Amanita: Poison Shot

Chapter 40: A Pacifist Spy

"That could be a problem. A different company might be contacted," Siegfried pointed out seriously. "Getting rid of Mrs Coco doesn't matter. If you take control of Mirror Ltd. instead of Mrs Coco and start sending older and uglier maids, the Secretary of State won't like it. Another business will take its place and the raping will go on."

"I'm afraid that Mrs Nevermore has got the upper hand as regards the household management," Agape replied with confidence. "The moment she knows Mrs Coco endorses her husband's sexual depravity, she's gonna love the substitute I'll send her."

If that was true, which I was hoping so with all my heart, the issue could be solved in little time.

"Sigi," she addressed him in a stern voice, "get Mrs Coco out of the way, will you? You know what I mean."

"Yes, Agape," he replied with a dark voice and icy, tiny pupils.

So, Siegfried would murder Mrs Coco. That was settled. I swallowed hard and became paler. I had informed against her at the end of the day.

But what unsettled me the most was the fact that Siegfried, the star and amazing enforcer of Dawn's hockey team, adored by all the children in the neighbourhood, would murder a forty-something-year-old lady soon. I couldn't picture the scene. It felt too surreal to me.

"Just one more thing, Daphne. About Eros. Do I need to worry?" she asked with too much seriousness all of a sudden. She had a pen in her hands. She was playing with it, mildly crushing it. "Because, if you're starting to feel empathy towards our enemy, I might need to reassess our relationship, honey."

"Is this a threat?" I asked naively because I couldn't believe her words.

"No," she replied sternly. "But I think I need to remind you that you're not like the rest of the rebels. You're still a civilian... in your mind and words. It's not your fault, I know that. But... even though you've started to work for me as a spy, your frame of mind doesn't suit the mission you've been given. None of my rebels will ever feel sympathy towards the enemy. You, on the other hand, might. This puts us all at risk."

She was right, but it felt weird that she was questioning my loyalty. What could I gain from betraying them? I'd get executed just like the rest of them.

"Agape," I tried to reassure her, "you don't have to worry. I will carry out this mission professionally. Eros has been polite to me, but our friendship won't go any further than that."

"I expect as much."

"But there are both good and bad people on both sides, Agape," I added, feeling I was pushing it. "Eros and Mrs Nevermore have been protective and nice to me. They shouldn't be forced to pay for crimes they have not committed themselves. Would you ever take that into account, Agape?"

"You want me to spare them?" she asked then, raising an eyebrow. "Is that what you're getting at?"

I didn't dare to answer, but my eyes spoke volumes.

"My world is in black and white, Daphne. Don't ask me to consider any scale of grey or colours. Clones are the pest I'm trying to get rid of."

We fell silent.

"Daphne," she went on with care and love, then, "nobody's gonna shoot you if you decide to walk away from us. I can't and I won't protect any clones. You don't agree with me – and that's fine. Also, working for me implies some risk, always. What's happened today is a perfect example. Do you think you can still work for me even though we don't agree on moral terms? Do you still want to?"

I inhaled consciously, filling up my lungs like a full tank. Then, I saw Siegfried's pleading eyes raining hope down on me – hope that I'd say I did want to stay and help.