"You certain we should be doin' this, sir?" Zoe's boots thudded on the dry earth as they made their way towards the small cluster of lights in the distance. "It's not just 'cause you wanna play the big damn hero, is it? Because you know they may actually be safe here, the place is so cut off."

"I'm pretty certain. Not certain it's what's best, but I'm fair certain it's what's right. An' sometimes that's more important." Mal squinted into the distance. "'Sides, what if it weren't the Shepherd got shot? What if it'd been one of us normal folks who don't got magic ident cards? We need us a doctor, Zoe."

"It ain't really the doctor we need to be concerned about."

"I know, but he an' his sister come as a pair. And even takin' that fact into account, I ain't as concerned about them as I am 'bout the preacher."

"It was a little unsettlin'"

"Man's got a secret, Zoe, one he's not keen to share. And any secret that'll get him that kinda treatment from the Alliance can't be small."

"You want for me to keep a closer eye on him?"

Mal nodded, still looking ahead. They were coming up on the edge of the village. "Much appreciate it."

They rounded a corner and stopped, staring at the sight before them.

Mal cleared his throat and looked at her sideways. "That look to you like the doc and his sister is about to be burned at the stake?"

Zoe nodded. "Sure does, sir."

"So, not that safe here after all?"

"Apparently not, sir."

"That's what I thought." He drew his gun. "I guess it's time for some rescuin', then."

Zoe followed him as he smiled and pushed his way through the crowd, looking for all the world as though he was having the time of his life.

"Well, look at this!" he said loudly to the assembled villagers. "Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us?" he asked, glancing at Zoe.

She grinned. "Big damn heroes, sir."