Chapter 139
The boat entered the pier.
The waves crashed against it, and white foam spread all over the place.
Suhyuk hopped from the boat.
"Hey!"
Suhyuk turned his head at the voice coming from the boat.
"Take your baggage with you, man!"
A sailor whose face was suntanned black threw a bag to him.
Suhyuk made a broad smile, saying, "Thanks. Take care!"
"Sure. A few years of hard work won't be a problem. Take care!"
The boat chugged down the sea and disappeared.
Seagulls were circling in the sky.
Gazing at the disappearing boat, Suhyuk then carried the bag on his shoulder and looked around.
He saw several people fishing in a relaxed manner, and their children squatting on the grass looking at the fish that they had caught.
He felt as if he was on an outing on this island.
Moreover, the landscape of the island was great.
Suhyuk soon moved to his destination.
The road to his destination was winding here and there, and also it was very narrow.
If one missed their step, they could fall down into the wild foliage on the side.
Suhyuk walked on the road for about 20 minutes.
However, he could not find his way to the destination easily.
It looked as if the roads and the houses were intermingled like a maze.
"Huuuuuuhh…"
When Suhyuk was looking around, wiping his sweat, he saw an old woman walking up to him.
She wore a loose long skirt, with a net bag in her hand.
"Hello, grandma."
The woman wearing a hat stopped and looked at him.
"Did you call me?"
"May I ask you where the public health clinic is?"
She scrutinized him and said, "I've never seen you here before. Are you here for sightseeing?"
"No, I just…"
"Seeing as you're here for sightseeing, you should not get into any hard times here. Go straight down the road and make a right turn," said she, pointing her fingers.
"Thank you."
When Suhyuk bent his head, the woman was already walking down the road.
With a smile, he walked on again.
***
Arriving at the destination, he was looking at the building.
It was very small and old.
The white paint on the wall was peeled off here and there.
Suhyuk opened the door, hearing the clinking sound of the doorbell designed to indicate a patient's' arrival.
Still nobody came out.
Suhyuk looked around the place.
There were seven chairs and a small TV set in the room.
"Are you here for an examination?"
He turned back at the voice from behind.
There was a plump woman in her early 30s.
She was wearing a nurse gown with the nameplate 'Choi Miran'.
"I'm assigned here as a public health doctor…"
Initially looking at him carelessly, she opened her eyes wide now, saying,
"Oh my god! You must be Dr. Lee Suhyuk, right?"
Suhyuk affirmed her question, scratching his head.
Covering her mouth with her hand, she began babbling,
"Wow! You look much more handsome… Have you eaten yet?"
"Yes, I already did."
Actually he had some delicious sushi. It was thanks to the boat captain's filleting raw fish, and mixing it with rice and spicy red pepper bean. It was so delicious.
"It's narrow and small here, right? Still it's comfortable enough for a person to live in. I had a hard time initially but soon got accustomed to it. The people here are really good-hearted…"
Choi Miran, looking at Suhyuk queerly, continued to speak.
"What am I supposed to do here?"
"Oops! Please wait here a moment, sir. I must have been absent-minded."
Choi went into the examination room right away, and soon came out.
Gesturing with a smile, she said, "Please come in."
"Thanks."
Though the door was open, he knocked on it before going in.
Inside was a middle-aged man in his early 50s, with thin hair. He stood up to greet Suhyuk.
"Welcome. I'm a doctor here," said he, reaching out his hand with a smile.
"How are you sir," said Suhyuk, grabbing his hand.
"Miran, give us something to drink."
"Coffee?"
The doctor looked at him and said, "We've got juice, too."
"Either one is fine."
"Two cups of coffee then!"
"Have a seat."
When Suhyuk was seated, the man introduced himself,
"My name is Shin Jaechol, and I've been here for 7 years now."
"My name is Lee Suhyuk, sir. My service to you!"
At his courteous tone, Shin wore a smile like a generous countryman.
"I wonder why they could not give a military service exemption to a doctor like you."
Shin was already well aware of his reputation on the TV and in newspapers.
How could they send him to an island as a public health service doctor?
He was such a great talent who should not waste his precious time in a place like this.
Was his future not at all pointing to great success?
Nonetheless, this young man before him was making a smile as if he was satisfied with his new life here.
"What am I supposed to do here, sir?"
"Don't push me like that, young man. You don't have to hurry. The senior patients are very healthy here, so come to see us occasionally."
Then the nurse came in with coffee.
"Thanks."
"Ms. Choi, you can go out now."
"Oh, yes, sir!"
