124. Six of eighty three
The next morning, July 17th.
After the sun roll call and breakfast, I headed to the 25th Division’s 683th Guards Guard Center with the deputy platoon commander.
By the way, there is no guard station in our unit. So, in principle, it is impossible to visit, but in the case of an unavoidable visit like today, the nearest military base is used here.
Arriving at the guardhouse, writing my name and military number in the guestbook, I opened the door to the visiting room inside the building. Then, familiar faces appeared on one of the tables.
Youngmi, mother, uncle Sangsu… . And in the seat next to Yeong-mi, Yeong-mi’s maternal grandmother looked at me and smiled slightly. The anxiety that haunted me all night long at Grandma’s smile snapped! and disappeared.
While the snacks and drinks brought by my mother and Uncle Sangsoo were placed on the table, my grandmother handed me the dog tag from the bag.
“My teacher, Chae, when you see that you left something so important in Yangyang, you must have regretted leaving our house that day?”
I nodded to my grandmother and said,
“Grandma, I’m really sorry that you made me come all the way here for this.”
“No, compared to our teacher Chae struggling to protect his country, this is nothing. Well, it’s me, it’s been a while since I’ve seen Seoul and it was nice.”
“Grandma, thank you so much.”
At my words, Grandma looked at me and slowly opened her mouth.
“Thank you… Actually, I should thank my teacher Chae.”
“yes? What do you mean?”
“just… I have a job. Heh heh heh—!”
I looked at Yeong-mi, and Young-mi shrugged her shoulders with an expression that she didn’t know.
“Originally, Grandma was going to take the first train to Yangyang today, but she woke up in the morning and changed her mind… He said he had to go see you, so he canceled the train ticket and came this way.”
At Yeong-mi’s words, I said to my grandmother.
“Thank you for coming this way.”
It was sincere. The moment I saw my grandmother, the tension that had tormented me all night was released. The tension was released and it felt as if a delayed sleep was pouring out.
Grandma nodded slowly at my words.
“If you think about it, what happened last night at the Express Bus Terminal… I think there was something like that telling us to go see our teacher Chae.”
What happened at the Express Bus Terminal? So does that mean that Grandma went to take the honors bus late at night?
Youngmi smiled at my curious expression and opened her mouth.
“There was no riot at the Gangnam terminal last night.”
* * *
9 hours ago.
12:35 p.m. past midnight.
Gangnam Express Bus Terminal Yeongdong Line boarding platform.
Young-mi’s maternal grandmother, who arrived just in time for the late-night honors bus bound for Gangneung, got on the bus, and the young-mi’s family remained on the boarding platform and waved to the grandmother.
The door closed and the bus was about to depart.
About a dozen police officers armed with red berets, black bulletproof vests, and rifles ran to the express bus platform and stood in front of the late-night honors bus bound for Gangneung, where Yeong-mi was riding.
One of them, who appeared to be the commander, signaled the bus driver to open the door, and he got on the bus and saluted the passengers before opening his mouth.
“I am Lee Woon-kyung, the 3rd Team Leader of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Special Counter-Terrorism Team. Please get off the bus promptly now.”
A man’s voice came from the back seat of the bus.
“What the hell is this?”
“Information has been obtained that explosives are installed on this bus. Please get off quickly.”
“Then do we have to wait until the bomb tests are over? Or is another bus coming?”
“Sorry, but for safety reasons, the bus to Gangneung is no longer running today.”
Eventually, Yeong-mi and other passengers started to get off the bus with their luggage.
* * *
The meeting didn’t last very long.
The deputy platoon commander was waiting outside, and I also had to return to the unit and pack my bags and equipment to go to guerrilla training for 3 nights and 4 days.
The visit was finished a little hastily, and after seeing off the car that Uncle Sang-soo was driving, I got into the deputy platoon leader’s car.
“Did you get your dog tag?”
“yes. I have received it well. I’m sorry for nothing.”
At my words, the deputy platoon commander said with a smirk.
“no. I also missed the morning executive meeting thanks to you. I have a troubling story at today’s meeting.”
The deputy platoon commander started the car and muttered to himself.
“U.S. Army, you bastards… No matter how much you need it, you have to ask for it. Ugh-!”
Although the deputy commander’s speech is very straightforward, he’s never been so openly swearing in front of us. I mean, it was pretty serious.
“What’s going on with the unit?”
At my question, the deputy platoon commander opened his mouth with a short sigh.
“Do you guys know why you are leaving for the guerrilla field today?”
Today, July 17th, is Constitution Day. That is, it is a day off. Nevertheless, after lunch today, we get on a land truck and head to the guerrilla field.
When they arrive at the guerrilla field, they will spend the rest of the day at the guerrilla dormitory, and the full-scale guerrilla training will start tomorrow.
“I was curious about that too. I don’t know if it’s necessary to go to the guerrilla field on holidays.”
At my words, the deputy platoon commander said with a short sigh.
“It’s all because of the US military.”
* * *
same time.
A car driven by Kang Sang-soo.
Jeong-ho’s mother sailed to Yeong-mi’s maternal grandmother in the back seat.
“Grandmother, can I take you to Cheongnyangni Station right away?”
