⬅ 목록으로 돌아가기

이효석 (1936년 발표, 원제: 모밀꽃 필 무렵)

🌙 한국어 버전: '느린 밤 잠드는 이야기'

[인트로 (Intro)] "안녕하세요. 당신의 지친 하루를 다독이는 곳, '느린 밤 잠드는 이야기'입니다. 오늘 밤 여러분과 함께 거닐어 볼 길은 달빛이 흐붓하게 쏟아지는 봉평의 메밀밭입니다. 이효석 작가의 '메밀꽃 필 무렵'을 읽어 드릴 텐데요. 딸랑이는 나귀의 방울 소리와 시원한 밤공기를 상상하며, 무거웠던 마음의 짐을 잠시 내려놓으시길 바랍니다. 자, 그럼 이제 편안하게 눈을 감고, 달빛 젖은 이야기 속으로 함께 걸어가 볼까요?"

[아웃트로 (Outro)] "달이 어지간히 기울며, 허 생원과 동이의 발걸음도 제천을 향해 이어집니다. 시원하게 울려 퍼지던 방울 소리도 이제 서서히 멀어져 가네요. 여러분의 오늘 하루도 험한 고갯길을 넘듯 고단하셨을지 모르겠습니다. 하지만 지금 이 순간만큼은 모든 걱정을 내려놓고 깊고 평온한 꿈자리에 드시기를 바랍니다. 느린 밤, 당신의 곁에서 늘 따뜻한 위로가 되어 드릴게요. 편안한 밤 보내세요. 잘 자요."

[SEO 및 업로드 정보]

메밀꽃 필 무렵

저자: 이효석 (1936년 발표, 원제: 모밀꽃 필 무렵)

여름장이란 애시당초에 글러서, 해는 아직 중천에 있건만 장판은 벌써 쓸쓸하고 더운 햇발이 벌여놓은 전 휘장 밑으로 등줄기를 훅훅 볶는다. 마을 사람들은 거지 반 돌아간 뒤요, 팔리지 못한 나무꾼 패가 길거리에 궁싯거리고들 있으나 석유병이나 받고 고깃마리나 사면 족할 이 축들을 바라고 언제까지든지 버티고 있을 법은 없다. 춥춥스럽게 날아드는 파리 떼도 장난꾼 각다귀들도 귀치않다. 얼금뱅이요 왼손잡이인 드팀전의 허 생원은 기어코 동업의 조 선달에게 나꾸어 보았다.

"그만 거둘까?"

"잘 생각했네. 봉평 장에서 한번이나 흐붓하게 사본 일 있을까해. 내일 대화 장에서가 한몫 벌어야겠네."

"오늘 밤은 밤을 새서 걸어야 될걸?"

"달이 뜨렷다?"

절렁절렁 소리를 내며 조 선달이 그날 번 돈을 따지는 것을 보고 허 생원은 말뚝에서 넓은 휘장을 걷고 벌여놓았던 물건을 거두기 시작하였다. 무명 필과 주단 바리가 두 고리짝에 꼭 찼다. 멍석 위에는 천 조각이 어수선하게 남았다. 다른 축들도 벌써 거진 전들을 걷고 있었다.

약바르게 떠나는 패도 있었다. 어물장수도, 땜장이도, 엿장수도, 생강장수도 꼴들이 보이지 않았다. 내일은 진부와 대화에 장이 선다. 축들은 그 어느 쪽으로든지 밤을 새며 육칠십 리 밤길을 타박거리지 않으면 안 된다. 장판은 잔치 뒷마당같이 어수선하게 벌어지고, 술집에서는 싸움이 터져 있었다. 주정꾼 욕지거리에 섞여 계집의 앙칼진 목소리가 찢어졌다. 장날 저녁은 정해놓고 계집의 고함소리로 시작되는 것이다.

"생원, 시침을 떼두 다 아네…. 충주집 말야."

계집 목소리로 문득 생각난 듯이 조 선달은 비죽이 웃는다. "화중지병이지. 연소패들을 적수로 하구야 대거리가 돼야 말이지."

"그렇지두 않을걸. 축들이 사족을 못 쓰는 것도 사실은 사실이나, 아무리 그렇다군 해두 왜 그 동이 말일세, 감쪽같이 충주집을 후린 눈치거든."

