Chapter 92 – Coal Mine Accident (6)

Inside the shaft.

The water was now rising almost to their chests.

‘It is despairing! What should I do? In two or three hours at best, this place won’t be safe anymore!’

At the bottom of the shaft, water was swelling at a terrifying speed.

No matter how calm Kim Ji-hyuk was, since he was also human, fear was bound to rush in.

“Sir, can you fix it?”

Kim Ji-hyuk’s mind was growing increasingly anxious.

“*Haha*, I am not that much of a know-it-all.”

Even in this urgent situation, he chuckled and did not lose his composure.

“You are quite relaxed even in this situation. You are truly amazing!”

“Is it not all destiny decided by heaven? It is a fate that cannot be helped by human power. I do not care what happens to my body, but I only worry about you, Doctor.”

“I am fine too! We will definitely be able to escape from here. So do not lose courage, sir!”

As if reciting a spell to himself, Kim Ji-hyuk instilled courage in the man.

“Let us do that. I will try my best. So do not give up too quickly. It is not like there is no way at all. They say even if the heavens fall, there is a way out, do they not?”

*Tinkering, tinkering—*

The man focused and fiddled with the transceiver.

“Yes? What do you mean by that?”

“People like us who live hand-to-mouth have strong survival instincts. In our lives where we do not know when, where, or how we will die, we always find a way to survive!”

“A way to survive? Does that mean…?”

Kim Ji-hyuk harbored hope once again.

“Yes. Should I call it a shortcut or an escape hole…”

“Do you mean there is a path leading outside?”

Kim Ji-hyuk brightened up at the man’s words.

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“However, it is a place so narrow that an average human body can barely squeeze through, so if it happens to be blocked in the middle…”

‘If it is blocked in the middle… that means death! Still, isn’t that the best option in this situation? There is no need to give up beforehand!’

“Whether we drown here or get blocked there, isn’t it all the same?”

Kim Ji-hyuk clenched his teeth.

“*Haha*, that is true! Anyway, here! I think the transceiver will work now. Why don’t you try using it, Doctor?”

It seemed the man had fixed the transceiver while their conversation was ongoing.

“Does it really work?”

Having been half-doubtful, Kim Ji-hyuk could not help but be surprised.

“I cannot guarantee that far either. So give it a try.”

“Yes! Thank you.”

*Click, click, click—*

*Static—*

Taking the transceiver from the man, Kim Ji-hyuk began to transmit.

“Base, come in, over!”

*Static—*

*Static—*

But the transceiver gave no reply.

“Respond! Respond! Member Yun Tae-ho, this is Kim Ji-hyuk! Do you hear me?”

*Static—*

*Static—*

The transceiver was still dead silent.

‘Is this how it ends…’

[Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk, do you hear me?]

Around the time Kim Ji-hyuk was letting go of the thread of hope, at that very moment, a voice flowed out of the transceiver.

It was clearly Member Yun Tae-ho’s voice.

“Is that you, Member Yun?”

Kim Ji-hyuk’s pupils dilated.

[Yes. I am Yun Tae-ho. You are safe, right?]

Yun Tae-ho’s voice asking after Kim Ji-hyuk’s safety trembled.

“Yes. For now.”

[During the rescue, the entrance wall collapsed.]

“Indeed, the gentleman’s words were correct.”

Kim Ji-hyuk glanced at the man.

[Pardon?]

“It is nothing. Then what should we do?”

[The people working here say there is a secret passage! I will send you the coordinates, so move there quickly. However, the passage is narrow, so please be extremely careful.]

Just as the man had said, there existed a way to survive, a shortcut, and an escape hole.

“Understood.”

[Ah, and there is another piece of good news.]

“What is it?”

[President Jeong Sang-yeong of Mirae Construction has arrived here with the company’s equipment! When he heard you were inside, Doctor, he was shocked!]

‘Jeong Sang-yeong hyung-nim came here? And with equipment? How could such a thing happen?’

Kim Ji-hyuk had a dazed expression.

“Is that certain?”

Kim Ji-hyuk asked, unable to believe it.

[Yes. He was making a fuss, saying you are his younger brother. I do not know what the story is, but anyway, that is how it is!]

“Amazing. How could this…”

[Anyway, since they also brought a large water pump from the US military base, I think you do not need to worry too much. Please leave quickly! I believe you do not have to worry about anything now, Doctor!]

Member Yun Tae-ho’s voice was full of excitement.

“Understood!”

Putting down the transceiver, Kim Ji-hyuk ran over to the man.

“Sir, it seems the rescue team is coming. It looks like there was a way to survive, just as you said!”

Kim Ji-hyuk’s voice, having found hope, became much brighter.

“It must be so. Since I am not the only one who knows.”

“Let us move quickly!”

Kim Ji-hyuk stood up, supporting the man.

“But…”

“Yes?”

“That area is low-lying. If water rises and blocks the entrance, it will all be in vain.”

“…!”

“Still, that is the only way to survive, so let us go.”

“Yes.”

Did they say it is one obstacle after another?

It was not a situation where they could feel relieved yet.

* * *

A moment later.

The two reached the coordinates indicated by Member Yun Tae-ho.

However, it was closer to despair than hope.

‘Damn it, Grandmother Mi-seon said I would live until I smear poop on the wall… Is it finally ending here?’

The situation they feared had occurred.

The entrance was already blocked by the accumulated water.

