Maria’s voice grew noticeably brighter.
-Name anything, Dr. Kang.
“First, deploy at least twenty members of the WHO emergency response team and a BSL-4 mobile laboratory to Kinshasa within forty-eight hours. And request that the Congolese government completely seal off the Ndjili district. Lastly, give me full authority.”
-All approved. I’ll take action immediately.
Maria answered at once, then added,
-Dr. Kang. Thank you, truly, for taking on such a difficult task.
“I’ll collect my thanks later.”
When Taeho spoke in a joking tone, Maria’s voice brightened even more.
-I’ll be sure to repay you.
The call ended.
Taeho leaned deep into his chair and stared up at the ceiling. He had thought they were holding things off well enough with the sewage virus level analysis, but the epidemic had burst out from an entirely unexpected place, like a gimbap roll splitting open at the side.
“Damn it…”
Taeho gripped his head with both hands.
Rema’s voice sounded.
-Your stress levels are rising. You could not have prepared every city in the world, Taeho.
“I know. But of all places…”
Kinshasa.
A megacity of twenty million people.
A city where thousands traveled every day to Brazil, Europe, and Asia.
“If we can’t stop it here, it’ll spread across the world. Kinshasa is Central Africa’s transportation hub. Rema, run a simulation.”
-Yes, understood.
A hologram appeared before Taeho’s eyes.
Arrows spread outward from Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
-If the Kinshasa lockdown fails: outbreak in São Paulo, Brazil after two weeks; outbreak in Paris after three weeks; outbreak in Seoul after four weeks.
-Estimated deaths: 500,000 worldwide.
“Five hundred thousand…”
Taeho closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again.
“Rema, convene an emergency meeting.”
-Who should I call?
“Mr. Gihwan, Team Leader Jeong Minsu, Senior Researcher Park Sehui, Senior Researcher Jo Sang-o. And contact Commissioner Park Seonyeong of the KDCA. Right now.”
-Taeho. It is currently four in the morning.
“I know. But there’s no time to wait.”
-Understood.
***
Taeho laid out a large suitcase and began taking out clothes.
“The WHO will provide protective suits, so… underwear, T-shirts, pants…”
Amira stood in front of the wardrobe, helping by taking out Taeho’s clothes.
“How hot do they say Congo is?”
“They say winter weather is around thirty degrees. Fortunately, it’s the dry season now, so the humidity should be lower.”
“Then you should take a lot of short-sleeved shirts.”
Amira took out five short-sleeved T-shirts. But the strength went out of her hands, and the clothes fell to the floor.
“Ah…”
Amira hurriedly tried to pick them up, but Taeho stepped over first and lifted them.
“Amira, are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
Amira turned her head away. She bit her trembling lip as if swallowing back tears.
Taeho set the clothes down and took Amira’s hand.
“Amira. I’m sorry. For leaving so suddenly like this.”
“No.”
Amira quickly shook her head.
“I’m just scared. If the fatality rate is forty-eight percent, that means one out of every two people dies. I’m so scared that you’re going there.”
Amira shuddered and buried her face in Taeho’s chest.
Taeho stroked her hair and said,
“If I don’t go, thousands of people will die. Maybe tens of thousands.”
Amira looked at Taeho.
There was not the slightest wavering in his eyes.
‘This man will never give up. No matter what I say, he won’t change his mind.’
She knew it instinctively.
Kang Taeho was a man who walked the path before him. No matter how much she cried, screamed, or begged in front of him, she would not be able to hold him back. It would only torment his heart.
Then she should at least make his heart feel a little lighter.
“Let go now. I’ll help you pack.”
“No. Just rest. I can pack by myself.”
Amira smiled and shook her head.
She wanted to help her husband, who was leaving on a long journey, even just a little.
“I want to help.”
“Thank you, Amira.”
Amira bit her lip.
‘Should I tell him now?’
She brought a hand to her stomach.
A tiny life that did not yet show.
When she calculated her ovulation date, it was clear it had happened on their first night in Abu Dhabi. After learning she was pregnant, she had wanted to tell her husband quickly, but he had been far too busy.
He had traveled around the country, devoting himself to pandemic preparations, sleeping less than three hours a day and barely eating properly.
So she had endured it.
She had meant to tell him once the preparations were over and he had a little room to breathe.
She had thought she could no longer put it off, but now, suddenly, he was going to Congo…
‘If I tell him now, it’ll only make things harder for him. But if I never get the chance to tell him later…’
Amira closed her eyes.
She wanted to say it.
‘We’re having your child. You’re going to be a father.’
But she simply could not bring herself to open her mouth.
‘If I tell him now, Habibi will leave carrying an even heavier burden.’
Amira did not want to make her husband’s heart uneasy.
Sabr.
No matter how painful it is, endure and wait for the right time.
Arab women grow up admiring the strength of those who do not burden husbands going off to war, who care for the household and raise the children.
Amira was no exception.
“…Habibi.”
“Hmm?”
“Nothing. I just wanted to tell you I love you.”
“I love you too, Amira.”
Taeho smiled warmly and embraced Amira once more.
They held each other for a long time.
Amira felt nauseous, as though dizziness were washing over her.
“Amira, are you all right? You don’t look well…”
“Ah, no. Look.”
Amira quickly smiled.
