by Alana Terry
He continued to lead Sun forward but slowed his step. “For this to work, we need to move fast. We can’t afford to sit around and wait. Unless you’ve changed your mind, that is.”
“I didn’t change my mind.” She clutched Min-Ho’s arm. “It’s just ... tonight?”
He stopped walking long enough to brush her flushed cheek with the back of his finger. “These things happen fast. People have already seen us together at the park.” He tilted her chin up until she looked at him. Winter was still a month or two away, but she was shivering. “There are people here that know who I am. They know what kind of work I do.” She winced, and he tightened his grip on her arm. “I’ve got the contacts to keep me out of trouble. No one around here will bother me. But you ...” He sighed. “The police will know we were together. They’ll track you down. They’ll find out who you are, you know. It’s not hard for them. Then they’ll be angry with you for talking to me. And angry with your family, too.” Sun didn’t make any noise. Min-Ho couldn’t force his eyes away from the small indent of her neck. “Now you see why we need to get ready right away.”
She nodded and leaned against him as he led her out of the park. Back at Min-Ho’s apartment, the girl started to calm down a little. The red dress he had bought across the border fit perfectly. It had cost him four months’ savings, and he had squirreled it away, certain he’d eventually find the right one to wear it. The thin straps accentuated Sun’s dainty shoulders. The low cut made it hard for him to focus on anything besides the little hollow in her neck that quivered so provocatively while she swallowed.
The only problem came up when he mentioned they’d be leaving right away.
“You mean I can’t even hug my mother good-bye?” Sun’s voice trembled nearly as much as her chin. He frowned to hide his pleasure. Even while she was fighting tears, she didn’t suffer from the blotchy eyes and puffy cheeks that made average girls look so pathetic when they simpered.
He passed her a handkerchief. “If your mother discovers where we’re going, she’ll only worry about you, right?” She nodded and sniffed. “How could you put your mother through that just for one last hug? You do love her, don’t you?” He wiped one of her tears with his thumb. “Just think how happy she’ll be when you come home with your first paycheck.” He had already done the math. If Mr. Lee agreed to his price — and only a fool wouldn’t — Min-Ho would earn back four times what he had spent on the red dress.
Sun brushed her bangs aside. “Jae wouldn’t approve if he knew about it.”
“Jae?”
“My brother.” She looked down.
He sat beside her, close enough he could feel the goose bumps on her bare flesh. “Jae won’t complain when you come home with enough rice to last all winter, will he?” She didn’t react when he drew little circles with his thumb around her elbow. He stretched his free arm and pulled her in tight. “You should try to take a little nap. You’ll need your energy for the trip tonight.”
She kept her eyes to the floor. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you for your kindness.”
Min-Ho had to swallow down his anticipation. His payment would come soon enough.
CHAPTER 4
Even underneath the blanket, Sun shivered in her new red dress. She had never seen anything so fine or even imagined such beautiful clothing existed. Min-Ho told her she looked old enough to work in Pyongyang itself. She wanted to obey Min-Ho and get some rest, but she couldn’t stop thinking about how brave he was to risk his own safety to help her find a job in China. She was young, but she’d work hard once he led her across the border.
Her arms tingled, not just from the cold but from the excitement. She felt so grown-up in her new clothes. She hugged herself, wondering what life would be like in China, where she’d have a real job, with a real employer who could pay her real money. She pictured how surprised Mother would be when she returned home with a whole envelope full of cash. And her brother, Jae. Sun smiled and envisioned him beaming at her with so much pride. Min-Ho was right. It would be selfish to stop by home first and say good-bye. Better not to let Mother know where she was going. Besides, if she did tell her family, Jae would try to stop her. Her brother never thought she was old enough to do anything important. He’d be so impressed now if he saw her in Min-Ho’s red dress. Then he’d have to admit she wasn’t a child any longer.
The door to her room opened slowly. She shut her eyes and pretended to sleep. Grinning in spite of herself, she hoped Min-Ho would think she was just dreaming pleasantly. Her arms tingled as she heard him approach her bed. It was a real bed with tall posts on each corner — proof he knew all kinds of wealthy patrons in China. How else could he afford such a soft mattress, such a puffy pillow?