“Yes, we do.”
“I… Grandma, can I ask you one thing?”
“Yes, yes.”
“I saw it earlier… He kept calling my son teacher all the time, so I was wondering if there was any reason.”
“haha-! You saved my life, of course I should treat you with respect.”
At the grandmother’s words, Jeong-ho’s mother turned her head and looked at the back seat.
“My child is saving lives… What do you mean by that?”
“I’m not a person who believes in dreams… . The dream was so vivid this morning… .”
Grandma looked out the car window and spoke slowly.
“In my dream, Yeong-mi’s maternal grandfather came to me and said this to me. I think we should meet next time… .”
“… .”
“Our inspiration… A precious person is holding me tight, so it’s difficult this time… I’ll see you next time. haha-!”
* * *
After lunch as scheduled, we headed to the guerrilla field, and the hard training began the next day.
There were one or two dangerous moments when my body was pushed to the extreme and the switch in my head seemed to be turned off, but fortunately, the training ended without any major problems.
ah… ! On one occasion, training was interrupted for a while thanks to In-cheol. In-cheol, who is doing PT No. 1, stumbled and lost his balance and attacked the teaching assistant. At that time, my body and mind were running to the limit, but thanks to In-cheol, I was able to catch my breath for a while.
According to some seniors, In-cheol was timidly avenging his teaching assistant, who had especially tormented him in guerrilla last year.
After finishing the guerrilla training for 3 nights and 4 days, we returned to the unit.
While I was undressing in my office, In-cheol beckoned to me. It was a signal to come to his seat.
boy! If you’re going to call me to come, call me before you sit down. under-!
I grabbed my shaky legs and got up from my seat and went to In-cheol’s seat, and In-cheol rolled up his work and battle clothes that were hung on his guardstand.
There were three books inside Incheol-i’s observation deck, two books on the design and manufacture of small submersibles, and the other one on the sonar.
In-cheol took out a thick sonar book and unfolded the back cover, and there was a transparent plastic pouch attached to it, and there was a 3.5-inch diskette inside.
Incheol pointed a finger at the diskette and smiled.
“What is that?”
In response to my question, Incheol said in a low voice.
“Who has opened this?”
“I opened it… What does that mean?”
Incheol said, pointing to the part with the metal cover on the 3.5-inch diskette.
“Before the guerrilla… This diskette cover was lying on its left side.”
But now the diskette cover was facing down. This means that someone took this diskette out of our pocket and put it back in while we were training in shortstop.
I opened my mouth as I looked at Incheol, who was smiling.
“But is that something to laugh about now?”
In-cheol lowered his voice even more and said.
“then! The Americans grabbed this bait, and of course you should laugh.”
“… !”
Judging from the word ‘bait’, we could guess that Incheol had put malicious code on this diskette.
“By the way, is it the US military who took the bait? Are you sure about that?”
In response to my question, Incheol sighed deeply and said.
“Ugh-! This ignorant middle-aged child! You really don’t know that while we’re doing guerrilla training, we’ve been rummaging through our barracks in the US Army? Or are you pretending not to know?”
I’ve heard that story too, but… There was no reason for the US military to search the barracks of our units.
I tilted my head and said.
“Why did the US troops search our barracks?”
Incheol, who pointed his finger at his diskette, took a deep breath and said.
“That’s what my bait wanted to eat. It smells amazing.”
“You man, don’t even dream of hacking by any chance.”
“don’t worry! haha-!”
When I returned to my seat after finishing the conversation with In-cheol, I carefully opened the cabinet drawer, just in case.
Incheol’s words were right. The positions of the belongings in the drawers, such as stationery, envelopes, training books, ballpoint pens, and coin boxes, were all slightly shifted.
* * *
A week ago, on July 17th, 12:40 a.m.
Gangnam Express Bus Terminal Yeongdong Line boarding platform.
A man was watching Young-mi’s maternal grandmother get off the bus from a distance with a cool gaze. With his gaze fixed on Yeong-mi’s maternal grandmother, he opened the phone and pressed the call button.
“Chief Kim, this is Hee-rak. I just finished the job.”
-Yeah, you worked hard until late. Come on in and rest.
“no. Let’s follow the target a little further. There is a possibility that you can go to Yangyang by taxi or car.”
-Well… I don’t think so… .
“Didn’t you say that customer number 17 asked the manager directly?”
– Yes, but… .
Manager Jeong-su Kim was at the end of his speech, and Assistant Manager Hee-rak Lee spoke.
“Then I want to make sure to deal with it until the very end.”
-Okay, then, try a little harder.
“all right. And I will go to work at Unit 523 right in time for lunch tomorrow.”
-ah… ! that’s already tomorrow yes do it
Deputy Hee-Rak Lee walked away from a distance and followed Young-Mi’s family and spoke to the phone.
“By the way, why did the US military ask you to rent the entire 523 unit building?”
– I think we got the information from the US military. I think you believe that Unit 523 has the data that deciphered North Korea’s V19 random number table.
“Then the US military also has information about customer number 17?”
– It won’t be. But just in case you don’t know, if you go to Yangju tomorrow, check if there are any V19-related materials in customer number 17’s belongings.
“all right.”