Pohang Airport (2)
Thud. The ground shook with the impact.
'What the hell?'
Was there a problem with the plane they'd just landed? Go Cheon-su entered the building and widened his eyes at the sight inside.
Thud.
The escalator leading to the second floor had collapsed. The ceiling above it was crumbling and falling as well.
'The people...'
As Go Cheon-su paced near the entrance, people suddenly appeared from the second floor and started rushing down the stairs on the opposite side of the escalator.
"Hurry!"
The man leading them was someone familiar even to Go Cheon-su.
'That's...!'
The soldier who'd urgently guided them onto the plane at Cheongju Airport.
Go Cheon-su felt a wave of relief wash over him too.
'Then the lieutenant colonel too?'
Speak of the devil—the man in the pilot's uniform appeared behind the crowd.
Tat-tat-tat-tat!
He bounded down the stairs, his face grim as he turned his gaze toward the collapsed section of the building.
"Lieutenant Colonel!"
The soldier leading the civilians shouted to him.
"The tall spot...!"
It seemed there was some kind of entrance into the collapsed escalator area.
Go Cheon-su watched them in confusion before approaching.
"...Hm?"
Jin So-ryeong, sensing his presence, turned to him.
"You?!"
"Looks like you landed safely."
Go Cheon-su spoke to the surprised lieutenant colonel.
"This just collapsed a minute ago."
He didn't know why, but it was clear the building wasn't in good shape.
"No telling when the rest might come down, so we need to get out now."
Jin So-ryeong snapped to attention at his words, furrowed his brows, and shouted to the soldier leading the people.
"Private Lee Byung-chul!"
"Sergeant Lee Byung-chul reporting!"
"Take the people and get out first!"
Lee Byung-chul led the civilians and other soldiers out as ordered.
"Whew."
Jin So-ryeong sighed and wiped his face.
"Something go wrong?"
Go Cheon-su asked. The lieutenant colonel pointed to the collapsed area without hesitation, as if there was no point hiding it.
"The vehicle keys we need are inside there. The other soldiers who were here left them before heading out."
"Then..."
"This is a headache."
Jin So-ryeong glanced toward the entrance. Go Cheon-su followed his gaze.
A crowd of people stood there. 'Easily over twenty.'
Half soldiers, half civilians.
'And the soldiers are all privates...'
No officers or NCOs. The only commander was Jin So-ryeong himself.
"What about the first plane that took off?"
Jin So-ryeong asked Go Cheon-su.
"Since you're alive, there must be others too."
"Oh, that."
It was admirable how dutiful he was, wanting to account for everyone.
"The plane crashed."
Go Cheon-su shook his head gravely.
"I got lucky and hitched a ride on one of those slow-falling maple flies to survive."
"No way..."
Jin So-ryeong didn't question if it was possible; he just looked shocked.
"So you're the only survivor?"
"Go Cheon-su. Call me that. And no, there are others. A kid and a dog outside. All three of us got lucky."
Go Cheon-su turned the question back on him.
"Is this everyone on your side, Lieutenant Colonel? No more coming from Cheongju Airport?"
"There should have been more, but I don't know."
Jin So-ryeong frowned slightly.
"I heard about what you said and was on guard, but there were too many soldiers and civilians..."
"You had no choice but to take them."
"We loaded them onto other planes, but since they haven't shown up here, something must've gone wrong."
Jin So-ryeong let out a long sigh.
"My oversight. Even in the chaos, I should have found the best way."
"No."
Now wasn't the time for blame. Go Cheon-su was sticking around this unstable spot talking to him because he needed those keys too.
"Lieutenant Colonel. Let's figure out how to get that key first. We need to get these people to safety."
Whether he knew Go Cheon-su's true motives or not, Jin So-ryeong nodded in agreement.
"Right. Let's see if we can get in."
He strode right up to the debris and inspected it.
"There's... a space, but..."
A narrow gap like a passageway showed between the rubble.
"Too tight for us."
Go Cheon-su checked it too. 'Definitely...'
Too small for a person.
'Should I clear some rubble?'
He shook his head. That could destabilize everything and bring it down—counterproductive.
"Wait here a sec?"
Jin So-ryeong stepped out, talked briefly with the soldiers, and returned with a small one.