“Are you awake, young one?” At his whisper, tingles raced up Sun’s bare shoulders and prickled the base of her neck. How could someone as influential and brave as Min-Ho notice such a poor, provincial girl? Why was he willing to sacrifice his own safety for her? She never felt so lucky before. She hated displeasing him, but she also knew that a giggle would soon give her away if her words didn’t. She tucked her bangs behind one ear. “Yes, I’m awake.”
“I thought you might be.” His tone was amused, not disappointed. He sat on the edge of the bed and put his hand on the section of blanket covering her leg. Her first instinct was to pull away, but she forced herself to relax. He was doing so much to help her. She had to show him how grateful she was. Min-Ho cleared his throat. “I’m actually glad you’re awake. We need to talk about something.”
She made a move to sit up, but she was more comfortable lying down, covered by that big, fluffy quilt. Min-Ho scratched his cheek and frowned at the wall. “I have friends who patrol the border. We have a certain understanding, them and me.”
“So they’ll let us cross safely because they trust you?” Sun was pleased she could grasp such a mature concept and hoped Min-Ho would be impressed, but he didn’t return her smile.
“My friends tell me crossing into China is more dangerous these days than ever before.”
She clutched the blanket and hoped he didn’t notice her anxiety. What was he saying? Did that mean he couldn’t help her?
“Don’t worry.” He squeezed her leg. “We’ll still be able to go. It’s just that my friends will want to be paid even more than usual. And I spent almost all of my extra money to buy your dress. I’m afraid I’ll need to ask for my payment now instead of once we get to your employer’s.”
“Payment?” The back of Sun’s throat tightened. She tried to swallow away the dryness. “I thought ... I didn’t realize ...”
He furrowed his eyebrows. “You mean you weren’t planning to pay me?”
Sun begged herself not to cry. She looked up into his acne-scarred face. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know. When my teacher told me about you, when she said you could find me work ... She didn’t mention that I would ... She didn’t say ...”
Min-Ho wiped away one of her tears. “I didn’t mean to upset you, little one. I’d love to take you to China for free, but I have expenses to worry about. They don’t let people cross over for nothing, of course.”
She lowered her head. “I don’t know about these things. My mother and father ... They don’t teach me. We don’t talk about China or going across the river.” She wiped her nose with the back of her hand. “My family doesn’t have any money at all. Nothing. That’s why I came to you.” She sat up in bed, her bare shoulders heaving with each tiny sob.
“I don’t want to see you cry, little one.” He reached over and stroked her hair. “But it’s too dangerous to try to cross the border empty-handed. As much as I want to help you, if the guards stop me, I’ll need some money to keep us both out of trouble.”
Sun’s lip quivered. Now nothing would come of her plans. Her parents would still struggle. She would never make her family proud. She would have to give the red dress back. She exhaled deeply and looked around the room. She didn’t know where Min-Ho put her school uniform, b
ut she needed to get dressed and get home by nightfall.
Min-Ho glanced at her, his hand still resting on her leg. He put one finger up to his chin and picked at one of his pimple heads. “You know, I might have a way to make this all work out.” Sun sucked in her breath but tried to keep her expression neutral as he continued. “I just remembered a friend of mine loaned me some extra money the other day. It might be enough to help get us across.”
She clasped her hand over her mouth to hide her excitement. “You would be willing? You’d do that for me?” Her voice squeaked in spite of her best efforts.
He rubbed his chin, and his eyes narrowed. “My weakness is I can never deny a pretty woman anything.” A smile spread across his face. “Besides, it’s not your fault you didn’t know about the fee.”
Sun reached out and clutched his hand in hers. “Thank you, sir. Thank you. And you have my word that as soon as I get paid, I’ll send you whatever money I owe you.”
