Chapter 180.1: So just keep running (1)
Swoosh, whoosh, whoosh. The men had finally stepped foot into North Korean territory. After about another hour of traveling, the dense forest finally gave way to a landscape that was dotted with scattered trees between some rice paddies and fields.
Kang Chan quickly scanned his surroundings. It would take another hour or so to reach the mountains in the far distance.
There was no knowing when the North Korean enemies would discover the wire that they severed. The best case scenario would be if it was discovered during the morning check, but if they decided to perform an inspection in between the guard rotations, Kang Chan’s breach would be noticed immediately.
For now, he decided to set the giant propaganda sign with the words “Great Leader” or something and a chubby man extending his hand to point at the air as his initial target. Once they reached it, he planned to make his team hide among the trees in the back for cover.
Kang Chan raised his index finger to gesture directions for Team One, then pointed his index and middle fingers down at the ground, mimicking running motions with his hand. Afterward, he pointed at the ground with his left index finger and made a signal with his right index and middle fingers, ordering the second and third teams to provide cover for the first team.
The members of Team One all looked Kang Chan in the eyes with understanding. They remained on standby around him, prepared to execute the command.
Click.
Teams Two and Three aimed their guns at their flanks.
One, two.
The men crouched down and moved as silently as they could. The path—a wet, damp road between rice paddies and fields—was slippery, and their boots would occasionally get stuck to the ground.
With their military gear and rifles in hand, they had to cover a distance of about three hundred meters. They also had to move at a fast pace with their backs hunched over, which only made things worse. If it wasn’t for the arduous training they normally did and the tough determination that coursed them through, they would have found this situation difficult to overcome.
The sticky ground felt as if it was tying down their feet.
“Haah, haah.”
As a result, rough panting sounds inevitably began to fill the silence.
Splash. Splash. Slop. Slop.
Upon crossing the hundred-meter mark, their combat gear and weapons began to make clanking noises as well. Faced with the decision to either slow down or ignore the sounds, Kang Chan continued to stride forward, ignoring the noise and quickly scanning both sides. They couldn’t miss this opportune window of time when the night was heavy and everyone was in a deep sleep. Kang Chan couldn’t be more grateful that there weren’t any 24-hour convenience stores or any lodges around this area. Only a few old houses that looked like something he had only seen on TV were in the distance.
Tat, tat.
Hiding behind the political sign, Kang Chan assigned positions for the soldiers to stand in.
Click, click, click.
The men arranged themselves in a circle around him and pointed their rifles in the direction they were in charge of.
Chk.
“Team Three, go,” Kang Chan commanded over the radio.
Chk.
“Yes, sir,” Kwak Cheol-Ho responded.
Kang Chan strategically made Kwak Cheol-Ho’s team leave first in case anything were to suddenly happen. The best and safest option was for Kang Chan and Seok Kang-Ho to cover the third team from behind.
Kang Chan thought the soldiers were truly well-trained for operations. However, he couldn’t help but become anxious as he watched them move.
Click, click, click, click.
“Haah, haah.”
When Team Three finally reached their positions, Kang Chan ordered Kwak Cheol-Ho to cover them from behind this time.
Next up is Dayeru.
Kang Chan pressed the button on his radio to give orders.
Chk.
As he did, he noticed a light flashing from far away. It was moving rapidly back and forth, which meant that it wasn’t from a car or a bicycle—it was the movement of a handheld flashlight.
Chk.
“Dayeru, we’ve been discovered. Just run!” Kang Chan ordered.
Kang Chan straightened up and began to open fire.
Splash. Splash. Splash. Splash. Slop. Slop.
At the same time, Seok Kang-Ho and the members of his team quickly came dashing over.
“Haah, haah.”
They could hear people shouting in the distance. The moving lights began to converge around the propaganda sign.
Crackle.
“Daye! Run to the mountain up ahead! Kwak Cheol-Ho, you take the middle. Team One and I will cover the rear,” Kang Chan instructed them.
Rumble. Tat, tat.
As soon as Kang Chan gave orders, Seok Kang-Ho immediately began to rush forward. Kwak Cheol-Ho and the rest of Team Two slid past Kang Chan and also bolted out.
The rays from the flashlights were now about two hundred meters in front of them. Kang Chan estimated the enemy squad to have six or so soldiers.
“Follow them!” Kang Chan shouted.
At his command, his team members all began to run.
Leaning on the propaganda sign, Kang Chan aimed at the enemy figures faintly illuminated by the light.
Bang!
Sparks flew out as gunshots ripped through the quiet silence of the night.
Those motherfuckers!
Pew! Pew! Pew! Pew!
Three lanterns fell to the ground, illuminating the area.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Ping! Ping! Pew! Pew!
Kang Chan pulled the trigger twice in the direction where more sparks flew about. As he did, he realized that he bastards couldn’t shoot in the direction of the propaganda sign. Even if it was extremely dark, they had to have seen the sparks coming from Kang Chan’s gun, yet they still chose to aim for the advancing team in the distance.
Their pursuit was blocked just enough. If they got any further away, there would be no way to catch them.
Kang Chan quickly turned around and began to speed off.
Splash. Splash. Click. Click.
The dampness hidden in the darkness rushed over him, but Kang Chan just kept running with all his might.
Seok Kang-Ho and Kwak Cheol-Ho were also running with every ounce of strength they had, so if Kang Chan lagged behind even slightly, he would be left behind.
The soldiers up ahead appeared dimly black in the distance. There was no sign of light from behind or from past the surrounding fields.
“Hah, hah.”
He didn’t have time to control his pace or even show the slightest hesitation. He could only focus on running as fast as he possibly could.
After sprinting for about two minutes, he finally caught up to the tail of Team One’s members.
“Hah. Hah.”
He could hear loud and rough breathing as clear as he could hear their rifles and other weapons clanking.
Click! Click! Click! Click!
Around five minutes had passed. In another five minutes, a strike team would mobilize to block the national highway.
Kang Chan’s heart and body began to rebel against the pain all this running was causing him, but this was better than dying. It was a hundred times better to run nonstop than to be captured, tortured, and wait to be killed.
Two minutes later, the dark silhouettes of the team members running ahead of him suddenly rose up and sank back down again.
Thump, thump, thump, thump, thump.
It was a lot easier to run now that they were on the dry land. Moreover, from where they were, they could see the other side of the national highway just a little further.
The team members and Kang Chan dashed through the highway and continued straight toward the mountain.
Click, click, click, click.
“Hah! Hah!”
It had already been ten minutes since they started sprinting at full throttle. He was in so much pain that he felt as if his nose was blocked, his chest was frustratingly being crushed, and his waist was about to snap.
Keep running! I have to!
Slump!
From ahead, someone fell to the ground.
Slump! Slump!
].
Two other team members tripped over the fallen soldier’s leg, causing them to fall as well.
“Get up! Run!” Kang Chan shouted.
If they stopped here, they would all be dead. At the very least, someone had to reach the mountains first and get into a good enough position to provide cover.
Kang Chan tightly grabbed the military gear of the two soldiers who tripped over the other’s leg and pulled them up.
“Go! Hurry!” Kang Chan firmly ordered.
The panting soldiers ran forward.
Kang Chan gripped the strap of the first soldier to fall and brought him back to his feet as well.
Fuck!
The soldier was gritting his teeth. Kang Chan swallowed the curse at the tip of his tongue when he saw the soldier’s arm. His middle and pinky fingers were completely bent backward, likely caught in his rifle.