Chemistry - Chapter 92

13. Wildfire(1)

On the laptop screen, the words ‘Special Coverage Article’ were typed. The man in his mid-thirties, stretching his hands after removing his ring, continued writing the document.

《This is a miraculous record of a chemist who was there on that day. The names of some interviewees who requested privacy have been anonymized as ‘○○.’》

The man transferred the interview recording file from his phone to the laptop and plugged in his earphones.

Crackle.

-Han Jeong-woo… is it? He’s the best among the chemists I know.

While sliding through the on-screen coverage photos, the man’s gaze lingered on one particular person.

A young man in his late twenties.

His smiling face in what seemed to be a difficult situation was truly impressive. Since the composition was excellent enough to be featured as the main image, the man printed it for the purpose of showing it to his supervisor. Then, he began writing the article in earnest.

「First Discovery」

At the end of March, the Korea Meteorological Administration issued a drought alert.

Expecting the effective humidity to drop below 25% in the central and northern regions, forestry officials in each city and county entered emergency mode.

“Every year around this time, it’s chaos, absolute chaos.”

Lee Heung-sik, a civil servant at the county office, was in charge of tonight’s nighttime patrol. Driving a domestically made straw cart on National Route 46, he asked the director of the recreation forest management office, Park Cheon-gu, sitting beside him.

“How are the hikers?”

“A few troublemakers. Even if you tell them not to, they just don’t listen. Nowadays, it’s difficult to go after them one by one.”

“Just close the doors until it rains. We’ve already announced that if residents burn their fields, we’ll impose fines.”

As he descended the mountain path, Lee Heung-sik glanced at the fields on the mountainside, seeing something like smoke rising, he clicked his tongue.

“Ugh, not listening is the biggest problem for everyone.”

The car screeched to a halt. Lee Heung-sik, who rolled down the window, stretched his neck.

“Hey, put out the fire! Remember when you burned down Naksansa Temple in Yangyang doing the same thing!”

“Then how do you clean up all the chili powder scattered around?”

“It’s a spring drought. It’s chaotic everywhere. Just scratch it and push it to one side. Don’t burn it until April.”

“Ridiculous.”

“What? Sir!”

Watching the argument between Lee Heung-sik and the resident, Park Cheon-gu sighed and turned his eyes to the opposite side.

At that moment, something dark red, completely different from the red light of the evening glow, flickered into Park Cheon-gu’s field of vision.

“Hey, Heung-sik.”

“…What the hell? Even if I impose a fine here, I can’t say a word. When you say nice things…”

“Heung-sik!”

At Park Cheon-gu’s shout, Lee Heung-sik turned his head.

“What?”

“That thing!”

Lee Heung-sik’s complexion changed as he saw the smoke and flames rising from the mountainside. At a glance, it was no ordinary fire.

“Darn it. Call it! Emergency contact!”

Holding his phone, Lee Heung-sik urgently pressed the number for the Forest Fire Prevention Department.

「8:30 PM – 2 Hours after Discovery」

Jeong-woo was on his way to Han River Park with three high school friends after a tiring week of a business trip to China.

It was Friday evening, marking the end of a demanding week, and they planned to enjoy a pleasant night with beer, chicken, and friendship.

“Hey guys, how about my Laura? Isn’t she a beauty?”

Clapping his hands, Park Soo-chan stepped on the gas, causing the car to vibrate. As the speed increased and the car shook accordingly, Jeong-woo in the passenger seat, along with his two friends in the back, screamed.

“Laura, huh? Isn’t this junk going over 80?”

Jeong-woo lightly stroked the interior of the car, as if consoling it. At this gesture, his two friends burst into laughter, and Soo-chan made a puzzled expression.

“Who dares to disrespect me when they don’t even have cars?”

Jang Tae-yeong, the friend in the back seat, looked at Soo-chan with a disapproving face.

“Just showing off by bringing a barely functioning car. Do you have to do that? If you have to, go abroad like Jeong-woo. The view in Venice was to die for.”

“Who made it easy for us to go? If you keep bad-mouthing Laura, get out. Run over there.”

Tae-yeong tilted his head in defeat. Kim Jeong-heon next to him asked.

“Soo-chan, what wind blew you to buy this car? Insurance fees at our age are no joke.”

“There were too many local events, so I chose this. Since I’m in charge of fireworks, it’s convenient to bring things with the van.”