He shook his head and held up a hand. “No, little one. I’ve already made up my mind. Your family is poor. You’ve all struggled enough. It wouldn’t be right for me to take a single won from you. You’re young but courageous. You deserve to be treated well. I won’t take food out of your mother and father’s mouths. Work hard, little one. The money you earn will be yours to keep.”
Sun tried to slow her heartbeat and held the blanket up to her face to cover her grin. Her eyes scanned his cluttered floor, and she quickly turned back to Min-Ho. “May I serve you?”
He frowned. “What did you say?”
“Cleaning. Cooking. There must be something I can do before it’s time to leave.” She didn’t mention she never learned to cook anything but gruel and roots.
“You want to do me a favor?” He laughed outright. “As I said, I could never deny anything of a woman as beautiful as you.”
Sun wiped her cheek. At least her mother had taught her the importance of a good cleaning. And Min-Ho’s house certainly needed it. “Where’s your bucket? I can wash the floors.”
He reached over and took her hand in his. She hoped he didn’t notice the way her arm hairs stood up on end. Min-Ho caressed her palms. “You don’t want to ruin those delicate hands by scrubbing. Besides, you might dirty your new dress.”
“Then how can I ever work off my debt?”
Min-Ho smiled, and even with his face covered in acne, Sun couldn’t help but notice how handsome he was.
CHAPTER 5
It took longer than Min-Ho expected for his concoction to work on the young girl, but at last she slept solidly. Her body was heavier than her petite frame suggested as he hoisted her into the trunk of his car.
Most of Min-Ho’s money as a broker came from girls, but since the younger ones weren’t always willing to follow him into China, he supplemented his income by working as an ordinary border broker, escorting families, couples, stragglers, and anyone willing to pay to get out of North Korea and into the relative prosperity of China. Tonight, he had a pickup scheduled near Onsong, less than an hour’s drive away. A couple was waiting in the cabin he used for that very purpose. He needed to hurry. He had to get Sun away from her hometown as soon as possible. The last thing he wanted was for the girl to change her mind and run back to her family in Chongsong. Not only would he lose the yuan he knew Mr. Lee would pay for his find, but he might have to face whatever father, brother, uncle, or cousin would challenge him for trying to whisk Sun away.
Once he left, Min-Ho doubted he’d be returning to Chongsong — or any of the neighboring villages — for a long time. It was fortuitous the teacher had told him about this rare beauty. His contacts knew just what to look for, which is why Min-Ho paid them so well. With Sun sound asleep in the trunk and not due to wake up for at least another twelve hours, Min-Ho checked his rearview mirror and headed toward Onsong, where he hoped the couple was ready.
If they weren’t, he wasn’t about to wait for them. He pulled his car up alongside the cabin and shut off the engine. He had lost track of how many trips like this he had made. As long as his clients paid, he had no reason to remember their faces, their names, their stories.
He knocked on the cabin door. The couple was supposed to be ready. In fact, Min-Ho was a little late. When nobody answered, he let himself in.
From the moment he stepped into the cabin, the silence hung ominously around him like a fog. He held his breath. It wasn’t a set-up. He would have heard if there were men hiding to arrest him. He would have sensed their presence. But this ... it wasn’t just the silence of night. Clenching his flashlight, he made his way to the bedroom.
Min-Ho had seen death before, but never like this. A knife stab, several by the looks of it. Near the far wall was a puddle of blood with drops leading toward the door. Under ordinary circumstances, he might regret the loss of a paying client. But with Sun sleeping soundly in the trunk, he didn’t worry about a couple hundred yuan. Still, he grew even more resolute to leave the region for good. He wasn’t about to be linked to a murder.
Before turning, he scanned the room — a suitcase on the floor, a cloth bundle folded up in the corner, probably just a wad of clothes. There was nothing for him here, unless the man died with some treasure hidden in his pockets. Min-Ho spun on his heel and left the cabin without looking back. He didn’t need to prod around, hunting in pockets for aluminum when he had gold tucked safely away in the back of his car.
