Days later Master Gera sent for Tema.
" Temara!" He called her full name. " I hate to say this, but I'm disappointed in your husband. Eli tried to steal from me, he set my store house on fire, destroying all my farm produce. I've suffered loss because of your husband. What did I do to him, Tamara? I have shown nothing but kindness towards you and your household. And this is how you repay me? By destroying my foods." Master Gera said, in a sad voice.
" I'm sorry Master, I plead on his behalf. I don't know what had gotten into him, I don't know why he did what he did." Tema begged on her knees. Although they didn't get along for so many years, he was still her husband. The man she swore to spend the rest of her life with, in good and bad times. She couldn't bare to see him tortured to death.
" Apologies can't make up for my losses. Someone has to pay. I have sent more men to hunt Eli down. He could not possibly hide forever. Sooner or later, my men will find him. Peradventure my men couldn't find him, your son will have to take his place." He said, in a cold voice.
" No! Master. Mashgad is only a boy, he is all I have left. Take me instead, Master, I can take the punishment on his behalf. Master please be merciful." She cried out, kissing his feet.
" You want me to show you mercy, did your husband show me any mercy when he set my entire store house on fire?" He replied indifferently.
" Master, I know you're a good man, we've hurt you alot. Please Master, you can take your anger out on me, but please, do not punish my Mashgad. If anything should happen to him, I will die." Tema cried louder.
" I've heard you, Temara, I would not kill Mashgad in Eli's place, neither will I take your life in return for his." Hearing Gera's words, she believed there was still a ray of hope. She swallowed down a sob, as wiped her eyes with her hand. She raised her head from the ground to meet his gaze.
He looked at her for a while, before he spoke. " For old time sake, Temara, I will be more lenient with your husband's punishment. If Eli is caught in the next three days, I will send him to Topaz. There he will work for the rest of his life. But, peradventure he is not caught in the next three days, then Mashgad will have to serve his punishment." There was no hesitation in his eyes while he spoke. He meant every single word.
" Master, please let me go to Topaz in mashgad's place, he is too young to be expose to such hard labor." She pleased.
" I have made up my mind, Temara. It is the most I can do for you. You should start preparing him now, you have just three days." He said, rising up to his feet. He gave her one last glance before walking out of the room.
What was the difference between Death and Topaz. Topaz was like hell on earth. Many slaves who were sent there didn't make it pass the first day. The head of the slaves there was ruthless. Their only punishment there, was death. She could only imagine what will happen to her little boy over there. The thought of it made her sobbed louder.