Tae-su and Jeong Min-su were not simply waiting around blankly.
Of the two, Jeong Min-su was readying the preparations for emergency surgery, one item at a time.
Clack, clack.
Meanwhile, Tae-su picked up the syringe Jeong Min-su had prepared moments ago and spoke to Raku.
“Please tell the patient. That we are going to put him to sleep.”
“Yes. I told him. Is there anything else?”
“Tell him that this was by no means an easy decision, and that we are sorry nonetheless.”
“I did tell him, but there is no reaction.”
It was exactly as Raku said.
The patient lay motionless with his eyes closed.
“…….”
Perhaps he was dismissing this moment as merely a nightmare.
Tae-su felt no different.
It was a nightmarish moment from which one wished to flee, trembling, the deeper one sank into it.
But it could not be avoided.
In short, there was nowhere to run.
That he had come to this village, and that everything had led him to this patient, was all his own choice.
So he could blame no one.
Rather, Tae-su gritted his teeth.
Grit.
And with a grim expression, he administered the sedative.
Lastly, he steeled his mind to endure the terrible hours that were about to begin.
Soon, a small tent was erected over the mat.
The opaque waterproof cover completely blocked any outside view. Inside sat only Tae-su and Jeong Min-su.
Their gazes were fixed on the mangled calf positioned in the center.
It was a cramped space, but sufficient for emergency treatment.
Tae-su immediately picked up thin scissors and a Mixter.
Jeong Min-su gripped toothed tissue forceps and long-nosed forceps.
There was no conversation between them.
“…….”
“…….”
A solemn air pervaded the space, so heavy that the very word silence felt inadequate.
Then Tae-su broke the silence and spoke tersely.
“As quickly as possible.”
“And without complications.”
“At the very least. We’re amputating, after all.”
“Of course. I’ll treat it like my own leg.”
Jeong Min-su replied.
It was the resolution of both men.
Tae-su soon opened his mouth again.
“The amputation of a lower leg (lower leg amputation). Let’s begin.”
“Damn it. Are we orthopedics or neurosurgery?”
“You’re still nitpicking?”
“I’m saying it because I’m annoyed. What are you doing? You said let’s start quickly.”
Jeong Min-su shouted heatedly.
It was frustration boiling over from helplessness.
Tae-su had no heart to rebuke him for it.
He thought only of beginning the emergency surgery and finishing it quickly.
Soon, Tae-su’s hands moved.
He began bracing the limb.
Scrik, scrik.
Inside the makeshift tent, only sounds that made one want to cover one’s ears could be heard.
Shortly after.
Rustle.
The waterproof cover was lifted, and Tae-su and Jeong Min-su appeared.
It had not been a very long time.
Nevertheless, their surgical gowns were stained with bloodstains large and small.
In Tae-su’s hand was an object wrapped tightly in white bandages.
And below the patient’s right knee, white bandages were wrapped thickly as well.
Tae-su looked at the object in his arms and let out a low breath.
“Hoo.”
“…….”
Jeong Min-su was silent.
It was a feeling of not wanting to say anything.
Then Jeong Min-su spoke to Tae-su.
“I’ll go check on the other patients.”
“Alright. Brad and Mr. Hyeok-gwon are out there too.”
Tae-su cast his gaze into the distance.
The two were there, coordinating as they administered emergency treatment to patients, having come out at some point.
They seemed to have heard about the situation here. Perhaps because of that, they urged their hands on with solemn faces.
Jeong Min-su spoke, looking at the same place.
“I’m going.”
“I’ll come soon.”
“Alright.”
Having answered, Jeong Min-su headed to another emergency treatment scene.
Tae-su turned his gaze in the opposite direction.
By the patient’s bedside sat Squad Leader Sam and Raku. And several people he hadn’t seen before were standing nearby.
Raku spoke to Tae-su first.
“These are the family members.”
A nod.
Tae-su nodded and approached the eldest among them.
She was presumed to be the wife.
He handed her the bandage-wrapped object and bowed his head deeply.
“…….”
“…….”
Tremble, tremble, tremble.
A violently shaking hand approached. After hesitating over and over, she finally accepted the object with difficulty.
At the same time, she hugged it to her chest and sobbed bitterly.
“Hueeeeng.”
“Ung, ung.”
Children who appeared to be her offspring cried along with her.
Unable to watch anymore, Tae-su turned away.
His heart ached terribly.
This was not something one could dismiss as merely amputating a leg.
To call it a small price compared to a life would be unthinkable.
It was the removal of a part of the body for reasons he did not desire.
The inconveniences that would come from it would torment the patient for the rest of his life.
He could not be nonchalant about it.
Even though there had been no other way, it was too difficult to accept.
“Damn war.”
Clutch.
Tae-su muttered low and gripped his chest tight.
But he could not hold it in his heart forever.
Other patients were waiting.
From nearby and far away, he felt gazes seeking help everywhere.
They wanted him.
Then he had to move.
He could not stop.
“Hoo.”
He exhaled forcefully, as if emptying his mind.
Looking considerably calmer, Tae-su moved again.
Heading straight to his group, Tae-su first assessed the situation.
Under Brad Kim’s leadership, they were administering emergency treatment to a patient with abdominal injuries.
“Dr. Jeong, pull that more.”
“Yes.”
Swish.
Jeong Min-su moved rather roughly and aggressively.
The atmosphere was different from what he had shown in the operating room.
Still, Brad Kim led flexibly and sought out Kim Hyeok-gwon.
“Mr. Hyeok-gwon. How much longer on the saline?”
