“Thanks… I’ll keep that in mind,” I mumbled, my face flushed.
Nari and I waited outside until Chul had disappeared out of sight.
“Was it just a coincidence?” Nari asked me.
“What?”
“The waterwheel clogging exactly when Do Hun was out and Chul was coming over… was that really a coincidence?”
She looked at me with inquisitive eyes.
“Wow… you have a suspicious mind, sis,” I emitted a fake laugh and shook my head. “It was… and you saw me… I was helping him. If I wouldn’t have held him, he would have fallen in… I wasn’t losing my grip as he thought… I was saving him.”
“I saw you holding him,” Nari said. “I didn’t come over because I thought you were losing your grip… I came over because I thought you were going to let go.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I let out an exaggerated scoff.
“Areum, I’m begging you… don’t do it… please don’t hurt him… please!” Nari pleaded.
“I don’t get it… why are you defending him?” I snorted. “Have you forgotten what he did, huh? Have you forgotten what he did to you?”
“You don’t know everything, Areum,” Nari averted her eyes. “That’s why I’m asking you… sister to sister… twin to twin… please, just leave him alone.”
“As I said… I was just helping him in there… you saw me… I was just finding my balance to pull him up when you came along,” I insisted, but I couldn’t look her in the eyes.
“Just… please think about what I said, Areum,” Nari gave me a compassionate look and then hugged me. Then she went back into the building, and I went back to my cornfield, feeling the cold gusts of wind drying the sweat on my burning face.
Hana waited until the end of the workday before she came over.
“So?”
“It’ll work,” I said. “But Nari is suspicious… I don’t think I can send Do Hun off to do inventory again.”
“I thought as much,” Hana shrugged her shoulders. “Don’t worry… I’ll use my connections to get him called away by somebody else.” She paused to explore my face. “And how about you? Are you still okay?”
“I’m fine… it needs to be done.”
“Good… until Monday then,” she turned around and left in the direction of the Village of the Strayed.
“Until Monday,” I said to myself under my breath.
The following nights, Nari looked more and more concerned. I tried to put on a good face, not to arouse suspicion, but considering how I usually was, that was probably even more suspicious. At the same time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that Nari wanted to tell me something but didn’t. Maybe it was about Chul, maybe about something else… either way, I didn’t ask.
If she would tell me again not to hurt the monster who raped her, I swear to the Great General I’ll lose it…
Chul continued to visit her three times a day, and after the log incident, he stayed longer and longer. For me, that proved once again that what had to be done couldn’t wait.
He has to pay now!
This was my mantra, and I was determined to prevent Nari from becoming attached to that monster at any cost. However much I tried, I couldn’t understand what was going on in her head, and during that week’s self-criticisms session, I almost lost control and was about to criticize her for her weakness and how it went against the principles of Juche. Fortunately, Chang Min was the overseeing guard of that session, and since I knew he would understand what I was talking about no matter how vaguely I put it, I managed to stop myself at the last minute.
Whatever was going on with her, I was unwavering in my determination to protect and avenge her… even if she for some reason didn’t want it herself.
CHAPTER 47
The day of reckoning finally came. Soon, it would all be over and Nari and I could again have peace. At least, that’s what I repeated to myself over and over while working in the cornfield under the bright but cold September sun. Still, I was on edge the whole morning. Sudden and repeating heart palpitations - which I had never experienced before - terrified me to the extent I was afraid to drop dead before the task was done. I wondered if they came close to what Nari used to experience, but somehow I doubted it. I kept close to the edge of the field and observed Chul doing his morning visit to the watermill. I had to wait a long time before seeing him leave.
Hana came over briefly to ask if we were ready to execute. Just as I nodded yes, another heart palpitation hit me and made me clench my fist over my chest. Hana gave me a worried look but left without saying anything.
Just before lunch, Chul of all people came over and told me that Do Hun had been called over to the Oversight during the lunch break and accompanied me as I went to inform him.
Another marvel pulled off by Hana…
This time, the short man didn’t hold his peace.
“You think you’re some big hotshot now, little girl… but you just wait!” he grunted in a whisper as he painfully knocked his shoulder against mine while passing me through the door.
I looked over at Nari, who absentmindedly observed us, holding a half-peeled corncob over the barrel of corn. It was the same look she always had on her face before the extra afternoon ration of magic water arrived. Remembering her pleas for me to leave Chul alone - and my promise to do so - caused a wave of guilt to flood over me for what was about to happen, but I pushed it back down deep inside me.
I am being a good big sister… I’m doing this for you, Nari! He’s a monster… he must pay!
“I’ll come back and check in on you soon, Nari,” Chul gave her a worried look. I could tell he wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone in this place.
She nodded feebly and, devoid of energy, picked up another corncob from the barrel. I let my eyes linger on my little sister before I followed Chul out. There, he turned to me like he was about to say something, but I rushed off without giving him the chance.
I don’t need to hear the empty words of a dead man…
Hana was in the cornfield waiting for me when I came back. Her eyes were closed and her face tilted up toward the weak sun.
