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Corean Dusk Excerpts (34 pages)
Posted on: 2007-04-17 15:32:11 At mid-morning on Sunday, irritably sipping coffee on the porch of his home, he spotted Kwan Il, Pak, Mun and three posang walking rapidly towards him from a shed and he knew from the compradore’s expression that something was terribly amiss. The young north Corean remained silent until he was three steps away. “What’s wrong, Crane?” “There was a man at the settlement gates a few minutes ago, who left a message,” said Kwan Il, his voice low and troubled. “When he finished, he quickly fled into the city before we could seize him. He told our sentry that sama-nim has been kidnapped. He said in four days, they will begin to cut at her daily, that she will die badly if they are not paid three hundred thousand silver dollars. We are to await word on how, when and to where to deliver such payment. And, if we try to find her, they threaten to kill her instantly, and provide you with certain parts of her body.” At mid-morning on Sunday, irritably sipping coffee on the porch of his home, he spotted Kwan Il, Pak, Mun and three posang walking rapidly towards him from a shed and he knew from the compradore’s expression that something was terribly amiss. The young north Corean remained silent until he was three steps away. “What’s wrong, Crane?” “There was a man at the settlement gates a few minutes ago, who left a message,” said Kwan Il, his voice low and troubled. “When he finished, he quickly fled into the city before we could seize him. He told our sentry that sama-nim has been kidnapped. He said in four days, they will begin to cut at her daily, that she will die badly if they are not paid three hundred thousand silver dollars. We are to await word on how, when and to where to deliver such payment. And, if we try to find her, they threaten to kill her instantly, and provide you with certain parts of her body.” The coffee tray overturned. Tubert was on his feet, eyes wide and unblinking, his face white, fists clenching. The Corean merchants stepped backward from the violent move and the dark expression on the barbarian’s all too discernible expression. “This could be only the first move. Dispatch a mounted hunter to the Seoul womens’ school immediately, with orders to rush back quickly after he learns whether she indeed made it to the school and, if so, when she left. He is to be back tonight.”
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