“I’m coming now.”
Swoosh.
Kim Hyeok-gwon’s instincts were as sharp as ever.
Their seamless back-and-forth felt natural.
They seemed to have roughly grasped each other’s styles through one round of emergency surgery.
But perhaps in an operating room, things would be different.
Gathered together like this in a field operation was inefficient.
Tae-su immediately asked Brad Kim.
“Who do you need more?”
“Hmm. Dr. Jeong.”
“Understood. Mr. Hyeok-gwon, please come with me.”
Tae-su turned as he spoke.
Without a word of complaint, Kim Hyeok-gwon quickly grabbed his bag and stood up.
They were heading side by side toward another patient.
Kim Hyeok-gwon spoke quietly.
“Saruvia’s father is looking after her.”
“Did she shed even a single tear?”
“No. But……”
Kim Hyeok-gwon tried to say something.
But Tae-su’s ears were already closed.
“I don’t want to hear any more.”
“Dr. Choi.”
Kim Hyeok-gwon attempted to speak again.
Once more, Tae-su cut him off.
“That patient over there. Let’s hurry.”
Tap-tap-tap.
As Tae-su quickly took the lead, Kim Hyeok-gwon followed with a bitter expression.
Having moved first, Tae-su quickly positioned himself before the patient.
Tap, swish-swish.
Tae-su opened his medical bag and simultaneously inspected the patient.
The patient’s head and face were half-wrapped in bandages.
“I’ll look at the wound first.”
Tae-su’s hand went straight to the bandages.
Kim Hyeok-gwon naturally assisted and simultaneously interpreted.
Swish, swish.
When the bandages came off, skin that had burned and melted away was visible.
Perhaps because this too was a pitiful wound and sight, a click of the tongue escaped him.
“Tsk.”
“They say it isn’t burning because they’ve been continuously applying cold water.”
Kim Hyeok-gwon asked first and relayed the answer.
Then Tae-su’s and the patient’s eyes met.
Tae-su quickly erased his dark expression and spoke with a smile.
“You did very well. Still, just in case, I’ll take a closer look.”
“They say thank you.”
“Hoh, yes. I see.”
Tae-su answered with a faint smile and focused on the emergency treatment.
Words of thanks.
He couldn’t understand why his shoulders felt heavier the more he heard them.
He was continuing the emergency treatment in that manner.
From behind, Brad Kim’s voice calling for Kim Hyeok-gwon could be heard.
“Mr. Hyeok-gwon, we need an interpreter over here.”
At that, Kim Hyeok-gwon raised his eyebrows and looked straight at Tae-su.
“The sorrows of popularity? May I go?”
“Not right now.”
“Then what do you expect me to do?”
When Kim Hyeok-gwon asked flatly, Tae-su proposed a solution.
“Tell them to shout.”
“What if it’s a patient without the strength to do so?”
“Someone next to them can speak on their behalf.”
At the ready answers, Kim Hyeok-gwon subtly gave a thumbs-up.
“Quick thinking. Then……”
Just as he was about to raise his voice.
From afar, Brad Kim’s voice came a beat sooner.
“Mr. Hyeok-gwon, it’s fine. Someone who can interpret has come here.”
At those words, Tae-su immediately muttered the person’s name.
“It seems Mr. Raku intends to keep helping.”
“That’s the one?”
“Yes. Hold this here. Quickly.”
When Tae-su hurried him, Kim Hyeok-gwon reflexively held it.
But his gaze toward Raku was not kind.
“Surely my pay won’t be affected because of him, right?”
“Not at all.”
“Then he’s interpreting voluntarily? He must be after something.”
Kim Hyeok-gwon never let go of his thread of suspicion.
But Tae-su was not in a situation to spare attention for that right now.
“We’ll find out later. What are you doing? Needle holder.”
“Ah, here.”
“Focus.”
“I said I got it.”
Though he said that, Kim Hyeok-gwon glanced at Raku from time to time, remaining wary.
Conversely, Tae-su did not pay it any mind.
Raku’s help was proving unexpectedly significant.
First and foremost, it expanded the medical staff’s range of activity.
Until Sahad Village, they had to gather near Kim Hyeok-gwon, the only one able to interpret.
But now the situation had definitely changed.
The doctors could move in two teams. With the manpower divided, effective emergency treatment became possible.
They could even perform emergency surgery.
Tae-su had proven that himself.
In Tae-su’s arms, a newborn baby was crying.
“Hwaaah.”
It was not a mere fussy whimper.
The infant was arching backward, crying as if about to strangle.
Before him, the baby’s mother was fidgeting anxiously with a face full of worry.
Kim Hyeok-gwon was interpreting with a careful expression.
“They say the baby has vomited several times while crying, and has suddenly pulled its legs toward its belly.”
“Since when?”
“Since the day the bomb exploded. They say it never happened before then. They thought the baby was just startled, but it seemed strange so they brought him in.”
“…….”
Tae-su answered only with a nod.
Because he was listening with his stethoscope in place.
Thump, thump.
The heartbeat was not bad.
But.
Gurgle, gurgle.
The bowel sounds were not smooth.
Perhaps because he had a suspicion, Tae-su’s eyes began to narrow.
Then suddenly the baby stopped crying.
“…….”
It was a truly unbelievable change.
Kim Hyeok-gwon was dumbfounded by the sight.
“This baby. Could it be that from the shock... a mental, what? Delirium, or whatever? Anyway, isn’t it that?”
“Just a moment.”
Tae-su postponed his answer and listened more seriously and carefully.