Soo-chan said this and looked at Jeong-woo.

“My dear friend’s help played a big role.”

“Oh, surprising.”

Jeong-woo flinched at Soo-chan’s joking tone.

“Don’t use words like ‘love.’ It’s a warning.”

“My friend Jeong-woo, I’ll gladly give you a ride in Laura every day if you just say the word.”

“Shut up.”

Amidst the noisy conversation, they turned onto the entrance road to their destination.

Zzing.

Jeong-woo received a text on his phone and checked it.

[Next week’s showcase coincides with a CF shoot. I can’t seem to find time at all. My body feels weird.]

It was Yoon Yi-seol. Immediately, I sent a reply asking [Where are you going with this?] As if she had been waiting, another text message came from her.

[My anxious heart is pounding. I keep wanting to see someone. I can’t wait for 10 months…]

[It seems like I’m not the cause. I have 9 months left.]

[!!!]

As he continued the conversation with her, he started worrying about the CF shoot next week.

Soo-chan, starting to slow down as the traffic piled up, glanced at Jeong-woo.

“Why the long face? Is Laura bothering you?”

“No, it’s nothing. Oh, let me ask you guys something.”

Putting his phone in his pocket, Jeong-woo opened his mouth with a serious tone.

“Suppose, hypothetically, there’s a curse that makes the other person fall asleep while kissing. Do you think you could still date?”

“What movie did you watch to come up with such useless talk? Shouldn’t you ask if there’s a girl to kiss first?”

Soo-chan flared up like a typical single guy. Tae-young, after thinking for a while, answered.

“I tried dating a pen pal. It was manageable.”

“Terrible. Don’t say such things somewhere else.”

Laughing at Soo-chan’s excitement, Tae-young sneered.

“Do you know the beauty of mental communication?”

“Maybe it’s like the communication between me and Laura?”

“That guy’s crazy.”

Their argument quickly evolved into a response to Kim Jeong-heon, who has been dating a woman for seven years.

“If you have that ability, I’d give my all to have it. Just a kiss, and no nagging. It’s not a curse for married men; it’s a blessing.”

“You should say that to Ms. Hye-yeong.”

“It’s okay. Now I have a close friendship with Hye-yeong. She doesn’t get mad at this level.”

Since there was no satisfying answer to their refreshing responses, Jeong-woo sighed deeply.

As they entered the entrance road to the park’s parking lot, Soo-chan, who was waiting for the other cars to enter, suddenly turned to Jeong-woo as if he had just remembered something.

“Oh, right. I saw Eun-sil.”

“Don’t lie.”

“It’s true. She sent a friend request on Facebook and left a message. I’ll show you when we get down. She turned into a real woman.”

Jeong-woo thought it wasn’t a lie. However, if he were to see a friend from his childhood, wouldn’t it be quite awkward?

“When I asked about you, I replied that you’re doing well.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

“It’s normal to brag to your first love. That’s how it should be.”

“What if it’s not the first love?”

“Then just a kiss? You’re scary.”

“Just a peck! Oh, let’s stop talking.”

The car entered the parking lot.

Jeong-woo pulled out a beer box from the trunk.

“I’m ordering chicken, sweet and sour pork, and anything else you guys want. It’s on me.”

“Jeong-woo, you seem to be doing well. I want bossam!”

“Add vegetable intestines too!”

After ordering a bunch of side dishes, the four people sat around an outdoor table next to the park camping site.

Each holding a canned beer about to be opened, suddenly, Soo-chan let out a groan.

“Hey, guys! Stop! Something big happened.”

“What happened?”

“One of us has to eat only side dishes. They have to drive.”

Jeong-woo gave Soo-chan a look of disbelief.

“We can call for a driver.”

“The car is small. Five can’t fit.”

Since they experienced the compact size of Laura while coming here, the four exchanged glances.

Kim Jeong-heon was the first to speak.

“I need to drink. I have to relieve the stress of studying for the civil service exam.”

“It’s the job season, and I’m stressed too.”

At Tae-young’s voice, Soo-chan also shouted loudly.

“I want to hang out with pretty girls like Jeong-woo!”

Each stating their reasons for needing to drink, showing an attitude of no compromise, Jeong-woo put down the canned beer he had in his hand on the table and said.

