Chapter 169: So much speculation.
The Gadriel’s were gone.
Whispers leaped like frogs in a swamp. Some residents talked about it in code, others exchanged glances as they noticed the empty spot where the Gadriel family liked to sit during lunch.
Private Craydon, their neighbor acted like he had never heard the name Gadriel in his life. His mother, Justice Marley who was very nosy kept walking by the window of the Gadriel house every other hour while trying to peek inside.
Every time she saw Craydon, she would repeat the same thing. "It’s too quiet in there. Maybe they are dead."
Private Craydon gave her the same answer. "That will be for the best."
His wife Violet could not agree more. Both of them had signed up their children for shooting class and they followed the rules of the base faithfully. They frowned upon people like Frank who did not know how lucky everyone was to be under the protection of Sunshine and Hades.
Craydon’s father, Craydon Senior had invited old Simon over as both of them were not doing anything. They sat outside the Craydon house, playing cards and smoking. But truly, what interested them was the empty Gadriel house.
Even old Simon’s dog Clemens seemed to be interested because he kept patrolling around the house and barking every once in a while.
"I am telling you; they are dead." Justice repeated to her husband as she brought some tea for her husband and their guest.
Soon, she met up with other old women in the church for afternoon prayers and she shared her theory there.
Word reached Father Nicodemus and the priest decided to speak to the information center. If the Gadriel’s were dead, it would not be bad to have a mass for them.
Meanwhile, life at the base continued on as usual. Security patrols were conducted as they should have been. Bubbles were blown and the pink bubble turned green. New gel was applied to make it withstand the heaviness of snow and melt it.
The water was being collected in tanks. If the lab declared it toxin free, Sunshine planned to have a large fishpond and swimming pool dug.
As for where she would get live fish or fish eggs, she still didn’t know.
But as work went on, the base’s gossip network thrived from wall to wall. Some people claimed the Gadriel’s had been killed for annoying Sunshine. Some swore that the watchers had carried the family off.
A janitor claimed that acid rain had eaten the soil beneath the house, and the ground had finally collapsed, pulling the whole family inside.
Some teenagers were passing around the story that the Gadriel’s awakened invisibility abilities. They were around but nobody could see them.
Lisha had no idea what to do about the rumors, so she approached Hades, and he told her what to say.
Around lunch time, an announcement was made all over the base through megaphones.
"Residents are reminded not to speculate and spread harmless rumors. The Galadriel’s found other accommodations outside the base. They are not dead, and nobody is next. This base thrives on harmony, and we should keep it that way.
Also, people that visit the mutated sheep, you have been requested to stop feeding them cheese. It makes them bloated and gassy.
The mutated chicken don’t eat meat, stop offering it to them and stop trying to touch their eggs. Someone was burned by one of the eggs this morning.
Keep the children away from the chicken until we are certain that they have lost all hostility."
Thank you."
Lisha had no idea how conspiracy theories worked. Shortly after that announcement, someone claimed that Galadriel’s had been thrown out for refusing to allow their children to learn how to shoot. Apparently, more would follow and there was a list.
Suddenly there was a spike in registrations for the shooting class. And when residents came across Sunshine, they were much more polite. Some smiled, some bowed unnecessarily.
She knew what was happening. Fear seemed to have become etiquette.
"Do you wish to say something?" Nimo asked her.
She shook her head. "Why bother? When I offer kindness, they take it as an opportunity to talk back. At least this way, we will have peace for a while."
****
Sunshine paid a visit to Rori Quinn’s house after lunch. She discovered that her mother-in-law chuckled every time she looked at her.
"Try not to look at me like a clown Rori and I am not going to cough ice flakes or ice confetti for you." She told her mother-in-law. "There is something that I came to address, where is Jill?"
She sat down and crossed one leg over the other.
Rori went to the kitchen and called Jill. When the young woman approached Sunshine with a smile, she remained cold like the weather outside.
Jill shifted uncomfortably under Sunshine’s gaze, her fingers twisting in the hem of her tunic. This was not her friend Suni but Mrs. Quinn from the look of things.
"You have been stealing from mother-in-law’s pantry, is that correct?" Sunshine’s voice was stern putting her personal feelings aside. Ariel had complained way too many times and she could not ignore it anymore.
Rori let out a gasp. "That cannot be true! She has never__"
But Jill blurted defensively, "I only took turmeric, cloves, garlic, ginger and honey! It’s to strengthen my old uncle’s immune system and help with the flue. I didn’t think Mrs. Quinn would mind__" her voice cracked, cheeks flushing red.
Sunshine’s eyebrows arched, skeptical. "And why not take him to the medic bay?"
"Because," Jill said, her tone suddenly sharp with conviction, "my uncle is the traditional type, he doesn’t believe in those medicines. He believes in holistic kind of healing and refused to go to the medic bay."
For a short time, Sunshine simply stared. The girl’s desperation was real; the fear of being cast out shimmered in her eyes. She was just trying to help her family.
Still, what she had done was wrong and she needed to be warned strongly, or the habit would grow. Today it was spices, tomorrow what would it be?
Sunshine’s voice remained stern. "Next time, ask for permission such that there are no misunderstandings. Do you understand? You still have your job, if Rori intends to keep you. But this is a warning....do not take what is not yours."
Jill nodded vigorously, relief washing over her face.
Rori exhaled. "Why would you think I would refuse to help you my dear girl?"
"I am sorry Mrs. Quinn: it will not happen again." Jill’s voice cracked. "We have a market now; I can buy from there."
Sunshine stood up, her heart heavy because Jill was her friend, but leadership demanded coldness. The line had to be drawn.
She bid Rori goodbye and made her way to the market. Dwayne walked by her side, guarding her.
A smile came to her cheeks when she saw the liveliness in the market, The stalls brimmed with grains, dried fruits, jars of spices, baked foods. Merchants called out prices, children darted between stalls.
People were shopping around, haggling or gossiping. This was the kind of scene which she only saw in the last year of the apocalypse. Hades had done a great job with organizing the market.
Then her walkie-talkie buzzed sharply against her hip.
"Hello? Mom! Come in." Ariel’s voice came through, very frantic and carrying a lot of fear.