57 Letter From Hanyang 1 (1/2)
Ganghyuk went out of the room after comforting the scholar, with Dolseok following him.
”Sir, will you go to the next room?”
”Yes, I will.”
”We have a serious patient here.” Dolseok opened the door with a dark face, causing the emergence of a bad odor again. However this time, not only was there a b.l.o.o.d.y smell, but also that of a decomposing body.
In the room was a man wearing a policeman costume. Although he was breathless, he seemed to be conscious. As Dolseok mentioned, his status seemed to be terrible indeed.
”The arms are almost cut.”
”Yes, I tied but…”
”Ah, was he coming with you?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Heum...”
Ganghyuk went to the policeman and saw that more than eighty percent of his wrist was cut off. It seemed that the enemy did not have good skills; his bone was not cut, but shattered.
It had been long time since his wrist was cut. It seemed Ganghyuk could not suture it anymore. That might have been possible if he came here right after the attack.
'The hands below the wrist have already gone dead.'
The color of the hand had changed to black, and was the cause of the rotten smell. It was really not a good situation.
'It is impossible…'
He was fortunate to meet Dolseok, as he did not lose much blood thanks to the latter's quick first aid.
Ganghyuk looked at Dolseok with a satisfied expression on his face.
”You did a good job.”
”Did I?” Dolseok smiled while scratching his head. There was pale smile on the patient's face as well.
Ganghyuk, who was already very famous in Suwon, told Dolseok that he did a good job. It was a good signal.
”You tied him in time, which saved his life. How do you feel? Very painful?”
”I feel better than when I was first injured.”
”Of course!”
It meant that the nerves were already been gone.
”Eum…”
It was hard to say that he would be cutting off his arm. It was not the modern society after all. In Joseon, working force was very important, and now this man would be losing an arm.
Although it was the left arm, it was a bad incident anyway.
'That is why we learn the subject 'To tell bad news' in the university.'
He thought about it during his study days, and it became more certain when he had to actually use it.
It was useless; bad news was bad news at the end.
”First of all, you have survived.”
”Thank you.”
The patient bowed without knowing of the next statement of Ganghyuk. The latter did not pause, and told him right away.
”But, we need to cut an arm.”
”Yes?”
”Dolseok tied your arm so you could live, but this part cannot be revived.”
”But…” He groaned while looking at the dangling arm. He probably was feeling totally lost right now.
”The color has already been changed.”
”Yes…”
”The flesh is dead. If we leave it as it is, you will lose the upper part as well.”
”Ah…”
It might be more accurate to tell that viruses would eat the remaining part too. But, he did not want to use more frightening expressions; the patient was shuddering already anyway.
”Dolseok, open the bag.:
”Yes, sir.”
He told Dolseok the names of the things that he should search for, and then turned his head toward the policeman.
He was half conscious, and seemed like he could hear nothing. However, he had to tell him what he would do.
”The operation will end soon. Do not worry too much.”
”Yes.”
”Do you have family?”
”Yes…I have a wife and children.”
He had dependents, but he would lose an arm. This thought and the future implications had him feeling totally lost.
”Where do you live?”
”It is not far from here.”
”What did you do to earn a living?”
”My wife does needlework, and I was a farmer. I helped a n.o.bleman to cla.s.sify and arrange the books too.”
Ganghyuk did not have any interest in needlework, but arranging books stimulated his interest.
”Did you sort the books? Can you read Chinese characters?”
”Yes, I can read enough to distinguish book t.i.tles.”
”Oh, I will give you a job. Turn the head away.”
”Okay, sir.”
Dolseok finished the preparation for the operation while they had the conversation. He took out gloves and arranged things so that Ganghyuk could use them conveniently: he was a good a.s.sistant.
”See here?” Ganghyuk pointed a white round tube on the section.
”Yes, sir.”
”This is an artery.”
”You told me it was red. But, this one is white.”
”That's because the blood is not circulating here. You had tied it after all.”
”Aha!”
”This one should be tied separately so that blood will not come out through it.”
”Yes, sir.”
Ganghyuk tied the artery with thread. The operation was easier because the blood had not been circulating for some time.
And then, the veins were even easier to handle.
”Now, we have tied all the blood vessels. Let's cut off the rest of the part.”
”Eu…”
The policeman's body shuddered at the remark to cut.
”Keep still. Tell me if you feel pains.”
”Yes, sir.”
Ganghyuk took out the local anesthetic while complaining about not having systemic anesthetics. But on second thought, it was still better than nothing.
”It will be painful.”
As most of the part was cut, the area for injection was small. Ganghyuk finished injection at no time and then picked up scissors.
”I will cut it with this.”
”Yes, sir.”
”Hold him tight.”
”Okay.”