Chapter 7: Pardon the Preacher

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Oz was closing the door to his room. He had just finished installing one of the devices, he had perfected over the years, on his door. Easy enough to get in if you knew the trick, damn near impossible otherwise.

Oz smelled the man walking up behind him but he didn't hear him. "Monk?" Oz wondered. He turned around to face the man before he could place a hand on him.

"Shepherd actually, though I was in an abbey up until a few months ago." Book smiled. "How were you able to tell before turning around, if you don't mind me asking."

"You walk like a monk," Oz paused and shrugged. "or an assassin."

"Ah yes." Book paused for a minute and clutched his bible.

'I believe I've hit a sore spot.' Oz thought as the preacher refused to comment more than that. He stuck out a hand, "I'm Oz."

"Oh how rude of me," Book said shaking the young man's hand, "Shepherd Book." As Book let go Oz's hand he asked, "Have you made your way around the ship yet?"

"No." Oz shook his head.

"Would you like me to show it to you?" Book asked. Oz nodded and Book began showing him the ship. They walked through the ship and after briefly stopping to say hi to Kaylee who was working on the engine, they stopped in the dining room. "And this is, if you're lucky and I or Kaylee have prepared the food, you will enjoy your dinner." Book sat down in one of the chairs and gestured for Oz to sit as well. "Are you religious?"

"No," Oz said taking a chair, "spent some time in a monastery though."

"Oh really what type of monastery?" Book wondered.

"Buddhists mostly," Oz answered, "for meditation."

"These," Book pointed at the beads wrapped around Oz's wrists, "would be meditation beads then. Could I," Book reached to touched them but Oz moved his arm out of reach.

"Don't." Oz growled.

The preacher bowed his head, "I apologize I had forgotten that in some faiths it is not proper to share meditation beads."

"It's alright." Oz said.

"Well it's almost time for me to prepare dinner. If you can cook I'd love the help." Book said after a moment.

Oz shook his head, "I can't cook."

"Alright then scat, I'll start working on dinner. You're lucky we've recently restocked on food so it won't just be protein." Book said standing up.

Oz stood up and left leaving the preacher to his kitchen. 'It'll be nice to be around a man of faith again, even if it is Catholicism and not Buddhism. I'm glad those two were the reigning religions. Meditation and protection against vampires, who could ask for more.'