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the promise of the tea-gods
9
I’m still working on, but with a little help from my friends, I always
manage to survive.”
“I know, but the journey has already exceeded what most people can
endure. I can drop you off at the beach house, then head back to Seoul
by myself. I’m sure you’re anxious to curl up in a soft bed and sleep for
a while.”
“I’m in no hurry to get anywhere, Bin . . . The sun will be coming
up soon, and dawn in any country is every nation’s finest moment—so
I’ll just sit back and enjoy it.” She turned her head and looked at Temma.
“And our sweet Temma is sound asleep,” she added. “So another few
hours on the road won’t bother her a bit.”
“Okay then,” said Binnie, getting off the highway and quickly getting back on going the other direction. “It’s still early, so the streets of
Seoul shouldn’t be too crowded yet.”
K was astounded as they passed row after row of cement-block apartments. “Bin,” she said quietly, “there aren’t any balconies and it doesn’t
look like those are the kind of windows that open.” She shuttered. “Just
thinking about being inside one of those buildings makes it hard for me
to breathe . . . Where are the houses? The trees? The grass?”
“There are houses in other districts of Seoul, but in this one people
live close together—in rows of tiny gray boxes, stacked high. They
work, they eat, they sleep—the only green you’re likely to see in this
area are the green bottles that hold the Soju. Drink enough of it, and you
forget that you once loved trees and grass.” He smiled at her as they
turned the corner. “There are a few small parks tucked away here and
there though—and for that, I am grateful.”
Temma sat up, rubbed her eyes, and looked through the window.
“Where are we?” she asked, yawning.
“In the heart of Seoul,” said K. “Binnie needs to get something he
left in his office. We’re almost there and it will only take a minute, then
we’ll be on our way to the beach house.”
“So this is the Special City,” murmured Temma. “Wow, all these
rows of cement-block apartments . . . I don’t remember any of this.”
