“I’ll comply. I received orders to do as you say, Commander. Hey! Arrest these guys!”
-Yes, sir!
Soldiers from the Military Police, marked with “MP” on their arms, swarmed in and promptly arrested the three drill instructors beside Ang.
They handcuffed them and dragged them out of the barracks.
The furious Lee Seong-hwan shouted harshly, but no one paid him any heed.
“You bastards! Don’t you know who I am? I’m the second son of Gwangju Industrial! And you treat me like this? I won’t let this go.”
Kim Cheol-su sighed deeply and spoke to the platoon leader.
“Please make sure the involved parties are punished. They’re incorrigible.”
“Still, Gwangju Industrial is a fairly reputable company around here… I’m not sure what to do…”
The Military Police platoon leader hesitated slightly but stiffened again when he met Kim Cheol-su’s cold gaze.
“Ahem! That said, there will be no leniency. Since this is an order from the Military Police headquarters, we’ll investigate thoroughly and punish accordingly.”
“Thank you very much.”
-Huh? What’s gotten into this guy?
-Arrest him!
Suddenly, a commotion broke out outside.
Lee Seong-hwan dashed quickly to Kim Cheol-su’s side with fierce eyes and snatched a syringe from a nursing officer.
-Kyaak…!
-Move aside!
Almost in a frenzy, the sulking Lee Seong-hwan lunged toward Kim Cheol-su, holding the syringe, shouting:
“You damn bastard! Because of you, I’m the one screwed! You’re going to die once too, you son of a bitch!!!”
-Huh? What… what’s going on? Commander!
The situation unfolded so fast that even the Military Police platoon leader standing nearby couldn’t stop it.
For any normal person, it was an almost impossible moment to avoid.
In the blink of an eye, Kim Cheol-su turned his head just enough to narrowly dodge the syringe, which grazed him, leaving a slight wound.
Kim Cheol-su exhaled in relief and looked at the now captured Lee Seong-hwan.
“Let me go! I said let me go, damn it! I’ll kill you! Kim Cheol-su! I swear I’ll kill you!!!”
-There’s no way! How dare you attack a superior? You worthless scum!
-Punch! Punch!
The drill instructor was mercilessly beaten and dragged away by the Military Police, his fate pitiful.
After Lee Seong-hwan was hauled outside, the barracks fell silent.
The nursing officers and patients were evacuated under Military Police control, and Noh Gi-nam approached.
“Commander, thank you. I’m grateful you caught those bad guys. And I’m relieved the military doctor wasn’t seriously hurt.”
“Just luck.”
“I see… Ah! By the way, congratulations on your promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. Truly impressive. A genius doctor after all…”
Noh Gi-nam’s eyes sparkled brighter and brighter, and feeling overwhelmed, Kim Cheol-su cleared his throat and said:
“It’s nothing special. Anyway, since those who assaulted you have been arrested, things should quiet down once you return to the training camp. Are you worried any other drill instructors might bother you? If there’s any chance of that, we should consider transferring you to another unit.”
Kim Cheol-su spoke with genuine concern.
While it was good that the corrupt instructors were arrested, he worried about whether others would harass Noh Gi-nam.
After all, it’s the same breed; if the other instructors at the training camp pick fights or bully him, it would be difficult for Noh Gi-nam.
But the bright-eyed trainee shook his head firmly.
“The favor you’ve done me, Lieutenant Colonel, I will never forget. Since those bad people are gone, I will endure the rest of my military life on my own strength. Thank you! Now, I have to get back to the unit and train properly. I want to become a strong and admirable soldier too! Ha ha.”
… That’s right. Well said, Noh Gi-nam.
Kim Cheol-su smiled and patted the trainee’s shoulder.
Although all had been dragged into the military unwillingly, the youth of the Republic of Korea showed steadfast determination.
They were strong-willed to serve diligently, so long as they were not bullied or injured.
Kim Cheol-su thought about protecting these beautiful spirits as he walked out of the orthopedic ward.
-Pat-pat
-Pat-pat
-Pat-pat…
Passing by the nearby trauma ward, a delicate and beautiful woman spoke to him.
“Soryeong… Huh? Commander? Military doctor Kim Cheol-su, you’ve been promoted?”
“Ha Saebyeok. It’s been a while. How have you been?”
“Yes, I’ve been well. I came out because I heard some commotion, and here you are. Suddenly you got promoted—what happened?”
“Well, actually…”
Since she wasn’t much involved with the officers, her information was slow.
Kim Cheol-su explained the situation to her curiosity.
Besides, he needed to warn her anyway about meeting her friend in Seoul on the 15th.
After hearing the behind-the-scenes story of his promotion and the plan for Sunday, Ha Saebyeok’s eyes sparkled, and she said lively:
“I see… But when we go to Seoul, you have to take me along too!”
“… Huh? What are you saying…? Wouldn’t it be better for the patient to stay at the hospital? You’re still not fully recovered.”
“Thanks to your good care, I’ve recovered a lot. I want to go too. Besides, you don’t know where your friend’s house is. I can guide you there.”
True to her reputation as a debutante of the era’s S.E.A., she was very stubborn.
Kim Cheol-su sighed, realizing he had no choice.
“All right. Then you can come along that day. You’re a civilian, so you can do as you wish.”
“Oh my, that sounds like you’re saying I’ll be discharged? I’m going to stay here at the ward with you, doctor.”
Suddenly, Kim Cheol-su’s face reddened.
His heart fluttered at such innocent and beautiful words from a woman.
