126. Seven All One
guerrilla training was caught.
Just before the end of the second half match against the US, the schedule for this year’s guerrilla training was delivered.
Three days later, from the 13th to the 15th of June, the schedule for 2 nights and 3 days came out with a detailed plan.
At 8:30 am on the 13th, when a land-and-air truck picks us up and arrives at the guerrilla field, it is said that the guerrilla assistants will be waiting for us.
“Isn’t our unit’s guerrilla guerrillas originally held in August?”
It was Corporal Park, one of the successors of the interior office. At the question of Corporal Park, In-cheol’s explanation began.
INSCOM, an anti-espionage unit of the US military, visits the USFK camp in Yangju for spy training once a year, and during this training period, INSCOM uses the radio reception tower on Hill 523, which causes US troops to After Incheol’s lengthy explanation that we had to leave the barracks and train at the guerrilla field because the US military hates it, Corporal Park asked again.
“But isn’t this a bit too sudden? Anyway, where is the three-day notice of guerrilla drills?”
At Corporal Park’s words, ragged voices were heard from all over the office, and In-cheol said to the successors.
“You guys, don’t complain too much. I think this is the third guerrilla.”
At In-cheol’s words, the atmosphere in the office became somber, and In-cheol smiled and continued.
“Still, we don’t march. You should be grateful for the fact that the land truck drives you to and fro.”
“I… Sergeant Choi, why aren’t we marching to the guerrilla field?”
“why? Do you want to go marching?”
“haha-! Absolutely not. I was just curious, so I asked.”
“To march from here to the guerrilla field, you have to take the outlying mountain road east of the US military camp Gwangsari, which the US kids hate.”
“Why do you hate it?”
“If you look from there, you can clearly see the inside of the American camp. It is said that North Korean spies were often caught there in the past.”
That was then. Officer Iljik opened the door to his office and said.
“Everyone set up for dinner!”
So we headed to the first floor kitchen for dinner.
* * *
After dinner, the rest area behind the barracks.
Eunseong and Incheol, the two soldiers, took their seats facing each other. As In-cheol, who was seated, let out a long sigh, Eun-seong lit a cigarette and said.
“Why are you sighing?”
“How can a corporal whose rank of rank does not drain water know the deep worries of Sergeant No. 4?”
“Sheesh! it’s funny I know all that because of the gait, bastard! Seriously, if you want to get three guerrillas, it’s worth a sigh.”
At Eunseong’s words, Incheol smiled and said.
“It’s because I received the first guerrilla acquaintance-jja harshly… Last year’s guerrilla was honestly worth it. haha-!”
“Also… ! It’s different because it’s the legendary owl number 541.”
“under–! Forget the real owl number 541, huh?”
Eunseong laughed at Incheol’s words and said.
“But isn’t this guerrilla a little strange? What three days in advance do you give the date of gait? Last year, you said you told me about it two weeks ago?”
“Last year there was a 9/11 terrorist attack. After 911 exploded, starting with the US military administration system, everything changed to the operational system.”
“okay? How did you know that?”
“Sgt. Ha told me. We met last month when we were on vacation.”
“ah… ! Su-yeol hyung! Because I was discharged last August… It’s been over a year already. haha-! Suyeol hyung, how are you?”
At Eunseong’s question, Incheol nodded and said.
“I heard that while I was in school, I worked as an intern reporter. He shows you an article he wrote about the SOFA revised last year, and it seems quite plausible.”
“SOFA? U.S. Forces Korea Status Agreement?”
“yes.”
“Also… ! Because Su-yeol-hyung is a reporter for the international department! Later, he said that his dream was to become a Washington correspondent for a major newspaper.”
Eunseong rubbed a cigarette into the ashtray and put it out.
“But you won’t tell me?”
“What?”
“You just sighed. I think it’s very serious… What’s going on?”
“a-! It’s nothing, don’t worry.”
So the two got up and went into the barracks, Eun-seong headed to the office, and In-cheol to the administrative team.
After confirming that Officer Iljik was not present, In-cheol entered the administrative team and called the administrative staff.
