Firefly fic: Aetiology (4/4)
Four ways Simon could have failed.
Author's Notes: I tried to find a Chinese equivalent to the saying which River quotes, but in the end I had to stick with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is taken from his Flight to Arras.
River/Mal, just a hint of it.
Aetiology
4. Chimera
There is a girl, glowing, at the centre of all that is discernible.
Names are just labels. Now aeons behind you; but somehow you are aware of her. She is important to you.
River. She calls herself River.
Your River is thinking, seeing, feeling - so many things. It is confusing and painful. Like being stretched over all times and places at once. Her shining little body straining to contain it all. Indiscriminate.
She is your anchor; and she is full of secrets.
Whether by purpose or chance, her path crosses that of a ship.
There has been a ship. There is or there will be a ship. It too is important. Because your River knows this, so then, do you.
"A mighty big crate you have here, Miss."
"That’s my business, Captain Reynolds. It’s all perfectly legal."
"Ain’t ever crossed my mind it being otherwise. Still… Mind if I inquire s’to what manner of object you be transportin’?"
Not what - whom. River thinks of a name, but it slips by you. Cannot be caught. Dimly you know that this is not the first time; and yet you are untroubled. Hers is the only name you need.
Her brother, then.
She is taking her brother to the rim. Beyond the arms and eyes of the powers that be. It is what he would have wanted, to be buried at the edge of the wilderness.
The ship’s captain was a good man; he will be good again. His mind has a steadiness that brings River peace.
You think… You think this makes you content.
"You know the saying, Mal. ‘When the body sinks into death, the essence of man is revealed.’ Simon looked into me - and I will never leave him."
The End
October 7, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Author's Notes: I tried to find a Chinese equivalent to the saying which River quotes, but in the end I had to stick with Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is taken from his Flight to Arras.
River/Mal, just a hint of it.
Aetiology
4. Chimera
There is a girl, glowing, at the centre of all that is discernible.
Names are just labels. Now aeons behind you; but somehow you are aware of her. She is important to you.
River. She calls herself River.
Your River is thinking, seeing, feeling - so many things. It is confusing and painful. Like being stretched over all times and places at once. Her shining little body straining to contain it all. Indiscriminate.
She is your anchor; and she is full of secrets.
Whether by purpose or chance, her path crosses that of a ship.
There has been a ship. There is or there will be a ship. It too is important. Because your River knows this, so then, do you.
"A mighty big crate you have here, Miss."
"That’s my business, Captain Reynolds. It’s all perfectly legal."
"Ain’t ever crossed my mind it being otherwise. Still… Mind if I inquire s’to what manner of object you be transportin’?"
Not what - whom. River thinks of a name, but it slips by you. Cannot be caught. Dimly you know that this is not the first time; and yet you are untroubled. Hers is the only name you need.
Her brother, then.
She is taking her brother to the rim. Beyond the arms and eyes of the powers that be. It is what he would have wanted, to be buried at the edge of the wilderness.
The ship’s captain was a good man; he will be good again. His mind has a steadiness that brings River peace.
You think… You think this makes you content.
"You know the saying, Mal. ‘When the body sinks into death, the essence of man is revealed.’ Simon looked into me - and I will never leave him."
The End
October 7, 2005
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4