“Let’s be fair. One round of coin tossing.”

“Call!”

Drawing a line on the ground next to the table, the four guys stood side by side. Each holding a 100 won coin, they took a moment to catch their breath.

“I used to use this for decisions in high school.”

Soo-chan confidently tossed the coin first. The coin spun around gracefully and landed on the drawn circle on the ground, bouncing once and entering the center.

“Nice!”

Jeong-woo thought that Soo-chan had a good chance of winning.

“Soo-chan, your skills haven’t rusted.”

“Hahaha!”

Tossing their coins second and third, both Tae-young and Jeong-heon threw their coins close to the circle. Watching this, Jeong-woo sighed.

“Hey, are you kidding me?”

The first-place Soo-chan looked at Jeong-woo and laughed.

The last to toss the coin, Jeong-woo felt tense.

‘Oh well. Fairness is overrated.’

Having made quite an order for side dishes, not being able to drink beer would be unreasonable.

He pretended to reconsider the angle to throw the coin, Jeong-woo shook his hand, concentrating the dust particles around him. Especially, he concentrated on collecting the most dust particles around Soo-chan’s thrown coin.

“Go!”

The coin, flying almost straight rather than in an arc like others, was magnetically attracted to Soo-chan’s coin.

‘Okay!’

Satisfied with a smile, Jeong-woo saw the dust particles focused on the coin suddenly scattered, pushing Soo-chan’s coin away. The problem was that there was still momentum left on Jeong-woo’s coin.

Ting!

With a cheerful sound of coins colliding, Jeong-woo’s coin went into the circle, and Soo-chan’s coin bounced out.

“Uh?”

In the blink of an eye, Soo-chan, who was about to win first place, became the last place. At that moment of astonishment, a deliveryman on a motorbike approached from a distance.

“Is there an order for sweet and sour pork?”

“Here!”

Jeong-woo raised his hand quickly and patted Soo-chan’s shoulder, who was in despair.

“Think of it as fate. If you get drunk, Laura will be sad. If you want more side dishes, order them.”

“Jeong-woo, did you deliberately target mine?”

“Deliberately, yes, but I didn’t expect you to be last.”

“Hey, you!”

They gathered around the table again.

Jeong-woo poured a beer and was about to take a sip when a call came in, so he had to put it down again.

Looking at the phone screen, it was Director Gong Kyung-ho from KG Industries. Jeong-woo quickly answered.

“Yes, Director Gong.”

-Where are you?

“I’m near the Han River, why?”

-I just got a call from the fire disaster headquarters. They asked for your location. They said you have to go. Try calling the number I’m giving you. 010…

He memorized the number.

“Where do I have to go?”

-Given the huge number of pharmaceutical orders, it seems like a serious fire has broken out. They designated you at the disaster headquarters to control and manage it. It’s under the national mandatory mobilization order… That’s what the firefighter who called said.

It was a mandatory mobilization order for reasons that he couldn’t understand.

After ending the call, Jeong-woo dialed the number he had memorized.

The signal went through, and amid the loud wind noise, a strong voice was heard.

-Hey, Jeong-woo.

“…Chief Miles?”

The face of the well-built firefighter he had an acquaintance with in Cheonan came to mind.

-Yeah, it’s me. Is this your number?

“Yes.”

-Now you have my number.

The fresh and daunting expression of Miles, who kept winking and telling him to become a firefighter, revived in his memory.

“You didn’t call just to make a joke, did you?”

-Where are you?

“I’m near the Han River in Nanji, but why?”

-Don’t move from there. I’m heading there now.

“What’s going on?”

-A wildfire broke out in the Goseong area, and initial suppression failed. All the firefighters that can be mobilized in Seoul are on their way for emergency support. You’re included in the personnel forming the onsite control headquarters. They need a chemical expert.

The mention of a wildfire surprised Jeong-woo.

“How big is it?”

-Watch the news. We’ll be there in about 2 minutes.

Jeong-woo lowered his phone and immediately opened the internet browser. The top search result was already about the wildfire. Clicking on it, he found breaking news articles.

【Forest Fire Breaks Out in the Maebong Mountain Area of Goseong. With 20 hectares of forest turned into ashes, the damage is spreading due to strong winds, raising concerns of a large-scale disaster…】

“Jeong-woo, do you prefer sweet or savory pork?”