"무어 그 애숭이가? 물건 가지고 나꾸었나부지. 착실한 녀석인 줄 알았더니."

"그 길만은 알 수 있나… 궁리 말구 가보세나그려. 내 한턱 씀세."

그다지 마음이 당기지 않는 것을 쫓아갔다. 허 생원은 계집과는 연분이 멀었다. 얽둑배기 상판을 대어설 숫기도 없었으나 계집 편에서 정을 보낸 적도 없었고, 쓸쓸하고 뒤틀린 반생이었다. 충주집을 생각만 하여도 철없이 얼굴이 붉어지고 발 밑이 떨리고 그 자리에 소스라쳐버린다.

충주집 대문에 들어서서 술좌석에서 짜장 동이를 만났을 때에는 어찌 된 서슬엔지 빨끈 화가 나버렸다. 상위에 붉은 얼굴을 쳐들고 제법 계집과 농탕 치는 것을 보고서야 견딜 수 없었던 것이다. 녀석이 제법 난질꾼인데 꼴 사납다. 머리에 피도 안 마른 녀석이 낮부터 술 처먹고 계집과 농탕이야. 장돌뱅이 망신만 시키고 돌아다니누나. 그 꼴에 우리들과 한몫 보자는 셈이지. 동이 앞에 막아서면서부터 책망이었다.

걱정두 팔자요 하는 듯이 빤히 쳐다보는 상기된 눈망울에 부딪칠 때, 결김에 따귀를 하나 갈겨주지 않고는 배길 수 없었다. 동이도 화를 쓰고 팩하게 일어서기는 하였으나, 허 생원은 조금도 동색하는 법 없이 마음먹은 대로는 다 지껄였다.

"어디서 주워먹은 선머슴인지는 모르겠으나, 네게도 아비 어미 있겠지. 그 사나운 꼴 보면 맘 좋겠다. 장사란 탐탁하게 해야 되지, 계집이 다 무어야. 나가거라, 냉큼 꼴 치워."

그러나 한마디도 대거리하지 않고 하염없이 나가는 꼴을 보려니, 도리어 측은히 여겨졌다. 아직두 서름서름한 사인데 너무 과하지 않았을까 하고 마음이 섬뜩해졌다. 주제도 넘지, 같은 술 손님이면서두 아무리 젊다고 자식 낫세 된 것을 붙들고 치고 닦아셀 것은 무어야 원. 충주집은 입술을 쭝긋하고 술 붓는 솜씨도 거칠었으나, 젊은 애들한테는 그것이 약이 된다고 하고 그 자리는 조 선달이 얼버무려 넘겼다.

"너, 녀석한테 반했지? 애숭이를 빨면 죄 된다."

한참 법석을 친 후이다. 담도 생긴 데다가 웬일이지 흠뻑 취해보고 싶은 생각도 있어서 허 생원은 주는 술잔이면 거의 다 들이켰다. 거나해짐을 따라 계집 생각보다도 동이의 뒷일이 한결같이 궁금해졌다.

내 꼴에 계집을 가로채서니 어떡헐 작정이었누 하고 어리석은 꼬락서니를 모질게 책망하는 마음도 한편에 있었다. 그렇기 때문에, 얼마나 지난 뒤인지 동이가 헐레벌떡거리며 황급히 부르러 왔을 때에는 마시던 잔을 그 자리에 던지고 정신없이 허덕이며 충주집을 뛰어나간 것이었다.

"생원 당나귀가 바를 끊구 야단이에요."

"각다귀들 장난이지 필연코."

짐승도 짐승이려니와 동이의 마음씨가 가슴을 울렸다. 뒤를 따라 장판을 달음질하려니 거슴츠레한 눈이 뜨거워질 것 같다.

"부락스런 녀석들이라 어쩌는 수 있어야죠."

"나귀를 몹시 구는 녀석들은 그냥 두지는 않을걸."

반평생을 같이 지내온 짐승이었다. 같은 주막에서 잠자고, 같은 달빛에 젖으면서 장에서 장으로 걸어 다니는 동안에 이십 년의 세월이 사람과 짐승을 함께 늙게 하였다. 가스러진 목뒤 털은 주인의 머리털과도 같이 바스러지고, 개진개진 젖은 눈은 주인의 눈과 같이 눈곱을 흘렸다.

