The Koryo Escort: A Lawson Vampire Mission (The Lawson Vampire Series) by Merz Jon F

Author:Merz, Jon F. [Merz, Jon F.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2017-04-26T16:00:00+00:00

18

Syoonji left to get her car and told me to wait by the window without drawing the flimsy curtain back. When I saw her idling down by the curb, that would be my cue to come down and get in. As it was, it took her nearly an hour to get the car, go to work, and then come back. By the time I eased down the stairs of the apartment building and climbed into her small car, I was paranoid that something had gone wrong.

Instead, Syoonji greeted me with a quick kiss, slid the car into gear, and pulled away from the curb. “Are you all right?”

I nodded. “Just worried that something had happened to you.”

“Sorry, it took longer than I thought to get the paperwork we need to go to Kyongsong. Even though it’s only about ten miles or so away, it’s still a big deal because a lot of tourists from other parts of the country go there for the spas.”

“Spas?” The thought of any part of North Korea being a healthy resort seemed utterly bizarre to me. I tried to wrap my head around the concept, but Syoonji explained it to me.

“The spas at Kyongsong are renown for their healing properties. The waters that people bathe in are reputed to contain all manner of healing minerals and the like. I’ve never been myself, but I hear they’re quite something.”

“Are they open to anyone?”

“Well, it costs extra to go so you won’t have poor people coming in there, but by and large, yes it’s open to just about anyone who can afford it. It’s a favorite of the ruling elite. They have an entire section cordoned off for their private usage.”

“That doesn’t exactly seem like an equitable arrangement.”

Syoonji laughed. “Nothing is equitable in North Korea. It just all depends on how your are able to position yourself in the society to be able to take advantage of such things.”

I was willing to bet that the rulers in Pyongyang had no intention of ever making things equitable. They liked it the way it was: with them on top and everyone else scrambling to make ends meet far below. Just as it was in any sort of totalitarian society. Even in the west we had problems like that. And until people stopped falling for the bullshit that came out of politicians mouths, it would continue to happen.

Syoonji guided us out of Chongjin and every time we passed a police car, my heart jumped. I’d been out in the cold many times before, but I don’t know that I’d ever felt as alone and remote as I was at the present time. If things went south, I was going to be on my own with no chance of rescue. I’d resolved that if it came to it, I was going to head to the coast and work my way north, swimming out to sea if need be in order to reach Russian territory. I figured my chances were far better going that route than heading inland and north into China.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.