Chapter 139: The consequences of one’s actions.
Doctor Godwin wrung his fingers, his remorseful eyes darting from Sunshine to Hades, then to the floor like as if the answers might be hidden beneath the tiles. "I can explain." He started as he raised his eyes, "I never meant to cause any harm. I just wanted to get some x-rays, blood samples, maybe some flesh."
"Are you serious right now?" Sunshine snapped, leaning forward. Her hands trembled with the force of holding herself back, the veins at her temple tightening. "You gambled with lives here. Not just the lives of others but your own as well. What if those sheep woke up while you were dicing away at their flesh? What do you think would have happened?"
Doctor Godwin winced and replied, "I did not think that far."
"Exactly." Sunshine slapped the table. "You were not thinking straight because if you were, you would not have attempted such foolishness. What makes this worse is that you were warned by Doctor Soraya who is your superior and yet you ignored her warning.
Rules are put in place for a reason Doctor Godwin, you should know that more than most people because you worked in a government institution before you were hired to work on this base."
Doctor Godwin opened his mouth to respond but nothing came out.
Hades was relieved not to be the one on the receiving end of Sunshine’s criticism and anger. Her voice had a sharpness that was very startling.
"Have you forgotten that someone was nearly mauled to death? A teenage boy. A child for god’s sake! What if the sheep you drugged had made it out of the pens and mauled the soldiers or other workers in the paddocks? What explanation were you going to give their families?" She barked.
Doctor Godwin looked at Hades, hoping the man would intercede for him. He could explain himself if she was calmer than this.
Hades remained cold faced and unmoving. He sat next to Sunshine with his arms crossed across his chest. If Godwin expected help from him, he was barking up the wrong tree.
He had not handled the matter yesterday, deliberately so. Anger, to him, was a poor foundation for justice. Today however, he was calmer, and his voice carried the weight of finality. "Doctor Godwin." He raised his voice, and it rang with the quiet authority of a verdict. "I wanted to deal with this yesterday, but I was angry so I was worried that I might decide to put you in the paddock with the very sheep you drugged and let them work out their grievances."
Sunshine blinked in shock. Hades had a dark mind! Even she would not go that far unless she was pushed to it.
Doctor Godwin gasped. He realized in that very moment that he would rather face Sunshine any day than her husband. She was by far the most rational one between the couple.
Unaware of what they were thinking, Hades continued on. "You are fortunate I waited to handle this matter today when I am much calmer. You are even more fortunate that my wife returned, and I am in a great mood.
This said, no matter what excuse you have, your actions cannot be excused. You did not take permission from me before deciding to experiment on those sheep. They are not your personal property; they belong to me and my wife. You almost brought danger to the base by acting selfishly and we cannot set a precedent like that, or others will follow."
Godwin who had been looking down lifted his head, his shoulders shaking. Hades’s tone and his words worried him. Now was not the time to make excuses, he needed to save himself first or he would be expelled.
If he was expelled, the acid rain would kill him immediately. He would be worse than Helena that had been banished to the third wall and soon to be moved to another base.
If he was expelled, what about his family? They would probably be forced to follow him. They had been given safety because of him.
He leaned forward and looked at the couple desperately. "Mr. and Mrs. Quinn, please.....I’ve served this base faithfully. I have taken good care of the animals under my supervision. I personally helped two cows give birth and treated one of sick calves. I was the first to discover the red ants which were crawling onto the base."
"Your contributions are not meant to balance your wrongdoings. A murderer is not forgiven just because they once donated a kidney to someone." Sunshine’s voice cracked like a whip.
Doctor Godwin flinched, there was no excuse left in him, only the weight of her words. The doctor’s eyes glistened. He opened his mouth, but no words came, only a broken sigh.
Sunshine sighed and calmed herself.
Hades squeezed her hands and smiled at her before turning back to the doctor. "We are not going to spend all day handling this matter and we need to wrap it up. The only thing that is saving you is the fact that you did not act with malice. This was foolishness, recklessness, but not with intention to cause harm. Still, intent does not erase consequence."
Sunshine let out a deep breath "If you stay in that department, I am not certain that this will not happen again because we will house more mutated animals in future. Temptation might get the better of you and cause you to make another mistake.
Therefore, you are no longer employed as an animal doctor here." she declared her tone final. "You will be moved to another team. From now on you have been relieved of your duties and we are revoking your pass to certain sections.
Your family will be moved from the first wall to the second. You will also be removed from the list of those that are given first priority when it comes to special supplies. Count yourself lucky that you are not being expelled."
The silence that followed was heavy.
Hades inclined his head slightly. "I agree with my wife, her decision was made with great wisdom. Mercy tempered by caution."
Godwin’s shoulders sagged. He was old, his legacy long behind him, and now stripped of purpose but he was grateful that he was not being kicked out. "Thank you for letting me stay madam president." He said quietly.
Sunshine’s jaw tightened, she wanted to tell him to pack his things and walk beyond the walls. But she saw the years etched on his face, his body looked exhausted. Sending him out would be sending him to his death.
"Do not thank me. She whispered, her voice breaking. "Believe me it was a hard decision to make so I hope that you do not make me regret this by running your mouth and sharing your grievances with people. We have been fair and generous with you. These consequences are of your own making."
"You are excused. Go and pack your things, your family should be out of the first wall within an hour." Hades told him.
Dr. Godwin thanked them again and he left.
Sunshine exhaled slowly after Dr. Godwin left, forcing herself to release the anger before it poisoned her. She felt the burden of her choice settle on her shoulders like a mantle of ice. More than that, she wondered if she was weaker in this life.
In her past life she would have thrown the old man off the base, good intentions or not. People that did not listen were often problematic.
"You handled that way better than I planned to." Hades said, interrupting her thoughts.
A smile formed on her face. "You were going to let him, and the sheep settle it in a paddock!!!"