knocked George out with the handle of his knife. One slashed at Simon and gave him a shallow line across his chest. Veronica, Marguerite and Jia were all grabbed by several of the men and quickly dragged out. The other men retreated with them. Simon lay on the floor with his hand over his chest. He quickly made his way to George and made sure he was alright. River came up behind him with tears running down her face. She hugged him from behind. Simon put his hand on her arm.