He summoned her to his office without any formality. He sat at his desk without even looking at her.

“So you want to play the hero?” his voice was icy.

“I just told the truth,” Anna replied, though she was trembling inside.

“The truth?” he snapped his head up. “Whose side are you on? Ours or the side of those… animals?”

“They’re human beings too,” she said quietly but firmly. “No one has the right to beat them for no reason.”

He slammed his fist on the table.