EXAMPLE PAGE - EBOOK - TEA GODS - Flipbook - Seite 21
the promise of the tea-gods
11
Dropping a stack of papers, Binnie shot out of his office—moving at
the speed of light—determined to catch her before she fell.
Waking up just a few hours after going to sleep, Soo-kang decided that
he was going to spend the day running, shooting hoops, hurling stones
across the Han River if necessary . . . Whatever it takes, he thought, to
guarantee myself at least eight hours of precious sleep.
His schedule was clear, except for a meeting with Binnie at four
o’clock in the afternoon, which meant he had most of the day to tire
himself out. Then he’d drive to the beach house and meet with Binnie
and his guest from the U.S.—a poet, and the creator of a website that
promoted the music and film industries of South Korea. An unusual
mix, but apparently this particular poet loved Korean movies and music,
and she wanted to support the talent of their quickly-evolving country.
He had to admit that it was a cool thing for her to do—especially
since digital music sales had sky-rocketed in the U.S. over the last few
months. It was exactly what they all wanted—to be heard on the other
side of the world—and, hopefully, book a few overseas concerts.
Binnie had told him he’d only chosen a few people to come out to
the beach house and meet her—hoping it would make her feel welcome
in South Korea, but not overwhelm her. He’d said she was a very private
person and did not tour or do interviews which, thought Soo-kang, was
rather odd for an American writer as most of them seemed to be doing
book tours all over the world. Strange, too, that Binnie would even know
such a person. But maybe he didn’t know her well, just knew of her, and
had volunteered to be her host as a gesture of kindness to her and to the
industries that were benefitting from her work.
He hadn’t figured it all out yet, but Binnie was his best friend—one
of the finest people he knew—and if Binnie wanted him to welcome her
to South Korea, then he would welcome her. She must be good people,
or she wouldn’t spend her time promoting another country’s talent. And
Binnie was the best judge of character in the world—so, if he said she
was an extraordinary person, which he had, then she was an extraordinary person.
