Chungju Shelter (2)
“Would you like to sit in the passenger seat, Major Cho?”
Captain Mun asked as he opened the passenger door of the truck.
“It’s the best seat available, at least.”
The cargo bed of the one-ton civilian truck, uncovered by any tarp, was caked with dirt. It looked as though it had been used repeatedly to haul lumber and rocks.
“No, I’ll ride in the back with these men.”
Cho Cheol-woong placed a hand on Jinwoo’s shoulder. Securing an alliance with Chungju was important, but building trust with these men was far more urgent. He could not afford to waste a single moment. Captain Mun nodded as if he had expected as much.
“Then I’ll join you back here.”
Captain Mun swung open the tailgate and leapt into the bed first, extending a hand.
Vroooom—!
As the truck descended the gentle slope with the men seated in the cargo bed, red lines marking traps were visible along the roadside.
They’ve been remarkably diligent…
Cho Cheol-woong thought as he surveyed the numerous traps. Installing nine GOP positions alone would have been exhausting, yet they had managed to complete this much work in the mountains at the same time. It was hard to believe.
Of course, Captain Mun had not dug the ground himself, but without rolling up his sleeves alongside his soldiers, he could never have achieved results on this scale.
“Will it be all right if word spreads that you’re moving with the Special Forces?”
Cho Cheol-woong asked once the slope leveled out. From here on it was flat ground, and the deeper they went, the more eyes—civilian and military alike—would be watching. He was asking whether Captain Mun feared the repercussions if rumors of collaboration with an outside force reached higher command.
“If you’re comfortable with it, Major, I’d actually prefer that as many soldiers see us as possible.”
Captain Mun replied. Cho Cheol-woong had a fair idea of the reason, but asked anyway for confirmation.
“Why?”
“If the rumor spreads that the Special Forces have joined our defense, it will raise morale among the troops.”
“Hah! You might be right.”
Pleased with the answer, Cho Cheol-woong gave a short snort. This pragmatist was not only sharp but unafraid of others’ opinions. It meant he already possessed a firm set of principles in his heart.
“This marks the southern edge of Chungju Shelter’s outer perimeter.”
When they reached the Yujumak three-way intersection, Captain Mun explained. The wide six-lane road was completely blocked by multiple rows of buses parked sideways, with only the two center lanes left open as a gated passage.
“We’re short on manpower, so we gather zombie corpses with tractors once a week for disposal. It’s more fuel-efficient that way.”
When Cho Cheol-woong’s gaze drifted toward the zombie bodies strewn along the road that led to the river, Captain Mun spoke again.
“Sounds like you’re still seeing daily engagements.”
Cho Cheol-woong narrowed his eyes with interest. Whether the corpses had accumulated over several days or not, their numbers were far from small—several hundred at a glance. Captain Mun nodded calmly.
“We try to keep a lid on it, but people still light fires near the residential zones, and we have to run the generators. Completely preventing zombies from being drawn in is difficult.”
Several searchlights were mounted atop the watchtower at this outer perimeter. That meant the generators had to run every night, creating an inevitable cycle where the heat attracted more zombies. Yet removing the lights would leave them unable to respond to emergencies.
“They’ve removed the bus wheels entirely.”
While the guards opened the heavy wire-mesh gate, Cho Cheol-woong studied the apocalyptic barricade.
Every window was wrapped in barbed wire, and the undercarriages sat flush against the ground, the wheel wells filled with cement. On the roofs, sharpened steel pipes jutted outward at angles like a porcupine’s quills. The structure radiated a fierce determination never to let zombies through.
“Yes. After a few trial-and-error attempts, we learned this design holds up better when large numbers of zombies push against it. It also helps block anything trying to crawl underneath.”
The brief phrase “a few trial-and-error attempts” carried the weight of long, brutal days of fighting. Quite a few soldiers had likely fallen while defending these bus walls riddled with bullet holes.
Interesting…
Cho Cheol-woong felt a quiet admiration. For a mere company commander to wield this much authority over the entire outer perimeter meant Captain Mun enjoyed considerable trust from Brigadier General Kim. After all, in these desperate times, who wouldn’t value a captain who had secured two hundred thousand rounds of live ammunition?
“……It’s the Special Forces.”
“It really is……! What’s going on?”
“Could they be here to help?”
Soft murmurs rose from the soldiers who had opened the gate. Even those on guard duty glanced repeatedly toward the truck. Captain Mun had been right. Simply seeing troops wearing tactical vests marked with the number 707 would give these men a significant boost in resolve.
Vroooom—!
After passing through the triple-layered gate, the truck sped toward downtown Chungju along a road lined with neatly trimmed trees.
“What’s over there?”