But now was not the time for trivial feelings.
He had to focus on his duty as a doctor.
Forcing a blank expression, he hurriedly distanced himself from her.
“All right, do as you please. I’ll come pick you up on Sunday morning then.”
-Pat-pat
-Pat-pat
-Pat-pat
Watching Kim Cheol-su walk away, Ha Saebyeok bit her lip.
She muttered with a slightly sulky expression:
“I told him I liked him, but why did he react like that? Could he like someone else? I want to know more about the doctor… What kind of food he likes, what type of woman he prefers.”
Suddenly cheerful at the thought of going to Seoul together, she hummed and walked back into the trauma ward.
*****
Arriving at the general surgery consultation room, Kim Cheol-su took out his pocket watch and thought about the changes happening in his body.
He recalled vaguely.
When he first found the pocket watch in Hwanggeum, the hour hand was broken.
Moreover… there were bloodstains on it.
“Whose blood was that? And why did the stains disappear the next morning? I can’t figure it out… In the morning at the greenhouse, I caught a falling iron bar. This time I dodged the syringe…”
“Doctor! Are you hurt?”
At that moment, Shin Se-young burst into the consultation room with a startled look.
Sweating coldly, she touched him here and there.
“Is your arm injured? Or your neck? Try smiling once. Let me check.”
“…..”
“Lieutenant Colonel! Take off your clothes at once! If you’re hurt, you need treatment immediately…”
She grabbed his wrist anxiously.
Seeing Shin Se-young’s worried face, Kim Cheol-su spoke seriously.
“There’s no need to take off my clothes. I just got a scratch on my face; I’m not hurt. Sergeant Lee Seong-hwan has been taken by the Military Police… There’s nothing to worry about. So calm down.”
… Please let go of my wrist. You’re holding too tight; it hurts.
“Ah, sorry.”
“I’ll disinfect your face.”
Shin Se-young cleaned and bandaged the scratch on his face.
It was nothing serious; that was enough.
Then an awkward silence lingered.
Shin Se-young’s feelings were still unsettled, and Kim Cheol-su was concerned about her.
Trying to sound as natural as possible, he said:
“Shin Se-young, are you ready to go to Seoul on the 15th?”
… No. I still have to go home and pack.
“In fact, one more person has been added. You know Ha Saebyeok from trauma, right? She said she wants to come along. She has to visit a friend living in Seoul for treatment.”
“So that’s why you mentioned the procedure earlier? Understood. Well then, I’ll take my leave. Take care of yourself, Lieutenant Colonel.”
Though she seemed drained of energy, Kim Cheol-su nodded and let her go.
She was kind and good-hearted.
Without her, it would have been difficult to stay sane in Hampyeong.
Kim Cheol-su thought he should invite her to a meal sometime and lifted his pocket watch again.
“4 p.m… Is it already time to go home? I’m pretty tired. I should go home and rest first.”
He took off his doctor’s gown in the changing room and went down to the first floor dressed as a military chaplain.
In one hand, he carried his usual house call bag.
Seeing patients walking by, he passed the PX and approached the outpatient clinic.
“Military doctor, heading home? Thanks for your hard work today.”
“Yes, thanks. You too, Private Kwon Nam-ho. Nothing wrong, right? If you feel sick, come to the hospital quickly. I’m your primary care doctor.”
“Ha ha! Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Lately, I have had some stomach aches.”
“Really? Then you should come to the hospital. Come anytime for a checkup. Let’s take a CT scan.”
“Thank you, Commander… Huh? You’ve been promoted? Congratulations! Wow… You must really be a genius doctor to be promoted so quickly. Congrats on your transfer!”
“Don’t be embarrassed. Genius, my foot… Anyway, thanks. Come to general medicine nearby sometime; I’ll check you out.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I think it’s just constipation. My bowels are full.”
Kim Cheol-su said seriously to Private Kwon Nam-ho, who kept joking around.
“I’m not joking. Private Kwon, come for a checkup next week. Take care over the weekend and monitor your condition. Stomach pain could be a serious issue.”
“I think it’s just constipation… All right. Since you say so, I’ll come for the checkup. Thanks, Commander!”
“All right. Take care—see you then.”
Kim Cheol-su passed the clinic but couldn’t shake his worry about Kwon Nam-ho’s symptoms.
Everything began with stomach pain, even in the initial outbreak of the illness.
That much stomach pain could indicate complex symptoms.
Next week, he decided he would definitely have Kwon Nam-ho’s abdominal CT scan done as he entered the country road.
July’s summer was reaching its peak.
The weather was scorching, and the cicadas’ noise was deafening.
Would it rain soon?
Though it was hot, Kim Cheol-su wished for a heavy rain to cool things down.
Suddenly, raindrops fell from the sky.
“Is it the rainy season? Looks like Seoul will get heavy rain too.”
-Pitter patter! Splash…!
To avoid the sudden downpour, he ducked into a nearby hut.
But there was already a guest.
An unshaven giant, the legendary old man of Gamjadong.
Kim Cheol-su bowed in surprise.
“Long time no see, sir.”
But the old man looked worse for wear.
He seemed to have met a beast in the mountains, with multiple fresh wounds visible.
“Ugh… It’s been a while. So, have you been well? As you can see, I’m not doing so great. Well, I’ll go home and put on some medicine. Don’t worry about it.”
“Let me take a look first.”
Kim Cheol-su lifted his house call bag, approaching with a serious expression.
It seemed this wasn’t just a minor injury after all.