Choi, who was stealing a glance at Suhyuk, went out of the room hurriedly.
Then both of them exchanged light talk such as the running of the clinic and the island.
Shin patted him on the shoulder several times, saying,
"I'm so relieved to have a doctor like you here."
Then Shin went out the room, and asked him to follow him.
Outside the clinic Shin said to the nurse,
"Let me show Dr. Lee around his lodging Ms. Choi. Just give me a call when you see a patient."
"Yes, sir!"
At his remarks, Suhyuk was a bit surprised.
He wondered how the doctor could be out of the office during the normal operating hours.
But it seemed natural to him.
This island seem laid back, especially with the residents being considerate and kind to each other giving warmth.
It took about 20 minutes for them to reach Suhyuk's small lodging.
"Such as it is, it's very cool here during the summer time, and very warm in winter because of its heated floor system."
Following Shin into the yard, Suhyuk looked at the side, where an old bicycle was located.
'What's this, sir?"
"Ah, this was used by a previous doctor. As I recently oiled it, you'd have no problem using it."
Suhyuk took his hand to the old bicycle and clinked the bell.
The clear clinging sound of the bell resonated throughout the island.
Now he was shown into his room.
There was a chest of drawers for clothes and a blanket on top of it.
That's all there was in the room.
"I cleaned up the room roughly, so you might need one more cleanup."
"Thank you, sir."
"Oh, don't mention it. By the way, I asked Mr. Lee to check the electricity here…"
He turned on the switch on the wall.
The light was flickering several times, and then illuminated the room in no time.
Shin scratched his head when he noticed cobwebs on the ceiling.
"Oh, I didn't notice them before…"
Suhyuk said with a smile, "Let me take care of it."
Shin continued to explain about the location of the kitchen and the restroom.
He said that in case of no tap water he can use the water from the well in the yard.
He also told him that all the necessities could be bought at a small supermarket at the foot of the village.
"Let me go down first. So, first unpack your baggage and take your time."
"Got it."
After seeing him off, Suhyuk began cleaning the room. He removed all the cobwebs on the ceiling and wiped the floor with a mop.
He also cleaned the kitchen, and headed to the well after stretching himself.
He pulled on a rope that had been lowered down into the well.
Soon the bucket was pulled up, and he scooped up water with a bowl.
Drinking it up, Suhyuk nodded his head. The water tasted delicious.
Wiping his lips, he looked around carefully.
The sound of waves in the distance and the smell from the mountains tickling his nose, and the cool wind wrapping his body and then disappearing away.
Even the seagulls seemed to welcome him.
Suhyuk rode the bicycle to the clinic again.
Shin told him that he should use it on his way back to the clinic.
Just like when he visited it first, there were no patients there.
Only the sound of the TV filled the room.
One thing that drew his attention was a bag of rice weighing 40kg.
Then a nurse came up to him.
"This bag is for you, Dr. Lee. It's given by the government, so you don't have to feel any burden by it," said she with a smile.
Suhyuk went into Shin's room with a knock.
Shin took off his glasses while reading a book, saying,
"The room looks nice after a cleanup, right?"
"Yes, it is cozy and comfortable."
"How about having dinner together? Do you like oysters grilled on a stone? They are very delicious."
"Yes, I like them very much."
At his reply, the nurse flung open the door, exclaiming, "Dinner together?"
"Of course. Seeing as we have a new member here."
The nurse checked the time on the wall.
It was 5pm. In a little while they would leave the clinic.
"Okay. Let me wrap things up quickly then."
As soon as she went out of the room, Shin shook his head with a smile.
She just liked food way too much.
"You can look around here."
At his remarks, Suhyuk went and looked around the clinic to check this and that.
Restroom, injection room, and X-ray room.
As the clinic was very small, he could move from one room to another with only a few steps.
"Where is the radiologist…"
At his asking, Choi, sorting out patients' files, replied,
"Actually I'm…"
"I see."
He could understand the situation as there were only two people in the clinic; Shin and Choi.
"Normally we're not busy, but when patients come in droves, we're just tied up completely."
"I can help you out now."
Clapping her hands, she gave him a thumbs up, and then focused back on the files.
Then the door of the clinic opened.
Taking off his gown, Shin tapped on his wrist watch.
"It's 6pm. Let's go."
"Wait a moment, sir. I'm almost done," said the nurse.
Then a phone rang.
She picked up the phone, saying, "Yes, it's the clinic."
Her eyes became wide, and Shin looked at her.
"Mrs. Choi says she is unwell!"
Shin talked to Suhyuk, "Let's have a welcoming party later. Let's go."