“yes! Sergeant Choi In-cheol! What’s going on?”
“What are you doing? You seem very busy, don’t you?”
“I was watching football… I couldn’t organize the materials for tomorrow’s executive meeting, so I’m just doing it now. But it’s almost over.”
“okay? Then let me ask you something. Who is on the full-time job on the night of June 12?”
The administrative staff took out the work schedule papers and checked them.
“This is Sgt. Chae Jung-ho.”
“Work that day, I will be standing, so change it.”
At In-cheol’s words, the administrative officer said with a puzzled expression.
“The next day is guerrilla, are you okay? I heard that even a full-time soldier will leave immediately to the guerrilla field without going to bed after work.”
At the words of the administrative staff, In-cheol smiled and said.
“I know, man! And whether to go guerrilla or not… You will know until the morning of the 13th!”
“yes? that is… What are you talking about?”
“not. Anyway, change me to the 12-day full-time job.”
“I, but… What if Sgt. Chae Jung-ho said that he would be on duty that day?”
Unlike non-visit duty and night-time wiretapping work, it is possible to change workers for day-to-day service. However, both parties to the change must agree, and the administrative staff would ask for this.
“under-! boy! Even with a bottle… The concept hasn’t been upgraded yet. Who is number one in our unit?”
“You’re Sgt. In-cheol Choi!”
“whale! Then don’t talk any more. Do your best.”
two days later.
Wednesday, June 12th at 5:45pm.
Officer Iljik said to the troops who had a meal gathering.
“As of 17:00 today, all four interception rooms in the basement have been sealed, so do not even think about walking around the interception rooms. Do you understand?”
“yes!! All right!!”
“And since we’re leaving for the guerrilla field tomorrow morning, after dinner, don’t do anything else, and check once again that you’ve properly packed your armor. Do you understand?”
“yes!! All right!!”
“Okay, then enter the kitchen in order from the right row!”
“Entrance!! Enjoy your meal!!”
after 8 hours.
administrative team.
Officer Iljik, who had been dozing off, fell down on his desk, and Incheol looked up to check the clock on the wall.
1:45 am.
In-cheol, washing his face dry, remembered the events of last year’s guerrilla training and last year’s guerrilla training.
* * *
In the summer of 2000, two years ago, Incheol’s first guerrilla training.
“If you really want to die, pretend to stumble… Hit me by the guerrilla instructor.”
It was the story of In-cheol’s father, Corporal Su-yeol, who was the military number, and called him to In-cheol during his break.
Corporal Ha continued, saying that if a bullet-proof high bar (helmet) hits the myeonggi properly, no matter how big a person may be, he will have no choice but to roll.
“Instead, you should do this while the instructor is on your side.”
“Why do you have to do it when you have an instructor?”
At In-cheol’s question, Corporal Su-yeol smiled and said.
“It’s not ‘Is it’, it’s ‘Is it’! How did you finish training camp? yes?”
Incheol scratched the back of the head and said.
“sorry. But why?”
“You don’t know very well, but there are actually manuals for all guerrilla training. If you look there… The most important thing in the role of a guerrilla instructor is to check the condition of the soldiers so that there are no accidents.”
Corporal Ha lowered his voice and continued.
“And there are a few situations that could be signs of a big accident, and the first one is… It’s the physical friction between the guerrilla TA and the owl. So when something like that happens, the instructor intervenes immediately, and the intensity of training is lowered.”
“Oh oh-! okay. But how does Corporal Su-yeol know that so well?”
“yo. this! It’s not! men and horses!”
“sorry. But, Corporal Ha-Yeol… Can I really do this?”
Corporal Ha said with a smirk.
“It worked when I was private, so if you really want to die like this, use it as a last resort.”
It was not the guerrilla that year that In-cheol used this last resort, but the 2001 guerrilla.
July 20, 2001 was the last day of guerrilla training. Usually, on the day of discharge, the intensity of training is usually loosened a lot.
However, for not returning to the unit on the march, the 25th Division’s guerrilla TAs rolled, rolled, and rolled the 523th Division Guard Owls at the guerrilla field.