Cho Cheol-woong asked, pointing at another roadside barrier of buses stacked like a wall, identical to the one at the intersection. The heavy security suggested an important facility.
“It’s Konkuk University’s Glocal Campus, currently serving as both a medical unit and the second supply depot.”
Captain Mun answered. Cho Cheol-woong frowned in confusion.
“I can understand the supply depot, but…… why place the medical unit so close to the gate?”
The Glocal Campus perimeter was barely seven hundred meters from the three-way intersection they had just passed. Housing wounded soldiers who could barely move in such a dangerous location made no logical sense.
“It’s embarrassing to admit, but there’s a reason for it……”
As Captain Mun began to explain, they arrived at the second gate located at the rear entrance of the Glocal Campus.
Clank—! Rattle—!
After the watchtower guard confirmed Captain Mun’s face and signaled, several soldiers rushed over to push the heavy gate aside.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
After returning the soldiers’ salutes, Cho Cheol-woong added a friendly remark. The men’s eyes darted busily, taking in the newcomers’ gear and uniforms with curiosity. Cho Cheol-woong thought that even this small gesture might have given them a sliver of hope.
“Augh, why is the line so long! I’m already dying from the pain—how am I supposed to survive when getting medicine is this hard?”
“Exactly! What the hell! Mister! Aren’t you going to show patients some consideration? If we catch something serious standing out in this cold, are you going to take responsibility?”
As they drove farther along the campus road, loud complaints echoed from the long line of civilians gathered in front of the building opposite the athletic field. The queue truly resembled one outside a famous restaurant. A soldier helping with registration on the steps tried to calm them.
“There are more patients than we have staff assigned, so please be patient a little longer! We’re doing our best to process everyone as quickly as possible!”
Before the soldier could even finish, grumbling erupted from the line.
“We’ve already waited plenty! We’ve been standing in this freezing weather for over an hour just for one measly packet of medicine!”
“Ask for more staff! If you can’t handle the work properly— Aigoo, I’m dying! I need to lie down! Ugh, I’m dizzy!”
People jabbed fingers at the soldier and raised their voices as if ready to charge. Many collapsed onto the ground, groaning that they could no longer stand. The soldier let out a weary sigh, exhaustion plain on his face.
“Haa……! It’s not our fault there are so many sick people. I’d like more staff too…… so we wouldn’t have to deal with this. But that’s not an option! Who was it just now? The one who said they’ve been waiting over an hour? I’ve been standing here for six hours straight!”
“That’s your job!”
Once again, the civilians fired back before the soldier’s complaint had fully left his mouth.
Vroooom—!
After the truck slowed and pulled to the side to pass the long line, Captain Mun spoke again.
“We’ve divided the medical unit into three zones. First examinations happen at the main gate clinic near the city. Serious cases are then transferred to the city hospital, while minor cases are directed to the outer clinic you just saw.”
“Why go through all that trouble?”
Cho Cheol-woong asked. It seemed simpler to treat minor cases at the main gate clinic and send them on their way rather than making them walk across the entire campus.
“It ties into why we placed the medical unit in the area most frequently approached by zombies, but mainly because so many people claim to be ill.”
“Claim to be…… ill? You mean they’re faking it?”
“I can’t officially diagnose malingering without medical knowledge, but quite a few people complain of far greater pain than what’s visible. And they all want inpatient treatment. That’s why the main gate clinic sends anyone whose injuries don’t appear serious over here.”
Captain Mun pointed back at the medical building they had passed.
“Gunfire from fighting zombies is very loud over there.”
It was obvious. The place was less than a kilometer from the bus barricade. Cho Cheol-woong nodded in understanding.
“So they fake illness to lie down, then bolt upright and leave when they hear gunfire because they’re scared zombies might break in at any moment.”
The same logic explained why the medical unit had been placed so far from the city center. By forcing people to walk several kilometers from downtown, they hoped to deter malingerers in advance.
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say that’s the only reason, but it’s true that once fighting starts, quite a few people want to return to the city.”
Even while discussing the uglier side of human nature, Captain Mun’s expression showed no trace of contempt or mockery. Cho Cheol-woong studied him for a moment before continuing.
“Are conditions any better at the hospital where critical patients are admitted?”
“We’re doing our best, but it’s still dire. We lack both specialized personnel and medicine.”
Captain Mun replied. By then, the truck had crossed the Glocal Campus and passed through the main gate.
“Another gate.”
Cho Cheol-woong remarked upon spotting the bus barricade where the university’s main entrance road met Chungwon-daero. This barrier was also sturdily constructed with three rows of buses stripped of wheels, barbed wire, steel-pipe spikes, cement, and wire fencing. With so many layers, it looked capable of holding against a Wave of up to level four for quite some time.
“There are two more gates installed all the way into the city. Since we’re short on ammunition, we’re trying to hold out with these instead.”
