Novel Bin Chapter 19: Premonition
Chapter 19: Premonition
I received a TV broadcast for the first time in a while.
It seems the president made a significant statement.
I didn't pay much attention.
I had to constantly go back and forth between the bunker inside and the outside because the sewage pipes were clogged.
I didn't really need to listen carefully.
"The government moving to Jeju Island is not true."
They've been talking nonsense from the beginning.
I started working on the pipes with the TV on.
The main culprit for the clog was the fallen leaves and garbage around the sewage outlet.
I can understand the garbage, but where did all these leaves come from?
"The recent increase in military aircraft taking off is not for relocating government assets to Jeju Island, but due to Japan's threat. On the 3rd, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces sank without warning an Indian humanitarian asylum ship carrying over a hundred South Korean citizens who had departed from Busan..."
I went back and forth between the broadcast and the bunker.
There is some distance between the sewage pipes and the bunker.
While the main bunker shelter is located near a spacious meadow with a small stream running through it, the flow is minimal, and there are too many eyes watching, so I installed the sewage outlet closer to the riverbank.
In the end, it was a wise decision, but it can be quite annoying at times like this.
"Some government assets have indeed moved to Jeju Island, but this was a decision made unilaterally by the National Crisis Management Committee's Information and Strategy Division Director, Lee Sanghoon..."
I thought about turning off the TV, but I kept it on, thinking that I might not have the chance to hear such broadcasts again.
I reinforced the sewage outlet with wire mesh and sent water through it.
It looked clean.
I also cleaned the purification tank.
Using hoses and pumps, I sucked up the sludge at the bottom of the tank and sent it elsewhere.
Even as the pump sucked up my waste, I occasionally listened to the broadcast.
"The government will release its stockpile within three days and begin unrestricted distribution. Additionally, we plan to conduct urgent free screenings for children and adolescents. Contrary to some media and rumours, our government has stockpiles of major consumer goods, including food and medical supplies, sufficient for three years..."
I considered the option of sending the wastewater directly to the river without a separate purification tank, but the smell of human waste is quite strong, and sediment sticking around the sewage outlet only alerts others to the fact that people are living here. So, with the help of my mentor, John Nenon, I installed the purification tank.
Of course, I regret it every time I clean it, but it's a wise decision when you endure those brief difficult times.
My bunker is not just a temporary refuge; it's where I will live until I die.
"Oh, crap!"
Sewage splashed on my face.
I cursed and returned to the bunker, where a warm voice greeted me.
"Our government will always be with the people."
I turned off the broadcast at that point.
It seemed like a waste of electricity, and I didn't think there was a need to listen further.
Still, I had some gains.
Three days.
At least three quiet days, I hope.
But all I can feel is a bad premonition.
Day 1.
I checked the surroundings of the bunker and inspected its state.
I focused on checking whether the detonation wires connected to the main bunker from the dummy bunker shelter were functioning properly, inspecting each one individually.
There were no defects, but there were two places where the camouflage was exposed.
It might seem like a trivial matter, but in a crisis, these small differences can make the difference between life and death.
After carefully camouflaging the detonation wires, I installed a new explosive device in front of the secret passage entrance from the dummy bunker to the main air-raid shelter.
It's not strong enough to blow the door off its hinges, but it's strong enough to easily eliminate anyone lurking inside the main bunker with the push of a button, as before.
I also prepared death traps and shelters that only I can use behind the secret entrance.
In the afternoon, I worked on turning the meat I had previously put in the dryer into preserved food.
What I was making is called "Pemmican," which is made by drying meat until it's crispy, grinding it finely with a blender, mixing it with dried cranberries, and solidifying it with oil.
It has a relatively long shelf life and is said to be nutritious.
I didn't plan to make it right away.
Although it's called preserved food and it's more efficient than canned food but my taste is a bit picky.
It was more like insurance for situations where you couldn't use a freezer or a generator.
However, not everything goes as planned, as the case with the Cho Jungryeong incident.
We don't know when another Cho Jungryeong might invade my territory.
The time will come when it gets cold, but it's unpredictable.
Three days of peace should be enough.