“I’m heading up to my spot,” she said after I brought her back to reality. “I couldn’t find a log this time, but don’t worry… I have arranged a massive tree branch instead.
“Will it work?” I felt the sweat pearling on the back of my neck.
“Without a doubt,” she winked at me and strolled off.
The last hour waiting for Chul to make his next visit was excruciating. Even though the temperature was cool, my head was burning up and my whole body was drenched in sweat. My heart raced to the point it hurt, and the palpitations were seriously scaring me. I noticed some in my work unit had started to look at me funny - probably looking for signs of weakness they could exploit - but I didn’t care… not today.
Finally, Chul appeared from the guardhouse. I stood hidden by the cornstalks and followed him with my eyes. I had never seen a person walk so slowly in my life. Just like last time, a deafening screeching and alarming cracking noises emerged from the building my poor, clueless sister worked in. But the waterwheel didn’t stop. My entire body tensed up as I stared in horror at its continued rotation.
It’s not working… the branch was too weak!
Chul set off running toward the watermill. I, on the other hand, was frozen to the ground… just looking at the ever-moving wheel splashing against the foamy river surface. I couldn’t breathe. All was lost. I would never get another chance like this. I would have to continue breathing the same air as that monster until my last breath was drawn.
Then, all of a sudden, there was another long, penetrating squeal, even louder and more agonizing than the previous one. My eyes were in pain from being over-flooded with sweat without blinking. My vision was blurry, but then I saw it. The waterwheel was still moving, but it had started slowing down. Then even more. The screeching intensified. The whole building trembled as from an earthquake. The w
heel jagged a couple of times, fighting with the current, let out another horrid screech, and then finally came to a complete halt.
At that moment, I noticed I hadn’t breathed the whole time and had to bend over as my lungs painfully filled with air.
There was no time to lose. I made sure I had at least some control over my body again and spurted as fast as my legs could carry me toward Chul, who had nearly reached the struggling structure. Just then, Nari came rushing out, screaming for help, her scarlet face glistening in the sun.
As I sprinted down the dirt road, my whole body burning, I noticed a movement in the corner of my eye and looked over my shoulder. The ruckus from the watermill had caught the attention of my work unit. Most of them were standing in an uneven line, staring at it, but some had set off in full sprint to help out.
I immediately changed direction to intercept them.
“STOP!” I screamed, waving my arms in a panic while praying to the Great General neither Nari nor Chul would notice. They didn’t stop completely, but they slowed down, looking at me with surprise and suspicion.
“Go back to work!” I panted. “I’ll go and deal with this… I need you to continue working… you have to fill your quotas… that is your first and only priority!”
The men stopped this time, but they didn’t turn around. They just stood there, staring at me like they didn’t believe what they were hearing.
“But don’t they—?”
I don’t have time for this!
“Did I stutter?” I growled at them. “I said go back to work! What are you waiting for? Do it NOW!”
Finally, they turned around and prodded back toward the cornfield, throwing disgruntled looks over their shoulders in my direction and whispering to each other… no doubt highly unflattering things about me.
I turned around and saw that Chul had reached Nari. The next moment, they caught sight of me running toward them.
“I can’t believe this happened again… it was just a few days since last time,” Chul said.
“I know… somebody should really do something about all the debris floating down from the mountain,” I panted. “Maybe you should build some kind of underwater fence or something…”
Nari gave me a suspicious look, which I ignored.
“And Do Hun isn’t here this time either,” Chul shook his head. “Come on, Areum… let’s go get some workers from the field to help out.”
“NO!” I shrieked. “I mean… they can’t stop working… they’re far behind on their quotas today… besides, we don’t need them… this time, we know what to do.”
Chul didn’t look convinced, but I could see in his eyes he didn’t want to criticize my way of working again, so he nodded, “Okay.”
Another heart palpitation forced me to wait a moment before following him into the building. Nari was right behind me. When I passed the doorway, I stopped so abruptly Nari almost collided with me.
“What…?”
I turned around and looked at her seriously.
“Nari… I think I made a mistake. Chul is right… we need some more help. Can you please go and get Jun Ha from the field?”
Nari hesitated and gave me another suspicious look.
“Jun Ha? Why him? Why not someone bigger and stronger?”
“Because they all hate me, Nari… if they come, I’m afraid they will seize the opportunity and do something to me… maybe even to get me killed. He’s the only one I trust.”
Nari nodded but still didn’t look convinced.
“But… why don’t you go instead? You run faster than me,” she asked.
“Come on, Nari… I need to help Chul… just like last time… you’re not strong enough to keep him from hurting himself,” I pleaded, trying desperately to activate the twin connection we supposedly had to telepathically convince her I was telling the truth. The little patience I had left was quickly giving way to the enormous wave of panic about to consume me.
Nari still hesitated, scanning my burning face for clues to confirm her suspicions, but finally nodded in agreement. Before she went she looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Remember what you promised me… okay, Areum?”
“Of course… I promise,” I forced myself to maintain eye contact, “but you have to hurry now… come on… GO!”
