In Which Ideals Are Dissected
Joe barely reacts, but Gerard knows his apprentice, sees the way his eyes narrow and his lips curl, so unlike Joe's usual bedside character.
Out on the street, Gerard falls into step with Joe's angry stride. "So, what was that?"
Joe doesn't even try to feign cluelessness. "That knife wound? It was an irregular shape. But a familiar one." He spat angrily at the curb. "Dammit, I didn't think he was trying to kill people out there, but if that strike was any higher, we'd be doing a laying out tonight, not a patching up."
Gerard gives his apprentice a measured look, says as calmly as he can manage, "You know Kevin's not doing anything that's strictly legal--not even strictly moral by most peoples' count."
"Sure, but he wants to help people--that's what he said--help, not maim."
Gerard shrugged philosophically. "Freedom to and freedom from."
"Huh?" Joe shot back petulantly.
"Freedom to and freedom from. Do muggers have the freedom to attack with impunity, or do honest traders going home at night have the freedom from being robbed? Your brother balances that every night. Freedom to and freedom from."
"So you don't mind?" Joe asked. He looked thoughtful, but the question was serious. "You don't mind going to stitch someone up and knowing they wouldn't be hurt if it weren't for Kevin? I mean, it seems to me like either Kevin shouldn't be attacking them, or we shouldn't be fixing them."
Gerard shrugged. "If it was random, then yes, I would mind. But I believe each man can design their own being. They wouldn't be hurt if they hadn't first decided to hurt another. What goes around comes around."
Joe nodded, brow furrowed. "And we're not getting in the way of the coming around by fixing them up?"
"They need a chance to do it differently next time." Gerard shrugged again. "I don't know, really. I do know there aren't many people I'd be able to leave in pain if I could help them."
They walked the length of the street in silence, Joe's brow furrowed as he thought furiously. "So," he said at length. "Kevin is the outcome of their first decision, and we're opening the possibility of them making a better decision next time?" The slightest uplift at the end made it a question.
"Well," Gerard hedged, "That's my reasoning. You may want to think it through and see if it matches up with your own. You should always think for yourself, Joe."
Joe nodded, but Gerard could see he was taking it seriously. "Okay, should we call in on Mrs Madigan, see how the new baby is?"
Gerard knew that they'd be back to this conversation, but for now their chatter turned back to professional matters.