I divided my scarce time and tried to make it while watching a video, and thanks to the excellent cooking skills of the chef, it turned out quite edible.
However, apart from the fact that it's preserved food, it's not something I would recommend.
It's too addictive.
SKELTON: (Skeleton Cooking) Tried making Pemmican!nove(l)bi(n.)com
So, I posted it on the community by taking out some of my time.
There were no likes, but there were quite a few comments because it was fresh content.
Even the Human Hunter, who rarely had free time, left a comment.
Defender: I prefer a man who can cook well.
When I saw that comment, I became serious.
"?"
Why is this guy acting like this?
Could it be that...
That... he is a men who like men...
Should I unfriend him? No, if I unfriend him, it might just accelerate the end.
With a hint of unease, I stored thirty-six portions of pemmican in a cool place, generously sprinkled with preservatives.
On the second day, I inspected the firing lanes around the dummy shelter.
It's a task to eliminate things that could be used as cover by the enemy, checking each gun emplacement and fortified position while aiming directly with real guns.
I had done this before, but the environment has changed significantly since then, especially with the pesky weeds becoming an issue.
I spent the whole day using a scythe to clear them out and make my territory my own.
But the warning remains the same: combat is the last resort, and I'm alone, with an endless number of enemies to deal with.
The increasing level of the enemy is also a risk.
When a country collapses, soldiers become the most dangerous group, as seen in the cases of India and China.
I don't think there will be many soldiers on the planes heading to Jeju Island.
Kim Daram said so.
There aren't too many places for soldiers on Jeju Island, I suppose.
Just then, a transport plane roared overhead.
Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.
Is Kim Daram on that plane too?
It seems like it's about time for that girl to go.
That night, after soaking my body in a hot tub to relieve the day's fatigue, I sipped on a glass of preserved milk and logged into the community.
Lately, the user with the highest post count is Reporter Yang.
Living in Seoul and providing real-time news about the deteriorating city, it's hard not to be popular.
gijayangban: Gangnam Real-time.jpg
gijayangban: (Failnet Dump) Real-time Han River temperature.jpg
gijayangban: Recent Seoul Fashion.jpg
gijayangban: Tank spotted inside the Four Great Gates.gif
...
Sure enough, the popular posts section now feels like Reporter Yang's exclusive bulletin board.
It's like the heyday of John Nona, shall we say?
One of Reporter Yang's posts left a particularly strong impression on me.
gijayangban: Recent Airport Scene.jpg
The airport was crowded with people.
People trying to board airplanes.
The military police were blocking them, but some people stormed the runway, blocking transport planes and demanding to be taken aboard. The angry police beat them back.
No one died, but the sight of blood flowing from broken heads staining the pale concrete brought to mind a scene where monsters kill my comrades and cause a bloody scene.
*
Three days after the president's speech.
Under the gentle sunshine, I spread a blanket and a makeshift table, checked my weapons and ammunition, and sharpened the axe blade.
It was a peaceful and quiet day.
The mood in the community, for the most part, seemed to share my languid feeling, like the calm before a storm.
There was a minor disturbance in the midst of it all.
Defender: Keep calling me a woman, so here's verification.
The Human Hunter posted a picture of his hand.
He had long, slender fingers, and while they were quite pretty, their muscular shape and prominent veins unmistakably revealed that he was a strong adult man.
My suspicions were correct.
The Human Hunter, that one's a guy.
All the fuss about a female silhouette and whatnot seemed to quiet down as soon as the Human Hunter provided the verification.
Only one user who strongly insisted that he was a woman continued to make unconvincing claims.
unicorn18: (Information) Depending on lighting and angle, a woman's hand can appear to be a man's!
No one seemed to agree with that statement.
However, even the renowned Human Hunter seemed to be facing difficulties now.
The one who had been posting cynical facts and proof of killings in silence was now revealing his struggles for all to see on the public board.
Defender: Anyone have spare bullets?
I clicked on it.
-5.56mm ammunition wanted. The more, the better. I have plenty of canned food, batteries, clothing, oil, etc., except for medicine. DM me if you want to trade.
P.S. I know some of you are worried that I kill a lot of people, but the users on the board won't be harmed.