Nari’s inquisitive eyes lingered on my face for just a moment longer, then she set off running - for lack of a better description of the slow clumsy movement her body was doing - toward the cornfield. I went into the watermill and closed the door behind us.
She’s slow, but that still doesn’t give me much time…
The deafening noises inside the building were overwhelming. It was like the watermill was in labor, frantically squeaking and squealing as it fought to expel its unwanted wooden fetus. I made my way through the menacingly jerking machinery. Chul stood by the waterwheel on the other side with a long plank, just like last time.
“It’s tangled,” he screamed as he spotted me approaching. “Hurry… I need your help!”
I walked up to him, evading the twitching cogwheels around me. My heart was pounding harder and harder. I wondered how long my ribs would be able to hold it back.
“Last week, it was a log that got stuck, but this here is like an enormous branch,” Chul screamed. “It’s completely tangled in the wheel… I think you have to go and get one of the men from the field to help!”
“I already sent Nari to get someone,” I screamed back. “She’ll be back soon. I’ll help you in the meantime.”
I walked over and got a second plank from the wall. As I walked back, I visualized him falling into the waterwheel and being disintegrated - like his plank had last time - before being swept down to a certain death by the merciless force of the water… or maybe falling back into the cogwheels right behind him and having every bone of his body crushed as he slowly drowned in his own blood.
Strangely enough, that image didn’t have the expected effect on me.
I felt nauseous.
“Come on,” Chul dragged me back to reality. “We can try by ourselves at first, but if it doesn’t work, we’ll wait for Nari to come back with help. Put your plank against the side and push it away from you… I’ll have mine in the fork of the thickest branch… I will try to dislodge it by pushing it down into the water.”
I did as I was told, pushing it away from me with all my might. Painful splinters penetrated my fingers, making tiny red spots form on the pale white skin. Chul had been right - the massive tree branch was thoroughly tangled up in the wheel. A different panic started creeping up through my body.
If we don’t dislodge it soon, it won’t do any good if he falls in… and the cogwheels aren’t moving either… we have to get it out before Nari comes back with Jun Ha… I won’t get a third chance!
“It’s not working,” I panted in honest desperation. The cold water sprayed up from the branch and drenched my clothes and face, which helped cool down my burning body.
“Okay,” Chul withdrew his plank. “I will try to push against another fork. You continue pushing it out… hard.”
“I’m doing it as hard as I can,” I grunted. “You push harder!”
We both screamed at the top of our lungs as we put our entire combined force into untangling the branch.
“It’s no use,” Chul panted, “let’s wait for Nari and the others to come back… maybe we need somebody to go into the river from outside and pull as well.”
“Don’t give up, Chul!” I panted. “We can do it! Come on… you keep your plank against that fork there… and I’ll put mine against the big one… and then we push down together.”
“Okay… one last try,” Chul nodded, exhausted. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll stop and wait for backup.”
We pushed again. Sweat poured from my wet, greasy hair into my eyes, making them burn like fire. I screamed from the excruciating strain on my body, from the adrenaline pumping through my veins, and from the desperation of seeing my plan failing before
my eyes.
No… I won’t fail… I don’t care if I die with him, but he must DIE!
“I think it’s moving a little… keep pushing,” Chul squeezed through his gritted teeth.
I could feel it too. The waterwheel started screeching louder, so I knew something was happening.
“I think we got it,” Chul grunted as the main part of the branch slowly disappeared under the surface. “Go over and push from the side, like before… I continue pushing down.”
I looked over at the door. This was taking too much time.
Soon they will be back!
I put the plank back against the side of the branch and pushed with all the strength I had left. There was a slight movement. I could feel the force of the waterwheel, fighting to break free.
“Okay… one last push,” Chul emitted a ferocious guttural scream.
I put my entire body weight against the plank while trying to find enough support for my feet. I looked over to Chul. Every vein in his body was bursting out from his tightly wrapped skin. His face was distorted beyond recognition. The branch was budging little by little, but my strength was waning and I knew it wouldn’t be long before I had to give up. Without seeing any other option, I threw my body against the plank. Pain shot through my chest where it hit me. At first, I thought nothing had happened, but then the waterwheel emitted a deafening squeal mixed with the merciless cracking of twigs and branches.
In the blink of an eye, the waterwheel was back to rotating at full speed, thrusting the remaining fragments of the branch to the side. I shrieked as I lost my balance. My plank was devoured and disintegrated by the rotating wooden monster before me, and I fell forward to meet the same fate. Screaming at the top of my lungs, I waved my arms in panic, but suddenly my fall was interrupted. My left hand had landed on something, and I was leaning almost horizontally over the merciless foaming madness below me. I looked up as saw my hand had landed exactly on the extension holding the waterwheel in place. But my feet were slipping. I knew it was only a matter of seconds before my hands would lose their grip and I would tumble to my death. I tried to push with my feet, but it was too wet for them to get traction. I looked down into the foaming inferno and knew this would be the last thing my eyes ever saw.
The Weeping Masses: A Young Adult Dystopian Survival Saga (Juche - Part 3) Page 42