He heard the muffled screams as soon as he was out of the cabin. Cursing, he jogged to the trunk and forced it open. Sun’s foot flew out and barely missed his face. He frowned. His mixture was guaranteed to maintain its potency for twelve hours. It should work even longer on a girl as small as Sun. His supplier must have mixed something inert in the supply. He was glad he opened the trunk when he did. With the child hyperventilating like that, who knew how long it would be before she ran out of oxygen completely, especially once he got the car running again?
He vowed vengeance on his supplier but didn’t take the time to plot the fine details. He already had his hand on the backup in his pocket and forced a smile to his lips. Fingering Sun’s cheek, he crooned, “It’s all right, little one. You need to stay hidden for a while longer. It’s just like we talked about, remember?”
Her breathing didn’t slow. Min-Ho had to hurry to the border if he was going to make the exchange before morning. “This will help you rest.” Before Sun could protest, he pulled out the extra syringe and injected it into her arm in one smooth, practiced motion.
He sauntered back to the driver’s seat, kicking an old sandal that lay in his way, and had only rolled the car a few feet before his headlights captured an animal huddled in the road. He slammed on his breaks. The figure scampered away in slow motion, and Min-Ho saw the creature was human. “What do you think you’re doing?” He got out and stomped toward it, his fists clenched. “What’s wrong with you?”
The woman stumbled to her feet and eyed his car. Placing her hand on her side, she formed her lips into a slight pout. “I need help,” she confessed with a little tremor in her voice.
Min-Ho eyed the stranger. Her pants were steeped in blood. She could barely stand on her own. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time. Nothing could jeopardize his meeting with Mr. Lee. The woman steadied herself against the hood of his car. “You need to help me.” He didn’t respond. She reached into her pocket. “I have money. Lots of it.” Her voice was stronger than she first intimated.
Min-Ho raised an eyebrow. “How much?”
“Three hundred yuan.”
He snorted. Under normal circumstances, that amount would be enough to at least pique his interest. Tonight, with a once-in-a-lifetime investment sedated in his trunk, he wasn’t so easily swayed. He opened the car door and lowered himself into the driver’s seat. He had wasted enough time in Onsong already. He turned the key in the ignition and rolled the car slowly toward the road that would take him to the border, to riches. The woman took a faltering step. Min-Ho expected her to stumble off the path
and out of his way. Instead, she staggered into the middle of the street, collapsing against his car as he slammed his boot down on the breaks.
He lowered his window and flung out his head. “Are you crazy?”
The woman lay with her chest on top of the hood but finally managed to slide over and open the passenger door. “I’m going across the border with you.” She slunk into the seat next to his.
“What makes you think I’m crossing the border?”
“I know what kind of business you do.”
Min-Ho shrugged. “Lots of folks think they know somebody else’s business.”
The woman narrowed her eyebrows. “You’re taking me with you.”
“Listen, lady ...”
“My name’s Mee-Kyong. And I told you, I have money.” She pulled a thick envelope out of her pocket. Min-Ho eyed it and then squinted to see if he could detect a bluff. She held his gaze without blinking. “I know who you are, and I know what you do. My husband hired you to come and take us across the border. I’ve got your payment here. Now let’s go.”
Min-Ho frowned and picked at a pimple. There was no reason at this point to deny her assessment. “And where is your husband?”
She crossed her arms. “We were attacked. The assailants left us both for dead. Turns out they were only half right.”
Min-Ho noted the twitch in the woman’s eye. “So they beat you up, killed your husband, and left?” he asked. She lifted her chin and nodded. “And they didn’t take your money with them?”
She pursed her lips together. “It was hidden. Now, are you going to honor my late husband’s arrangement? Here’s double the payment since now I’m the only one you have to transport.”
Min-Ho picked at his cheek. Could this woman somehow ruin his plans for the girl from Chongsong? He peeked in the envelope. There was enough money to cover bribes for an extra passenger. She wasn’t as young and fresh as Sun, but he could probably even get a little from Mr. Lee for her as well. Min-Ho sighed and put the car into drive. The stranger said nothing, but he noticed her smile out of the corner of his eye.