Even though he was proposing a trade, seeing him do this at a time like this made it clear that his mindset was different from that of an average person.
This guy is my internet friend, after all.
Message from Defender: Skeleton, do you have any spare bullets?
Skeleton: Not really.
Message from Defender: If you do, please give me some. Do you want anything in return?
Message from Defender: Answer me.
Skeleton: Skeleton has left the chat.
Message from Defender: Don't mess around. Shall we meet up?
"Ugh."
This guy is not necessarily a threat to me.
His combat abilities are estimated to be quite high, but that's about it.
In a situation with many variables, the outcome depends on his preparedness and luck, but in a situation where variables are eliminated, the likelihood of me losing to him is extremely rare.
It's just that it doesn't sit right.
Everyone probably has a movie genre they don't like.
In my case, it's horror movies.
Considering life itself is a horror, do I really need to watch them?
The Human Hunter is like one of those horror movies.
And that horror movie keeps playing over and over again.
Message from Defender: It's not a joke, it's serious. I've tangled with people connected to the military. I've been scouting the area for the past two weeks, and it looks like I'll have to fight soon. I don't know about the others, but I trust you, Skeleton. Please help me.
This guy isn't the type to lie, and I could vaguely tell that from his actions so far.
What should I do?
Maybe the answer had already been decided in advance.
Skeleton: (Loyal Skeleton) Where are you?
Defender and I are quite similar in many ways.
Message from Defender: (Defender moved) Skeleton, you're awesome!
The meeting place that Defender requested turned out to be an unexpected one.
It was in the vicinity of a deserted amusement park in Yongin.
It had been thoroughly abandoned due to chemical contamination during the war, making it an unlikely choice.
The surrounding area had been a grey area with no government control for a long time.
There was one area nearby where an infiltration-type monster had taken over, but it was not dangerous unless you got too close. However, the vacuum created by that monster had attracted all sorts of criminals.
While there hadn't been any reported mutations, the most feared thing during travel was unexpected gunfire.
Deciding to meet Defender significantly increases the probability of danger.
I couldn't help but hesitate.
After a while of no response, he sent me a message.
Message from Defender: Is it difficult for you to come? If it is, should I come? It's a pity for me, but I don't have a car, so I'll have to walk.
Skeleton: No, I'll come. Just tell me a safe route.
It might be risky, but it's better if I go. I don't want to reveal my territory. Despite the Human Hunter's bragging, my territory is not easily discoverable.
I discussed the meeting schedule with the Human Hunter through messages.
Since it's a dangerous area, we had to discuss the route in 100-meter increments while looking at the map.
This was the last ordinary day on the third day before the stormy night.
The next day, everyone waited for Keystone to deliver the next news with a mixture of tension, anticipation, and an inexplicable feeling.
I also repeatedly refreshed the page with an expressionless face, unable to tell whether I was nervous or hopeful.
keystone: (Update) Current status of the bastards in the neighbouring tents - They still haven't left.
Anonymous118: Doesn't the server response seem slower than before?
IAmJesus: The hungry He has filled with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty-handed.
unicorn18: My little buddy has become so stiff...
Anonymous552: Current situation in Seoul.jpg
Kyle_Dos: The above post is bait.
SKELTON: What should I have for lunch today?
...
...
My hometown of eternal tranquillity.
As the afternoon approached, Reporter Yang finally posted an article.
gijayangban: Current situation in Seoul.jpg
The results exceeded everyone's expectations.
The government kept its promise.
They are currently distributing the promised food and providing support like medicine.
I stretched, feeling half relieved and half helpless.
We somehow made it through this crisis.
A transport plane passed over my bunker, making a loud noise.
For a change, should I try sun-sterilizing my bedding?
While I was tidying up my bedding, K-Walkie Talkie made a sharp beeping sound.
Caller ID: DARAM
It was Kim Daram.
"..."
Someone once said that bad premonitions tend to come true because people don't count good premonitions. But how often do people actually count their good premonitions?
If someone has a life where they can count good premonitions,
"Senior. How's the bunker? Is there room for three, including me?"
They might have a happy life after that.
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