Chapter 41 (1/2)
Chapter 41
'When smallpox comes, they have a party to celebrate the survival and console the dead fourteen days after its onset . The party is formed as a play or gut, which is called 'Smallpox Farewell Gut' . ' Quoted from 'Biography of Baik Ganghyuk' by Jeong Yeoju
Shamans walked very fast, as if they had already been possessed by a spirit . They were already on the hill, which meant they had arrived at the plaza in the town where the governor had arranged things for the Gut .
'Goodness!' Ganghyuk hesitated to stop it all of a sudden .
'But, I should . . . '
He was a doctor, and knew people should avoid gathering when an infectious disease like smallpox began to spread . Furthermore, this gathering was not for the treatment, but for a Gut!
It was absolute nonsense!
”Governor!” Ganghyuk shouted to call him while being slightly out of breath . The governor looked back in response, showing gladness on his face .
”Oh, Ganghyuk! Why don't you take some rest? I heard that you worked all night . ”
”No, I am fine, but…”
Ganghyuk looked around and saw colorful textile pieces flying in the wind . He could see swords with keen edges, as well as a straw cutter .
Moo!
The cow shed tears as if it knew its own fate-the gut was about to begin . Fortunately, they had not brought any villagers here yet .
”Do you really need this Gut?”
Hearing the question, the governor laughed with a low voice . Fortunately, he did not show strong reactions, as he had a really favorable impression of Ganghyuk .
”You are certainly a Confucian scholar . ”
”Pardon?”
Confucian scholar?
He was a beginner in reading 'Thousand Characters', but the governor did not know of his situation . To him, the poem that Gagnhyuk recited in the poetry contest last time was way too impressive .
He was under that impression that Ganghyuk's knowledge had reached too high a level .
He might have fainted if he knew that that was one of the only three poems that Ganghyuk had memorized in his entire lifetime .
”Yes, I know Gut is unreasonable . But, we need to do it . ”
”It is to show that you care for them, right?”
”Yes, you have already understood the duty of an official . Good!”
”Can we postpone showing the love for the people a little?”
”What do you mean?”
His face took on a grim expression . It was not a good sign .
'What should I do?' Ganghyuk tried to find a good excuse . There were many ideas floating in his head, the first one being very egoistic .
'I do not need to annoy him . This small village can disappear…'
Of course, not all of them would die because he had prepared the cowpox vaccine . But, it was certain that more people would die if this was not stopped .
'No, no . '
The second thought was out of conscience .
'It will not spoil our relations.h.i.+p, anyway . '
After he came to Joseon, they met nearly every day, even having a drink many times . The governor was very close to his father as well . Most importantly, he was ready to listen to him .
'I should make a good excuse, anyway . '
It seemed that he could not prohibit the Gut . He did not have to prohibit it, either .
”There are too many people here right now . ”
Ganghyuk pointed at the entry of the clinic, from where Heo Jun and his fellows were about to enter at this very moment .
When they had left, they were seven, but they returned in the form of a group of fifteen people . That meant that they brought eight new patients .
The number of new patients was not small at all .
”It is difficult to gather all the villagers . ”
”Yes, but we cannot help it . ”
”If there were a sick person among the viewers, it could get serious . Smallpox can be spread among viewers . ”
”Does smallpox spread in that way?”
In the past, the disease was thought of as a punishment from the heavens . Furthermore, an ugly and fatal disease like smallpox was considered as a major punishment .
For example, one could find the record of preoccupation and discrimination against leprosy anywhere in the world . It was not very important for them to think about the real cause, as they did not know about it at that time .
”Yes, it does . ”
”Heo…”
The governor did not ask for the reason and just listened to him .
”But, we need to do it . ”
”Yes, I know . But, can you postpone it a little?”
”Postpone?”
”Yes . ”
”Hmmm…”
The governor was in agony .
More than twenty soldiers were waiting for his order . Once he gave them the command, they would call all the villagers . Shamans would ride the straw cutter and the cow would be sacrificed . The performance group fellows would then play to let the G.o.d entertain himself .
With all that, the people would be consoled and feel comforted, even though it was just a show…
”Eeem…”
It seemed that he could not decide it right away . He thought for a long time and then asked, ”How long?”
”Pardon?”
”How long should I postpone it for?”
”Ah!”
Ganghyuk tried to remember things regarding the smallpox .
'It starts with red dots… blisters, and then scabs . When scabs are formed, the smallpox can be considered to have been managed . '
It took about ten days generally . But, if he wanted to be sure of the safety of people, fourteen days would be good .
'Some may die during the period . '
But, those who died would be fewer than in any other area . They had Ganghyuk and Heo Jun here after all .
”Fourteen days, sir . ”
”Fourteen days? That long…”
”It is necessary, though . I will do my best not to cause any problems during the time . ”
”Hm…”
It was a favor that Ganghyuk had asked . Furthermore, he looked very confident as always . Considering his track record, he had not really disappointed the Governor in terms of treatment of a disease till now .
”Okay, then . ”
”Really?”
”Yes, but only fourteen days . I cannot give you more time . ”
”That will be enough, sir . ”