Everyone’s teacups had been drained halfway.
That was how far the meeting had progressed.
Taesu lifted his cup and wet his throat.
Clack.
Setting the cup down, Taesu turned his gaze to the paper in front of him.
Important words were written here and there, with circles, arrows, and other symbols tangled together.
After calmly scanning it, Taesu spoke.
Since it was a multinational meeting, they were using English.
“Tomorrow morning, you say. I can go to them right now if need be.”
“Doctor Choi. Both sides are on edge. Especially at night, they may open fire immediately.”
Squad Leader Sam immediately tried to dissuade him.
And Site Foreman Go Jiyong, his face serious, agreed.
“I think the same. We’re tired, both sides would be woken from sleep, and there’s no way proper negotiations could happen.”
“I also hope tonight passes without any more commotion.”
President Gu Seungheon made his thoughts clear.
Though he had kept a humble posture until now, in the meeting he showed that he knew exactly when to be firm and when to yield.
Lastly, Himan answered.
“As the president said, everyone is finally catching their breath. Even the sound of a car starting will make them uneasy again.”
Everyone spoke with one voice.
Taesu nodded, but his expression was not particularly good.
Tap. Tap.
He tapped the paper with the tip of his pen.
Unlike when he had first arrived at the village, he was showing impatience.
President Gu Seungheon said to him,
“If you’re anxious because of what the factory manager said, there’s no need to be.”
“It’s because of what I said.”
“When we went to see the factory manager before the meeting, we heard everything.”
“I see.”
Taesu answered, trying to remain calm.
President Gu Seungheon immediately continued.
“He was worried he might have provoked you needlessly with his words.”
“Well, it’s true that I was provoked.”
“The factory manager was of the same mind as Sam. He does not want you to take risks.”
President Gu Seungheon gently soothed Taesu.
Only after Na Duyeong, the factory manager, was mentioned did Taesu rein in his urgency.
“Understood. Then we’ll move tomorrow morning.”
“Mm. Doctor Choi.”
When President Gu Seungheon called him, Taesu answered at once.
“Please speak.”
“What do you think about waiting until noon?”
“To be honest, I was thinking that would be better too.”
Taesu spoke in a low voice.
It was indeed what he had said to Factory Manager Na Duyeong before his impatience had risen.
President Gu Seungheon nodded.
“I heard that as well. The factory manager was deeply concerned about that point.”
“Then we’ll have to change our direction a little.”
“Rather than us carrying messages back and forth, everyone should sit at one table and settle the matter at once.”
President Gu Seungheon clearly stated his thoughts.
Everyone nodded.
Taesu once again felt that his intuition about President Gu Seungheon’s character had been correct.
He had backbone and considerable drive.
At the same time, he knew when to bend, and he knew how to look around at those near him.
Even now, Site Foreman Go Jiyong was showing unwavering trust in him.
Himan was the same.
That said it all.
Since he himself was not the center of this matter, Taesu agreed with President Gu Seungheon’s opinion.
“I’ll wait for Representative Gu’s judgment on when we depart.”
“Doctor Choi, that isn’t what I meant…”
“I’m not saying this in a crooked way.”
“Mm.”
When President Gu Seungheon closed his mouth, Taesu added,
“I’m not a negotiator, and I’m certainly not a soldier.”
“Everyone knows you’re a doctor.”
“I’m here because my meager name can be of help.”
“That is true.”
Everyone accepted Taesu’s humble words.
Among them, Taesu looked at President Gu Seungheon and continued.
“Even now, and during negotiations with them, Mr. Gu must be the one to hold the center.”
“You’re right.”
“When the negotiation table is set, I’ll be beside Mr. Gu. Use me as your shield and achieve what you want.”
Taesu gravely laid out his position.
No matter how one looked at it, it was not wise for Taesu to step to the forefront right now.
Squad Leader Sam shared the same opinion on that.
“Our unofficial deployment objective is to guarantee the safety of Doctor Choi and the medical staff.”
“Yes, you told me before we departed.”
“But if what these people want is to protect all of you, then we will carry that out.”
“Is… that so?”
President Gu Seungheon seemed quite surprised.
The same was true of Site Foreman Go Jiyong and Himan.
Taesu lightly eased the stiffened atmosphere.
“If they have any sense, they won’t go that far against civilians.”
“That is what I think as well, but…”
“Yes. We’ll only know once we open the lid. And for that to happen, a negotiation table needs to be arranged.”
“That’s right.”
Everyone agreed at the same time.
Taesu lightly gathered the papers and asked President Gu Seungheon,
Tap, tap.
“Mr. Gu. Aren’t you tired?”
“Now that you mention it. I think it would be best to end things here for now.”
“Right. Everyone’s tired, so let’s rest. They won’t come storming in at this hour anyway.”
Taesu slipped in a joke.
At that, everyone gave bitter smiles as they began to clear the room.
In the midst of it, Taesu called for Himan.
“Mr. Himan.”
“Yes. Doctor Choi.”
“I heard there are people who are being shaken. And some who are in a very negative position.”
Taesu spoke indifferently as he tidied his place.
In contrast, Himan flinched greatly.
“Th-that’s…”
“Himan, is that true?”
Site Foreman Go Jiyong immediately asked with a heavy expression.
The meeting had supposedly ended, yet the atmosphere in the storage warehouse sank even heavier.
Taesu, who had thrown the bomb, remained calm.
Having finished tidying his place at some point, Taesu moved and called for Squad Leader Sam.