몽당비처럼 짧게 쓸리운 꼬리는, 파리를 쫓으려고 기껏 휘저어보아야 벌써 다리까지는 닿지 않았다. 닳아 없어진 굽을 몇번이나 도려내고 새 철을 신겼는지 모른다. 굽은 벌써 더 자라나기는 틀렸고 닳아버린 철 사이로는 피가 빼짓이 흘렀다. 냄새만 맡고도 주인을 분간하였다. 호소하는 목소리로 야단스럽게 울며 반겨한다.

어린아이를 달래듯이 목덜미를 어루만져주니 나귀는 코를 벌름거리고 입을 투르르거렸다. 콧물이 튀었다. 허 생원은 짐승 때문에 속도 무던히는 썩였다. 아이들의 장난이 심한 눈치여서 땀 밴 몸뚱어리가 부들부들 떨리고 좀체 흥분이 식지 않는 모양이었다. 굴레가 벗어지고 안장도 떨어졌다. "요 몹쓸 자식들" 하고 허 생원은 호령을 하였으나 패들은 벌써 줄행랑을 논 뒤요 몇 남지 않은 아이들이 호령에 놀래 비슬비슬 멀어졌다.

"우리들 장난이 아니우, 암놈을 보고 저 혼자 발광이지."

코흘리개 한 녀석이 멀리서 소리를 쳤다.

"고 녀석 말투가…."

"김 첨지 당나귀가 가버리니까 온통 흙을 차고 거품을 흘리면서 미친 소같이 날뛰는걸. 꼴이 우스워 우리는 보고만 있었다우. 배를 좀 보지."

아이는 앙토라진 투로 소리를 치며 깔깔 웃었다. 허 생원은 모르는 결에 낯이 뜨거워졌다. 뭇 시선을 막으려고 그는 짐승의 배 앞을 가리어서지 않으면 안되었다.

"늙은 주제에 암샘을 내는 셈야. 저놈의 짐승이."

아이의 웃음소리에 허 생원은 주춤하면서 거어코 견딜 수 없어 채찍을 들더니 아이를 쫓았다.

"쫓으려거든 쫓아보지. 왼손잡이가 사람을 때려."

줄달음에 달아나는 각다귀에는 당하는 재주가 없었다. 왼손잡이는 아이 하나도 후릴 수 없다. 그만 채찍을 던졌다. 술기도 돌아 몸이 유난스럽게 화끈거렸다.

"그만 떠나세. 녀석들과 어울리다가는 한이 없어. 장판의 각다귀들이란 어른보다도 더 무서운 것들인 걸."

조 선달과 동이는 각각 제 나귀에 안장을 얹고 짐을 싣기 시작하였다. 해가 꽤 많이 기울어진 모양이었다.

드팀전 장돌림을 시작한 지 이십 년이나 되어도 허 생원은 봉평 장을 빼논 적은 드물었다. 충주 제천 등의 이웃 군에도 가고, 멀리 영남 지방도 헤매기는 하였으나, 강릉쯤에 물건 하러 가는 외에는 처음부터 끝까지 군내를 돌아다녔다. 닷새 만큼씩의 장날에는 달보다도 확실하게 면에서 면으로 건너간다. 고향이 청주라고 자랑 삼아 말하였으나 고향에 돌보러 간 일도 있는 것 같지는 않았다.

장에서 장으로 가는 길의 아름다운 강산이 그대로 그에게는 그리운 고향이었다. 반날 동안이나 뚜벅뚜벅 걷고 장터 있는 마을에 거지 반 가까왔을 때, 거친 나귀가 한바탕 우렁차게 울면, 더구나 그것이 저녁녘이어서 등불들이 어둠 속에 깜박거릴 무렵이면, 늘 당하는 것이건만 허 생원은 변치 않고 언제든지 가슴이 뛰놀았다.

젊은 시절에는 알뜰하게 벌어 돈푼이나 모아둔 적도 있기는 있었으나, 읍내에 백중이 열린 해 호탕스럽게 놀고 투전을 하고 하여 사흘 동안에 다 털어버렸다. 나귀까지 팔게 된 판이었으나 애끊는 정분에 그것만은 이를 물고 단념하였다. 결국 도로아미타불로 장돌림을 다시 시작할 수밖에 없었다.

