Pages 1 and 2 of this chapter appear to be notes and
sketches made by Inara about her time aboard Serenity
and about the ship's crew, information that Saffron has gleaned.
The note in the upper-right corner of page 1 is a list of
seven worlds in the 'Verse, possibly worlds Inara is
considering fleeing to as she prepares to leave Serenity.
On the mid-left edge of page 1, the quote "A jug fills drop
by drop," is a common paraphrasing of a verse by Buddha. The
actual verse goes, "Think not lightly of good, saying,
'It will not come to me.' Drop by drop is the water pot
filled. Likewise, the wise man, gathering it little by
little, fills himself with good." Another quote from
Buddha is found on page 2: "In the end, only three
things matter: how much you loved, how gently you lived, and
how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you."
Inara has been shown to be Buddhist in various stories.
In the lower-right quadrant of page 1, the note reading "One
hundred letters I wrote and burned telling you that I must
leave soon," must be a reference to Inara trying to tell Mal
that she must leave Serenity, which she finally
tells him in
"Heart of Gold".
The quote at the middle-top of page 2, "Happiness is a
journey, not a destination," is a common proverb used since
the beginning of the 20th Century. It's original source is
unknown.
The cartoonish sketch of an enraged Jayne on page 2 features
the quote, "Mal said he couldn't stop at Canton for free
drinks, idiot." Jayne is considered a hero in the town of
Canton on Higgins' Moon (as seen in
"Jaynestown") and likely would get free drinks when
visiting.
On page 8 of this chapter, Logar quotes a supposed Buddhist
philosophy, "If you are quiet enough, you will hear the
flow of the universe. You will feel its rhythm. Go with this
flow. Happiness lies ahead." This is not a true
Buddhist verse, though it is a modern paraphrasing of things
said by Buddha.
On page 9, Inara muses on the time Kaylee spent on Leta
where she met a local boy and spent a week in his beach tent
while Mal waited for ship parts. This is the first mention
of Leta in the 'Verse.
When Logar says he once spent a week with a Companion named
Lareen, Inara remarks that they trained together and that
her shamisen skills were unparalelled. A shamisen is a
Japanese three-stringed musical instrument.
On page 16 of this chapter, Inara uses another Buddhist
quote, "Do not look for sanctuary in anyone but yourself."
Chinese translations
(Thanks to the
Firefly-Serenity Chinese Pinyinary for the
translations) |
|
Page # |
Chinese |
English |
|
9 |
Logar calls Inara baobai |
sweetheart |
|
11 |
Logar calls Inara baobai |
sweetheart |
|
22 |
Inara calls Kaylee mei mei |
little sister |
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