"Our smallest guy. Might help."
The soldier lay flat and started crawling in without a word.
"Ah."
But he stopped before halfway, sighing.
"Can't go farther. Stuck."
"Damn..."
Jin So-ryeong looked troubled.
Go Cheon-su caught the viewers' chat and quickened his pace.
"Where you going?"
"One sec."
He headed straight for where Park Jun and Heukgu were.
"Jun!"
Park Jun peeked out from behind a big tree.
"Ah, hyung."
He came out with Heukgu.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Yeah, of course."
"Heard a big noise and saw tons of people coming out."
Go Cheon-su glanced back. The main entrance was visible from here.
"Don't worry. No one's hurt, and I'm fine."
"Good."
"But got a problem."
Go Cheon-su held out his hand without delay.
"Need a favor. Come with."
"Favor...?"
Park Jun tilted his head but didn't refuse.
"Okay!"
"Hurry then."
Go Cheon-su brought him to the entrance. The people there were surprised to see the kid.
Probably didn't expect a child survivor.
"Here."
Go Cheon-su pointed to Park Jun beside him.
"This kid..."
Jin So-ryeong's eyes widened too.
"One of the survivors you mentioned?"
"Yeah."
No time to waste, Go Cheon-su asked quickly.
"Lieutenant Colonel, keys inside, right?"
Then he needed to explain to Park Jun too.
"Tell him exactly where, so he can fetch it."
"Ah."
Realizing the plan, Jin So-ryeong sighed softly.
"Got it. I can pinpoint the location. But..."
He met Park Jun's eyes.
"Not sure if the kid can do it."
"Don't worry."
Park Jun had guts for his age. Go Cheon-su, who'd survived the fall with him, knew it well.
"You can, right?"
Park Jun nodded tensely under his gaze.
Even if the kid hated it, Go Cheon-su couldn't go easy.
'Can't just walk there.'
Even trusting the soldiers outside, they weren't at the port yet. Who knew what could happen en route? Secure transport here at least.
"Head there, find a small box. Bring it out as is."
Jin So-ryeong had explained the spot to Park Jun: a drawer in the corner office beyond the gap. Simple enough even for a kid.
"Got it memorized."
Park Jun nodded, lay flat, and crawled in.
"I'll be quick."
Go Cheon-su watched the rubble closely as Park Jun belly-crawled inside. Warn if it looked unstable.
'Thanks, kid.'
Sending a child in sucked, but necessary. Good thing Park Jun didn't hesitate.
True. But kids whine unpredictably, so Go Cheon-su kept watch.
Woof!
Heukgu followed Park Jun into the gap.
"Huh?"
Go Cheon-su hadn't planned that.
"Hey, you can come out."
Smart or not, it was a dog. Could bump something and doom them. He reached to stop it.
Woof woof!
But Heukgu slipped in fully before he could grab it. Go Cheon-su scratched his head.
"Jeez."
Park Jun waved smiling from the other side of the gap.
"Don't get cocky—do good!"
Park Jun vanished from sight after Go Cheon-su's warning.
"Think he can pull it off?"
Jin So-ryeong asked worriedly. Go Cheon-su just nodded.
"No one else for it. Pray it works."
Just grabbing a key—should be fine.
"Uwaaaaaah!"
...Or not.
"What?"
Go Cheon-su yelled into the gap at the scream echoing from inside.
"What happened?!"
No reply.
Jin So-ryeong grabbed a small flashlight from a nearby soldier and flattened himself.
"Mr. Go! Something's wrong inside!"
He peered in himself instead of sending a soldier.
'Damn.'
Go Cheon-su twitched an eyebrow watching him.
'Something really in there?'
Curiosity won; Go Cheon-su flattened beside him. Nothing visible yet.
'Please.'
If a monster was inside, Park Jun couldn't handle it. Could endanger him and doom the key retrieval.
'Come on.'
Kraaaah!
A monster's roar shattered the hope from beyond the gap.
"Shit!"
Jin So-ryeong yelled in shock.
"Monster! Kid! Get back here!"
Too late. Crashing sounds came from the other side.
"Park Jun!"
Go Cheon-su pressed his face to the gap and shouted. All he glimpsed: zombie-like legs, Park Jun, and Heukgu's silhouette flashing by.