짐승을 데리고 읍내를 도망해 나왔을 때에는 너를 팔지 않기 다행이었다고 길가에서 울면서 짐승의 등을 어루만졌던 것이었다. 빚을 지기 시작하니 재산을 모을 염은 당초에 틀리고 간신히 입에 풀칠을 하러 장에서 장으로 돌아다니게 되었다.

호탕스럽게 놀았다고는 하여도 계집 하나 후려보지는 못하였다. 계집이란 쌀쌀하고 매정한 것이다. 평생 인연이 없는 것이라고 신세가 서글퍼졌다. 일신에 가까운 것이라고는 언제나 변함없는 한 필의 당나귀였다. 그렇다고 하여도 꼭 한번의 첫 일을 잊을 수는 없었다. 뒤에도 처음에도 없는 단 한번의 괴이한 인연! 봉평에 다니기 시작한 젊은 시절의 일이었으나 그것을 생각할 적만은 그도 산 보람을 느꼈다.

"달밤이었으나 어떻게 해서 그렇게 됐는지 지금 생각해두 도무지 알 수 없어."

허 생원은 오늘 밤도 또 그 이야기를 끄집어내려는 것이다. 조 선달은 친구가 된 이래 귀에 못이 박히도록 들어왔다. 그렇다고 싫증은 낼 수도 없었으나 허 생원은 시치미를 떼고 되풀이할 대로는 되풀이하고야 말았다.

"달밤에는 그런 이야기가 격에 맞거든."

조 선달 편을 바라는 보았으나 물론 미안해서가 아니라 달빛에 감동하여서였다.

이지러는 졌으나 보름을 갓 지난 달은 부드러운 빛을 흔붓이 흘리고 있다. 대화까지는 팔십 리의 밤길, 고개를 둘이나 넘고 개울을 하나 건너고 벌판과 산길을 걸어야 된다. 달은 지금 긴 산허리에 걸려 있다.

밤중을 지난 무렵인지 죽은 듯이 고요한 속에서 짐승 같은 달의 숨소리가 손에 잡힐 듯이 들리며, 콩 포기와 옥수수 잎새가 한층 달에 푸르게 젖었다. 산허리는 온통 메밀 밭이어서 피기 시작한 꽃이 소금을 뿌린 듯이 흐붓한 달빛에 숨이 막힐 지경이다. 붉은 대공이 향기같이 애잔하고 나귀들의 걸음도 시원하다.

길이 좁은 까닭에 세 사람은 나귀를 타고 외줄로 늘어섰다. 방울소리가 시원스럽게 딸랑딸랑 메밀 밭께로 흘러간다. 앞장선 허 생원의 이야기 소리는 꽁무니에 선 동이에게는 확적히는 안 들렸으나, 그는 그대로 개운한 제멋에 적적하지는 않았다.

"장 선 꼭 이런 날 밤이었네. 객주집 토방이란 무더워서 잠이 들어야지. 밤중은 돼서 혼자 일어나 개울가에 목욕하러 나갔지. 봉평은 지금이나 그제나 마찬가지지. 보이는 곳마다 메밀 밭이어서 개울가가 어디 없이 하얀 꽃이야. 돌 밭에 벗어도 좋을 것을, 달이 너무나 밝은 까닭에 옷을 벗으러 물방앗간으로 들어가지 않았나. 이상한 일도 많지. 거기서 난데없는 성 서방네 처녀와 마주쳤단 말이네. 봉평서야 제일 가는 일색이었지- 팔자에 있었나부지."

아무렴 하고 응답하면서 말머리를 아끼는 듯이 한참이나 담배를 빨 뿐이었다. 구수한 자주빛 연기가 밤 기운 속에 흘러서는 녹았다.

"날 기다린 것은 아니었으나 그렇다고 달리 기다리는 놈팽이가 있는 것두 아니었네. 처녀는 울고 있단 말야. 짐작은 대고 있으나 성 서방네는 한창 어려워서 들고날 판인 때였지, 한집안 일이니 딸에겐들 걱정이 없을 리 있겠나? 좋은 데만 있으면 시집도 보내련만 시집은 죽어도 싫다지…."