While doing this endless pitti gymnastics, In-cheol made eye contact with Jeong-ho, who was training next to him, and Jung-ho’s eyes were out of focus.
It has been more than 10 years since In-cheol knew Jeong-ho, and now the two can read their hearts just by looking at their eyes. By the way… In-cheol had never seen Jeong-ho’s eyes like this before.
This was the word that came to Incheol’s mind in an instant.
‘Emergency!’
Without thinking twice, In-cheol rushed towards the side of the assistant who was standing in front of Jeong-ho.
* * *
In-cheol, who sat at the desk of the administration team and washed his face dry, flicked the desk with his finger and counted the number of cases one by one. After completing the calculation in his head, Incheol frowned and shook his head slowly.
“Hmm… !”
In fact, it wasn’t a big deal for him to get his third gait from In-cheol.
I don’t know why, but… During last year’s guerrilla, Jung-ho’s unfocused eyes kept getting caught in my heart. I feel like something bad is going to happen to Jung-ho… . It was a long time ago… When my uncle asked me to go eat pork cutlet without my mother’s knowledge… It was similar to the feeling I felt when I got into my uncle’s car.
Incheol smirked and muttered in a low voice.
“Sheesh! Since when have I been counting back and forth and acting… .”
After confirming that Officer Iljik was asleep, In-cheol left the administrative team and headed for the office. In-cheol entered the office, picked up the book behind his gown, and folded the log tag in the book in half and put it in the biscuit pocket.
In-cheol, who came out of the office, called the vigil number standing at the entrance of the administrative group.
“Young-chul, I’m going to the bathroom now, but it’s going to take a while because I’m constipated these days.”
“all right.”
“ah… ! And it seemed a little cold in my office. Check the temperature and close the windows.”
“all right.”
While the vigilant went into the office to check the temperature, Incheol quickly walked down the stairs to the underground monitoring room.
* * *
on the morning of the 13th of June.
Let’s open our eyes with the sound of the trumpet… Without realizing it, I let out a long sigh.
OMG–! It’s finally the day of guerrilla… .
After finishing the roll call, we entered the kitchen, and I chewed and swallowed the rice. It was like chewing a grain of sand in my mouth, but I had to force myself to eat it now in order to survive in the guerrilla field.
After eating like that, I went back to my office to get my military commander. Now waiting for the land truck to arrive.
There was silence in my office, and I remembered the words of Jinsoo Lee in my past life.
＜Mr. Jung-ho has no defense mechanisms. Why is this… Because we all know that the way the subconscious protects itself is really childish. So, when you are driven to the extreme, you turn off the switch in your head.>
Jinsoo Lee is an art psychotherapist. As epilepsy symptoms worsened, I received counseling treatment from him, and his condition did not improve at that time, but it is true that the stories he told me gave me a lot of comfort.
Yes, in this guerrilla, according to Jinsoo Lee’s advice… I intend to take everything simply. If I stand up for evil, I will spit out abusive language, and I plan to actively participate in the gossips behind the guerrilla instructors.
While I was thinking like this, I met In-cheol, who was sitting across from me, and this guy… The corners of both lips twitch as if they were going up.
After standing up until last night’s full-time job, and receiving the third shortstop, wouldn’t he have lost his mind?
I opened my mouth with a worried expression.
“Incheol-ah! are you okay?”
Incheol nodded slowly without saying a word, and I asked again.
“Then what do you like, why are you laughing so hard?”
“I just thought something good was going to happen today.”
“Good things? What’s good about going to a guerrilla?”
Incheol twitched both cheeks and said.
“a-! Nothing.”
“Nothing! What? Let’s know good things together! yes?”
When I asked questions, In-cheol smiled and said.
“Wait a minute. You will find out soon.”
“It’s salty, it’s bland… .”
I smiled and looked down, but In-cheol is this guy… Both battle shoe laces are untied. The moment I try to call Incheol again… The administrative supply officer who opened the door to the interior room said.
“All troops, change into your work clothes right now, go down to the interception room and start working right away.”