Haan

Chapter 13 - Solution

After a week, people were leaving gifts at Dr.Li's doorstep. Fresh vegetables, fruits and home cooked food were sent to the bachelor along with freshly caught fish, woven mats and many other handmade household items. Everyone knew there was no one to cook for him, he was married to his work. All his time, energy and money, he spent on his one and only love, medicine. It was a never ending pursuit of knowledge, skill and helping cure people. Many forgave his lack of social manners because of this.

He only had Min, his assistant and apprentice who learned his craft while doing the general cleaning and cores. Many speculated Min's cooking was the only thing that kept the preoccupied doctor alive. Without him, the good doctor would probably forget to eat and starve to death.

Everyone had started calling Dr.Li a miracle doctor. One who could cure the incurable plague. He had found a mysterious Saint to help him and just in time too for the Plague attacking their village was at its peak. Together, they fought the deadly disease bringing hope back to the village. Now, they did not have to worry. The Plague would not kill anymore of their loved ones. For that, they were forever grateful.

I on the other hand, was tired all the time. It had been almost three weeks since I had a good night's rest. Weariness became my companion shadowing my every waking moment. I walked around in a constant daze with a pounding headache.

Luckily, everyone with advanced symptoms had been cured. With less then ten people having mild symptoms, Dr.Li gave me a day off.

To ensure my identity was not exposed, I sometimes slept at Dr.Li's house. When I went home, it was either late at night or early mornings when no one was awake yet. The routine only added to my stress and fatigue. However, it was necessary in order to avoid being mobbed in the streets.

Back home, I crawled into my futon. I planned to sleep the whole day and the next if no one called for me.

Hardly two hours later, a pair of small hands shook me awake.

"Hyung, hyung ... wake up."

"Huh? Eun Ho? Wae? What's the matter?" I asked sleepily. I felt better already but I could do with more sleep.

"Mianhae Hyung, Eomma said not to wake you up until evening or until Appa got worse. I'm sorry to wake you up but Appa is worse. Jaebal, please come magic away the bad Plague." The little boy was almost in tears.

I scrambled up, immediately wide awake. Quickly we went to Ajeossi's room. Ajumma was there tending her sick husband.

"Ajumma, why didn't you tell me? How long has it been?"

"Si Woo-ah, it was not that bad and you looked so tired. I didn't want to disturb you until you got enough rest. Dr. Li is working you to the bone," she said apologetically.

I knelt next to her. "Ajumma, you, Ajoessi and Eun Ho will always come first. If any of you are sick, I'll tell Dr.Li I'm not available until all of you are well."

"Ahhh, thank you Si Woo, but the others' lives are at stake ..."

"Ani, No," I said firmly, "my family comes first, all of you come first!"

My heart burst with emotion, I could not deny it anymore. I finally voiced what I had already accepted in my heart. Despite my reservations and logical excuses, I did consider them my family. I would be devastated if anything happened to any of them. I would risk anything for their safety and health.

"Let me see," I said simply.

Technically, it was not too bad, yet. However, the Plague had become very erratic and unpredictable recently. Mild feelings of cold could suddenly intensified making its victim comatose and sparse thin lines on the skin could abruptly thicken to branch and snake all over the body. I suspected the Spirit was behind these irregularities.

I assessed the disease and gestured to Eun Ho. I smiled as he already had a thick piece of wood ready. Half an hour later, Ajoessi was resting comfortably, all signs of the disease cleansed from him.

"Gomawo," Ajumma thanked me softly clasping both my hands with hers.

I was startled to notice the coolness of her hands. "Ajumma ... did it come back in you too?"

"It's not as bad as the last time, I can endure it," she said letting go, "but if you could take a look at Eun Ho ..."

"Mworago? What? It's back in Eun Ho too?" I asked shocked.

She nodded apologetically. "I don't know why but it's come back."

The implications came crashing down on me. It didn't matter if I cured the victims, the Spirit would keep infecting them again and again. The Plague would keep recurring until everyone was dead. I sat back on my heels defeated. I could only do so much. I'm human with limits, it was not. Whatever I had done was already taking a terrible toll on my health. What if it accelerated the disease in everyone? I would not be able to keep up.

"Kenchana? Si Woo, are you o'kay?" Ajumma asked in alarm reaching for me. "Go to bed, you should get more rest."

"No," I shook my head stubbornly. "I'll make both of you well again before I rest, I would be able to sleep knowing you are unwell."

I raise my voice, "Eun Ho, go get me another two pieces of wood, then come in and lock the door behind you.

"Araso," he replied, jumping up to do my bidding.

Two hours later, I was fast asleep. I could finally rest knowing my family was safe.

-----

When I awoke, night had already descended upon us. I pushed my stiff body up and stretched. I felt better than I had in a long time. The delicious smells coming form the kitchen encouraged me to get up.

Ajumma had sacrificed one of our egg laying chickens for a well deserved celebratory meal. It was worth it, she said, to see her loved ones healthy. Dinner was awesome, the simple fare tasted better seasoned with love and laughter. There were no leftovers.

That night, I could not sleep. My mind kept mauling over the problem. I refused to believe there was no solution. Recalling all the information I had, I tried to find a solution.

The Plague was incurable. I had no illusions that I was curing people. I only transferred it out of the victims.

The Plague was caused by the Spirit. According to Mi Rae, it can only infect humans if it is in one. It needed a human vessel, currently her. Also, it could only infect people if they were near enough. It had been weeks since Mi Rae come into the village. After visiting us, she had dutifully stayed away. So when did all those patients get infected? Was I missing something?

One thing I knew, I could not go on like this. I had to come up with a plan to stop the Plague once and for all or I would die of exhaustion.

Suddenly I sat up, my heart pounding. I got it!! The Spirit could only spread the disease through Mi Rae! If it could only spread through her, then the solution was simple.

SLAP!!

I slapped myself hard cracking my head and almost spraining my neck.

Owwww!!

My eyes watered. IDIOT!! Killing Mi Rae was out of the question. Find another way you fool! I scolded myself. I deserved another hundred slaps for even thinking that!

I pondered some more, all the while holding my stinging cheek. If I can't eliminate the source, maybe, maybe I could take it out? Yes! That was it! Transfer it out of her and into something else, just like the Plague itself. I would save Mi Rae and end the Plague once and for all. I was a genius!

I breathed a sigh of relief.

I had to go to her. I had to go to Mi Rae!