“I was just a little dizzy for a moment. I’ll sit down. Keep packing.”
“Shouldn’t you rest?”
“I’m fine. I’d rather watch you.”
Taeho nodded and resumed packing.
Amira sat on the sofa and watched his back.
Broad shoulders. A straight back.
That back was now bearing the weight of the world.
Amira placed a hand on her stomach.
‘Baby. Daddy is going to save the world right now. Let’s be patient just a little longer, okay?’
Feeling as though tears might spill, Amira rose from her seat.
“I’ll prepare a simple meal.”
Amira carefully set the table.
“Habibi, come eat.”
“Huh? Amira! You know how to make kimchi stew too?”
“I wish I knew how to make more dishes, but the only Korean food I can make so far is kimchi stew. Once you go to Congo, you won’t be able to eat much Korean food. Eat a lot.”
“Thank you.”
Taeho took a spoonful of kimchi stew and exclaimed in admiration.
“The kimchi stew you made is really delicious, Amira.”
“You’re lying. You know I’m bad at cooking.”
“It’s still good. Because you made it.”
Amira laughed. But she could not eat. Her stomach kept churning because of morning sickness.
“Why aren’t you eating, Amira?”
“I’m not hungry right now. I’ll eat slowly later.”
“Really?”
Taeho nodded without suspicion.
Amira let out a sigh of relief.
At last, Taeho picked up his bag.
“Then I’ll be going. Even if I can’t call often, don’t be too upset. I’ll always be thinking only of you, Amira.”
“…”
Amira could not answer. Her throat had closed up.
She had sworn so firmly that she would not cry before her husband left…
Taeho hugged her.
“Don’t worry. I’ll come back healthy.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise.”
Taeho kissed Amira on the forehead.
Then he opened the door.
“I love you, Amira.”
“I love you too, Habibi.”
The door closed.
Amira ran to the window and watched Taeho get into the car.
The car started off.
It grew farther and farther away, then disappeared completely.
Amira sank down where she stood.
And for the first time, sobs burst from her lips.
But soon she wiped her tears and wrapped her arms around her stomach with a resolute expression.
“I’ll be brave and stay well with the baby. Please come back soon.”
***
The departure hall at Incheon Airport was crowded with travelers.
People saying goodbye to their families, people heading toward the gates with excited expressions.
But Taeho’s destination was different.
Kinshasa.
A battlefield without gunfire.
Taeho was walking, pulling his suitcase behind him.
Then he spotted a man sitting on a bench in the corner, talking on the phone.
A strangely familiar back and voice.
‘Mr. Gihwan?’
Taeho stopped in his tracks. He was about to approach, then paused and watched from behind.
Gihwan’s voice reached him.
“Sophie. Don’t cry. Please.”
His voice was trembling.
“I still have to go. I can’t let the Director go alone.”
Gihwan wiped his tears with the back of his hand and choked up.
“I’m sorry, Sophie. I’m really sorry. The Director will have a harder time than I will. He carries everything alone, works all night, and can’t stop until he collapses. I can’t let someone like that go by himself. If I don’t go, the Director will truly be alone.”
Gihwan’s voice cracked.
“The Director will save thousands of people. If I can help him and save even more people, then I have to go too. Yes. Yes. I’ll make sure I come back alive. I love you, Sophie.”
After ending the call, Gihwan set his phone on his knees and covered his face with both hands.
Judging by the way his shoulders shook, he seemed to be crying.
Taeho approached quietly.
“Mr. Gihwan?”
Gihwan started violently and raised his head. His face was wet, and his eyes were bloodshot.
“D-Director…?”
“What are you doing here?”
Gihwan hurriedly wiped his tears and rose from his seat.
“I’m quite sure I told you to stay in Korea…”
“I’m going too.”
Gihwan spoke firmly.
“No.”
Taeho shook his head.
“Congo is dangerous. The fatality rate is forty-eight percent. It’s safer for the researchers to provide support from Korea.”
“You will need me, Director.”
“I told you, it’s dangerous.”
“I know. But you’re going too, aren’t you?”
“I have to go.”
“I have to go too.”
Gihwan did not back down.
Taeho was startled by the sudden change in Gihwan. Until now, Gihwan had never once objected to Taeho’s opinion.
What had changed in this man?
Gihwan furrowed his brow and said,
“You can’t do it alone, Director. Field experiments, sample analysis, data organization—who’s going to help you with all that?”
“The WHO team will…”
“The WHO team will do WHO work. But I’m someone who knows exactly how meticulous the results you want are. Surely you don’t think those people will be able to produce results up to your standards?”
Gihwan insisted, his voice trembling.
“I’m the only one who knows how you work, Director. I have to be there for you to demonstrate 120 percent of your abilities.”
Taeho looked at Gihwan.
It was an astonishing change.
Was this really the same man who had only ever looked for jajangmyeon?
Taeho thought that the person with truly good luck was none other than himself.
“One hundred and twenty percent?”
“Ah… Was that a bit much?”
Gihwan scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly.
“If you come with me, Mr. Gihwan, it’ll be 200 percent. 300 percent.”
Gihwan’s face lit up.
“Right? Hehehe. Let’s go, Director. Let’s finish this infectious disease off in Kinshasa.”
“Yes. Let’s finish it together.”
Taeho nodded.