Page 34 of Firefly

Williams looked beyond him to the sliver of light cresting along the horizon. “If I’m right, we don’t have time for this. Wasn’t there something you wanted to ask me?”

Simon dipped his chin. “Yes. We have little time. My… essence leaves my body when the sun rises. I’ll need you and the men to bring me aboard and find a place to store my body until nightfall. Can you handle getting everyone aboard?”

“Should we put you in a coffin?”

A shudder rolled down Simon’s spine. “No. Find something else. Anything else.”

Williams nodded. “I’ll get them aboard, and you.”

Simon felt it the moment before he left his body and hoped they would be safe for the day.

He rose from the edge of the river and stalked for the cave mouth. Elizabeth was there, and he let out a little sigh of relief. These past several months, he had seen less and less of her. On most days, it was of little concern, but today he had questions.

“Elizabeth, good to see you.”

She looked up from her place on the ground and smiled. “Simon!”

He settled beside her, trying to puzzle out the shape she was drawing in the sand. “Is it a dog?”

She stuck out her bottom lip. “It’s an elephant.”

“Oh. Very nice.”

She gave him a look that said she didn’t believe the compliment for a minute.

“So listen, I was wondering what you know about witches.”

She wrinkled her nose. “You mean like us?”

“What do you mean us?

“You’re a witch, and I’m a witch. Are you asking about you and me?”

“No. Maybe. I didn’t know you were a witch.”

She looked up, setting down her stick. “Well. I guess I’m not anymore. Now, I’m like this.” She waved a hand down her body.

Simon considered her words, thinking of how best to phrase his question. “Do you think witches can see this new version of us because we were witches?”

She giggled, resuming drawing in the sand. “You’re silly, Simon.”

He sighed, leaning against the stone at his back. Perhaps it was silly to think a child would have answers to his questions.

His thoughts drifted to the night before and what might await him upon his return.

After they’d breached the forest line and were free of the landmines, they’d crossed the road quickly and found themselves in Barth, a small German town overrun by soldiers using the port to bring in goods from all across Europe.

Only one ship per day left Barth, stopping in Demark to unload shipping containers to be sent to the other German-occupied ports. Had he been alone, he would have traveled over land, but with a group of men, many of whom were still weak from illness and starvation, a ship was their best option.

He closed his eyes as the shift happened, and suddenly, he was jarred to life as his world rocked violently.

Around him, men were huddled together in the dark; many had their arms wrapped in thick rope and were hanging on for dear life. He spied Williams and moved to his side, grabbing a bit of rope to keep from sliding across the shipping container’s slick surface.

“What’s happened?” he yelled over crackling thunder and the waves crashing against the ship.

“We didn’t stop in Denmark. We have no idea where this one’s going!” Williams yelled back.

“Stay here. I’ll go have a look!”

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