Soo-chan asked while breaking a wooden chopstick. Jeong-woo, with a blank expression, turned his head away from the news.

“Just eat it as you like.”

Jeong-woo, who had been lingering over the canned beer on the table, glanced back at Soo-chan and spoke again.

“Soo-chan, you can have that beer. I have somewhere to go.”

“Now? Is it related to work?”

Jeong-woo shook his head. If it’s Goseong, it’s far to the east from here. It would take at least 3 hours by fire truck.

It seemed like the healing Jeong-woo hoped for today was not supported by the sky.

While waiting for Miles.

Suddenly, a roaring sound echoed from the distant sky. As it was loud enough to be considered an explosion, the eyes of the three friends sitting at the table simultaneously turned towards the sky.

“What’s that!”

When the table vibrated, Soo-chan stood up in surprise, holding a piece of sweet and sour pork in his mouth.

A helicopter with the words [SEOUL 119 RESCUE] appeared in the darkness. Along with flickering lights, the helicopter, hovering in the air, emitted a bright pillar of light from the end.

-Oh, oh, Han Jeong-woo. Where’s Han Jeong-woo?

“….”

Jeong-woo was speechless at the announcement from the helicopter’s loudspeaker.

‘Wasn’t it coming by fire truck?’

The bright pillar of light, which had been searching the ground, glanced at the table where Soo-chan was. Then, it found Jeong-woo next to him.

-I like sweet and sour pork. Hold onto it. It might fly away. Han Jeong-woo, stay still.

The helicopter got closer.

Thududududu—!

As the descent downdraft covered the area, Jeong-woo, covering his face with his hands, reflexively closed his eyes.

With the sound of swooshing, someone strong descended from the helicopter and suddenly stood in front of Jeong-woo.

“Good job. I’ll tie this around your waist.”

With wind in his face, Jeong-woo, who opened his eyes in the gust, widened them at Jeong Pil-du, who had already wrapped a rope around his waist and clicked a carabiner.

“Pil-du?”

“It’s been a while, Captain Han Jeong-woo.”

Jeong Pil-du smiled innocently at Jeong-woo.

“I was officially assigned about two weeks ago. Under Captain Ma.”

“Oh… Congratulations?”

While talking, Jeong Pil-du pulled the rope in his hand and sent a signal.

Drrrrrr—

Jeong-woo, momentarily sucked upward, closed his eyes reflexively as his body was lifted into the air, and he unintentionally screamed.

The moment of being forcibly boarded onto the helicopter, flying in the sky, was simply unbelievable.

“Jeong-woo!”

As his friends were abruptly taken away by the helicopter, a bewildered Soo-chan ran over.

“What’s going on! Why are you taking Jeong-woo!”

After a while, Miles reached out his arm to Jeong-woo, who had arrived at the side door.

“What in the world…”

Jeong-woo’s voice was drowned out by the roar of the helicopter, making it barely audible. Miles, who had untied Jeong-woo’s rope after he got on, chuckled and put the helicopter headset on Jeong-woo’s ears.

-Can you hear me?

-What is this?

-It’s the only luxury the Special Disaster Scene Commander can afford. Welcome. Since anyone can’t enjoy this view, take your time to appreciate it while we’re on our way.

Surprised, Jeong-woo calmed his thumping chest and looked down beneath the helicopter.

It was a sky view he had never seen before.

At this moment, he was hovering over the city center of Seoul.

Thudududu—!

The turning helicopter began to fly eastward.

《Interview: Park Soo-chan》

“I once got investigated by the FBI because of his coin toss scam.”

-FBI?

“Oh, don’t be surprised. This is my story. Usually, when someone suddenly falls from a helicopter and grabs a person, you think of spy movies, right? I just played around with that a bit. It’s easy to explain. Reporter, your expression… why…”

(He later asked to omit this part in a whisper.)

“…The helicopter appeared, and he was grabbed and lifted up. I was completely out of my mind. But then, I realized it was a fire helicopter. The guy who lifted Jeong-woo was also dressed as a firefighter.”

-At that time, you didn’t realize the occurrence of a large-scale wildfire along the East Coast.

“That’s right. I thought I was just going to have a drink after a long time, and things turned upside down. When we were in high school, we used to gather a lot in that Han River park. It was the place where we first learned to drink… Oops. Not me, just Jeong-woo.”