They could not take a single step forward now.

They had no choice but to return to the upward shaft.

“Member Yun, are you there?”

Kim Ji-hyuk’s hand holding the transceiver trembled wildly.

[…]

Contrary to his anxious waiting, the transceiver was too indifferent.

‘What is the point of the transceiver working now?’

Kim Ji-hyuk wore a despairing look.

[Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk, are you there?]

Around the time he laid down all hope, an unfamiliar man’s voice was heard.

Out of nowhere, it was a foreigner’s voice.

“Who is this?”

[By any chance, is communication in English possible?]

“Yes. It is possible. But who are you?”

[Yes. I am Captain McDowell, the company commander of the Deep Well Company under the US Special Engineers! I came to rescue you!]

He was a soldier from the US military unit, whom CEO Jeong Sang-yeong of Mirae Construction had contacted through his connections.

‘How did the US military come here? Well, what does that matter? Heaven helped!’

It was Kim Ji-hyuk reviving the dying embers of hope.

“Then, what should we do?”

[Move to a safe zone right now. We will start restoring the collapsed shaft entrance and deep-well drilling simultaneously. Do not worry even if you hear roars, and wait calmly.]

“Understood!”

[By any chance, do you have enough drinking water?]

“Yes. It seems sufficient for about three to four hours.”

[Yes. Please keep the transceiver on and standby. If you need anything urgently, radio us! Good luck!]

“Thank you.”

Rescued from the jaws of death, a path to survival opened for Kim Ji-hyuk and the patient. The two returned to the upward shaft.

A moment later.

*Gush—*

Just as Captain McDowell said, a loud roar and the sound of water draining at an immense speed were heard, and the water level was dropping rapidly enough to be verified with the naked eye.

“Patient, we survived now.”

Color returned to Kim Ji-hyuk’s face.

“Indeed. The gods of heaven and earth seem not to have abandoned us! I cannot tell you how much I prayed to save the precious doctor. What a relief. Truly!”

The man tightly grasped Kim Ji-hyuk’s hands.

“Aren’t you happy, patient?”

“For me… I have lived long enough, and even if I go outside, I have no relatives or kin. Perhaps this coal mine is my hometown and my home. If not for you, Doctor, I wouldn’t have bothered…”

“Patient, do not say such things! Well, seeing you earlier, your skill in fixing the transceiver was extraordinary. If you do not mind, how about working at our clinic?”

“Pardon? At the clinic?”

“Yes. The building is old, and there are many machines that need fixing, but I am hopeless at such things. If you come and help, I think I will be able to focus on treatment… What do you think? Of course, we must survive first for anything to happen.”

Kim Ji-hyuk scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

“Is that true?”

“If you are fine with it, I will make a request to the mining office.”

“Sigh, it is like a dream. If only that could be…”

“Ah, right! Come to think of it, I did not even know your name. What is your name?”

“Ah, yes. I am Jeong Min-su.”

“Yes. Mr. Min-su!”

It was right at that moment.

“Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk!”

A resonant voice, loud enough to know who it was just by the tone. The owner of that voice was Member Yun Tae-ho.

“Member Yun Tae-ho!”

Kim Ji-hyuk ran toward the direction where the voice was heard.

“It is me, Doctor! You really went through so much!”

“Is all the water drained?”

“The people from Mirae Construction and the US Army Engineers brought large pump trucks. It is a miracle! Heaven truly helped.”

“Phew, I really thought I was dying. Being able to see you again, Member, is like a dream!”

Kim Ji-hyuk was overjoyed and did not know what to do.

[Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk, respond, over!]

At that moment, the transceiver rang.

“Yes. This is Kim Ji-hyuk.”

[Yes. I am Choi Tae-ung, the executive director of Mirae Construction. Our president wants to radio you, would that be alright?]

“President Jeong Sang-yeong?”

[Yes.]

“Yes. Go ahead, over!”

[Brother, it is me, Jeong Sang-yeong. Are you safe?]

A man with a husky voice, he was Jeong Sang-yeong, the chairman of Mirae Group who would be responsible for the economy of South Korea in the near future.

“Yes, Hyung-nim. Thanks to you, I am perfectly fine!”

[To think I would cross paths with you like this, Brother.]

“Indeed! The world is truly small. Meeting you in a place like this, Hyung-nim! What on earth happened?”

[We can talk about the details after you escape from there first. Anyway, if this is how it goes, does it count as me paying back the favor I owed you, Brother?]

“Of course! You have paid it back a hundred, a thousand times over!”

[*Hahaha*, is that so? Anyway, you will be rescued safely, so do not worry and wait.]

“Thank you! Hyung-nim!”

“Doctor, let us go now.”

Member Yun Tae-ho offered his hand with a bright face.

“Yes! Let us!”

‘Now, I survived!’

Sigh, Kim Ji-hyuk let out a sigh of relief.

* * *

*Murmuring—*

“Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk is out!”

“Look there, Uncle Min-su is fine too! Both of them survived!”

Kim Ji-hyuk and Jeong Min-su returned alive, crossing the threshold of death after a narrow escape. Seeing the two looking healthy despite their blackened faces, the villagers ran over and cheered.

“Doctor Kim Ji-hyuk!”

“Doctor Ji-hyuk!”

Two women running at the speed of light.

One was Shin Jeong-eun, and the other was Nurse Park In-seon. They had prayed with bated breath for Kim Ji-hyuk’s safe return.