“You’re not using anti-personnel mines or Claymores?”
“Explosive traps are only used in terrain where we can’t easily build walls, like along the riverbank. Those red flags over there mark where explosives have been placed.”
Captain Mun pointed toward the river forming the western boundary in the distance. On the wide plains flanking the road, afternoon farming work was in full swing.
“You’re…… growing crops?”
Cho Cheol-woong asked as he watched civilians seated at regular intervals across the field. Movement could also be seen among the rows of greenhouses. Captain Mun nodded, following his gaze.
“It’s not my department, but I’ve heard they’re cultivating potatoes, barley, cabbage, and mugwort. Ah…… tomatoes are being grown over there as well. Of course, we can manage short-term food supplies through requisitions from nearby cities, but we judged that long-term measures were necessary. ……Stop here for a moment.”
Realizing Cho Cheol-woong was watching intently, Captain Mun knocked on the window beside the driver’s seat and gave the order.
“Is this…… also Brigadier General Kim’s idea?”
“To be precise…… I drew up the plan, and the brigade commander approved it.”
Captain Mun answered a little shyly. After watching the people working in the cold wind for a moment, Cho Cheol-woong murmured as if to himself.
“Now I understand why everyone was so desperate to lie in the hospital.”
No matter how many steel fences and barricades stood between them and the outside, working near the perimeter was terrifying. Especially when the work required physical labor like farming, people would naturally want to avoid it—leading to a flood of excuses about being sick and heading for the hospital……
“I can’t do this anymore! If you like the work so much, you do it! I need a break! I’m forty-five years old! I’ve never done manual labor in my life—how am I supposed to manage this?”
As if confirming Cho Cheol-woong’s suspicions, a middle-aged man tilling the field hurled his tool and shouted at the guards.
“That’s right! You’re pushing us too hard! All we got for lunch was two boiled sweet potatoes…… How are we supposed to have any strength after eating that? Are we slaves? Huh? You young folks just stand around doing nothing!”
“If you like the work so much, why don’t you try it! Aren’t you ashamed to stand there watching while men old enough to be your fathers sweat?”
Voices of agreement quickly rose from all around as more people threw down their hoes. But the guards here were not as lenient as the medical unit soldier had been. One guard glared at the men and barked an order.
“Pick up your hoes! Stop shouting!”
“No, fuck that! This is unfair! What are you, overseers? Aristocrats? Why do I have to dig while you just stroll around?”
“We’re guarding you so you can work safely! Pick up your hoes!”
“Give me that rifle and let’s switch for a bit! I’ll stand guard! It’s not like zombies come here often anyway!”
When the middle-aged man who had first complained walked toward a guard and reached for his rifle, a sharp whistle cut through the air.
Peeeeep—!
A non-commissioned officer watching from the watchtower issued a warning.
“You there, sir! Don’t even think about touching that soldier! Do you want to end up like those people?”
Thud—!
The middle-aged man froze, turning to look up at the NCO with a frightened expression.
“No, that’s not what I……”
“If you keep refusing to work and yelling at soldiers, I’ll have no choice but to report it! If you don’t want to end up like them, pick up your hoe! This is your final warning!”
The NCO commanded sternly. Shoulders slumped, the middle-aged man retrieved his tool, and the brief protest ended.
Though shouting had broken out, most people continued working in silence. If not for the occasional echo of gunfire and the armed guards standing watch, the scene could almost pass for a peaceful rural landscape.
“What did he mean by ‘those people’?”
Cho Cheol-woong turned to Captain Mun with amusement. It was fascinating that a single remark could so thoroughly break someone’s spirit—more effective than a tiger or dried persimmon.
“Ah, that’s……”
Captain Mun hesitated, choosing his words carefully.
“It happened while I was on GOP rotation, so I didn’t witness it directly, but a while back several agitated civilians got into an argument, hurled insults at a soldier, and slapped him.”
“They did that to someone holding a gun?”
“Our brigade’s policy is never to use violence against the civilians we’re protecting, so some people take advantage of that and cross the line occasionally. It’s bound to happen when people are forced to live together under such harsh conditions……”
“A mess. So what happened?”
Cho Cheol-woong’s brow furrowed involuntarily. No matter how much stress people were under, his expression made it clear he would never have let such behavior slide.
“Under normal circumstances it might have been smoothed over somehow, but the brigade commander happened to see the scene while passing by.”
“Hah……! That’s amusing. And then?”
Cho Cheol-woong chuckled. He was curious how the “lunatic” Brigadier General Kim had punished civilians who had laid hands on his soldiers.
“The brigade commander stopped his vehicle……”
Captain Mun continued calmly, as though it were not an entertaining story.
“And immediately expelled the entire group.”