“Sam, let’s give them some space.”
“Understood.”
Squad Leader Sam glanced around and followed Taesu.
Taesu and Squad Leader Sam soon left the tea-leaf storage warehouse.
Squad Leader Sam kept glancing back.
Taesu spoke in a relaxed voice.
“That problem is something they need to resolve among themselves.”
“I agree, but did you bring it up after the meeting on purpose?”
“That way, we don’t have to hear anything sensitive.”
Taesu spoke dryly.
In contrast, Squad Leader Sam looked at him in surprise.
“Doctor Choi, your quick thinking amazes me every time I see it.”
“It’s just petty cleverness. More importantly, thank you for taking care of even these unnecessary matters.”
“If you put it that way, I’ll be disappointed.”
Squad Leader Sam made a sullen face.
Taesu smiled instead and called him.
“Sam.”
“Please speak.”
“I just felt like calling you.”
“You’re impossible.”
That was what he said, but before long, a faint smile appeared on his face.
Like that, the two of them walked toward their lodging.
It was a short walk.
What was strange was that, in that moment, they felt at peace.
It was the first time since they had come to know each other.
Until now, everything had been a succession of tense and urgent moments.
That was why this moment felt a little more special.
There was still much left to be done.
They knew that, but for this moment, they set down their burdens and enjoyed the leisure of their walk.
Then Squad Leader Sam suddenly said something out of nowhere.
“Vacation is nice.”
“This time, before you return, let’s have a drink and then go in.”
“I would’ve been disappointed if you hadn’t said that. Haha.”
“Haha.”
Taesu and Squad Leader Sam laughed frankly at each other.
Sometimes, there were people you liked even if they gave you nothing, and even if you received nothing from them.
Perhaps that was the kind of relationship they had.
The next morning.
The first thing Taesu felt when he opened his eyes was refreshment.
The reason for that unexpected sense of refreshment was the bedding.
The piping-hot ondol had melted away the fatigue that had hardened his muscles overnight.
Rustle.
Taesu sat up, stretched, and said,
“Uaaah. This is nice.”
“It’s been ages since I woke up feeling this refreshed.”
Jeong Minsu was also savoring the happiness of the ondol.
On the other hand, Brad Kim and Kim Hyeokgwon reacted a little differently.
Their faces were flushed red, and they wore dazed expressions.
“In my dream, a demon laid me down on a burning rock.”
“I don’t know how many times I woke up.”
“My back aches, but it feels refreshing too, so I’m completely bewildered.”
“I know it’s better than a field cot, but I can’t get my head straight.”
Their faces were filled with confusion.
Taesu thought he could understand Kim Hyeokgwon, but Brad Kim was a little unexpected.
“Brad. Didn’t you say you lived in Korea when you were young?”
“I slept in a bed.”
“You must’ve been rich.”
“What are you talking about? Lots of people slept in beds back then too.”
Brad Kim answered as if wronged.
But Jeong Minsu did not believe him.
“What are you talking about? Even when we were kids, beds weren’t that common.”
“I’m from Seoul.”
“W-wow, are you dividing people into Seoul and the provinces now?”
When Jeong Minsu bristled, Brad Kim shot him a sidelong glare.
“Doctor Jeong, you must be in especially good condition today.”
“I suppose there is a slight tendency that way. It feels like a spirited start.”
“Then go make us breakfast.”
“Why does the conversation turn out like that? Breakfast duty should be decided by rock-paper-scissors. Right?”
Jeong Minsu sought everyone’s agreement.
But there was no way Taesu and Kim Hyeokgwon would go along with that.
“Breakfast is Minsu’s job.”
“I also liked Doctor Jeong’s breakfast the best.”
When the two joined forces, Jeong Minsu was deeply flustered.
“How can the two of you answer like that without even changing expression?”
“Stop wasting energy first thing in the morning and get ready to move.”
Tap.
Taesu lightly touched his shoulder and got up.
Then he immediately began folding up the bedding.
The other three did the same.
They wanted to joke around a little longer, but this was not a situation where they could laugh and chatter.
Taesu, who finished putting away his bedding first, opened the door.
Thud.
Something caught, and when he looked down, there was a wide tray covered with a cloth.
At a glance, he realized it was a meal.
The warmth of Koreans, indeed.
Taesu gave a faint smile and picked up the tray.
It was fairly heavy.
Taesu brought it inside and said to everyone,
“Looks like a fairy wife lives here.”
“Huh? Huh! Is that food?”
“This place is really humane. In the Korean village, we lived in tents for almost a month.”
“Doctor Choi, over here. This looks like the best spot.”
Everyone brightened and took their places, sitting in a circle.
When they removed the cloth, spring filled the table.
“It’s a feast of mountain greens.”
“They must have made the gochujang themselves, right?”
“This has exactly the feel of wild vegetable bibimbap.”
“That’s good. Mix it up, take a bite with kimchi—! I can’t stand it. Let’s eat already.”
Brad Kim was the most impatient.
He had grown up in America, but he always missed the taste of Korea.
Needless to say, Taesu and Jeong Minsu felt the same, and Kim Hyeokgwon also liked Korean food.
Each of them picked up their chopsticks and reached for the side dishes.
The moment he put it in his mouth, Taesu closed his eyes deeply and said one thing.
“It’s home cooking.”
“This is what home cooking is!”
There was no need to say more.
The four men’s spoons and chopsticks busily came and went over the tray.
Korean home cooking tasted in Kashmir was far too special.