"그러나 처녀란 울 때같이 정을 끄는 때가 있을까. 처음에는 놀라기도 한 눈치였으나 걱정 있을 때는 누그러지기도 쉬운 듯해서 이럭저럭 이야기가 되었네…. 생각하면 무섭고도 기막힌 밤이었어."

"제천인지로 줄행랑을 놓은 건 그 다음날이렷다."

"다음 장도막에는 벌써 온 집안이 사라진 뒤였네. 장판은 소문에 발끈 뒤집혀 고작해야 술집에 팔려가기가 상수라고 처녀의 뒷공론이 자자들 하단 말이야. 제천 장판을 몇 번이나 뒤졌겠나. 허나 처녀의 꼴은 꿩 궈먹은 자리야. 첫날밤이 마지막 밤이었지. 그때부터 봉평이 마음에 든 것이 반평생인들 잊을 수 있겠나."

"수 좋았지. 그렇게 신통한 일이란 쉽지 않어. 항용 못난 것 얻어 새끼 낳고, 걱정 늘고 생각만 해두 진저리나지- 그러나 늙으막바지까지 장돌뱅이로 지내기도 힘드는 노릇 아닌가? 난 가을까지만 하구 이 생계와두 하직하려네. 대화쯤에 조그만 전방이나 하나 벌이구 식구들을 부르겠어. 사시장천 뚜벅뚜벅 걷기란 여간이래야지."

"옛 처녀나 만나면 같이나 살까- 난 꺼꾸러질 때까지 이 길 걷고 저 달 볼 테야."

산길을 벗어나니 큰길로 틔어졌다. 꽁무니의 동이도 앞으로 나서 나귀들은 가로 늘어섰다.

"총각두 젊겠다, 지금이 한창 시절이렸다. 충주집에서는 그만 실수를 해서 그 꼴이 되었으나 설게 생각 말게."

"처, 천만에요. 되려 부끄러워요. 계집이란 지금 웬 제격인가요. 자나깨나 어머니 생각뿐인데요."

허 생원의 이야기로 실심해 한 끝이라 동이의 어조는 한풀 수그러진 것이었다.

"아비 어미란 말에 가슴이 터지는 것도 같았으나 제겐 아버지가 없어요. 피붙이라고는 어머니 하나뿐인 걸요."

"돌아가셨나?"

"당초부터 없어요."

"그런 법이 세상에…"

생원과 선달이 야단스럽게 껄껄들 웃으니, 동이는 정색하고 우길 수밖에는 없었다.

"부끄러워서 말하지 않으랴 했으나 정말예요. 제천 촌에서 달도 차지 않은 아이를 낳고 어머니는 집을 쫓겨났죠. 우스운 이야기나, 그러기 때문에 지금까지 아버지 얼굴도 본 적 없고 있는 고장도 모르고 지내와요."

고개가 앞에 놓인 까닭에 세 사람은 나귀를 내렸다. 둔덕은 험하고 입을 벌리기도 대근하여 이야기는 한동안 끊졌다. 나귀는 건듯하면 미끄러졌다. 허 생원은 숨이 차 몇 번이고 다리를 쉬지 않으면 안되었다. 고개를 넘을 때마다 나이가 알렸다. 동이 같은 젊은 축이 그지없이 부러웠다. 땀이 등을 한바탕 쪽 씻어 내렸다.

고개 너머는 바로 개울이었다. 장마에 흘러버린 널다리가 아직도 걸리지 않은 채로 있는 까닭에 벗고 건너야 되었다. 고의를 벗어 띠로 등에 얽어 매고 반 벌거숭이의 우스꽝스런 꼴로 물속에 뛰어들었다. 금방 땀을 흘린 뒤였으나 밤 물은 뼈를 찔렀다.

"그래 대체 기르긴 누가 기르구?"

"어머니는 하는 수 없이 의부를 얻어가서 술장사를 시작했죠. 술이 고주래서 의부라고 전망나니예요. 철 들어서부터 맞기 시작한 것이 하룬들 편한 날 있었을까. 어머니는 말리다가 채이고 맞고 칼부림을 당하고 하니 집 꼴이 무어겠소. 열 여덟 살 때 집을 뛰쳐나서부터 이 짓이죠."

"총각 낫세론 섬이 무던하다고 생각했더니 듣고 보니 딱한 신세로군."

물은 깊어 허리까지 찼다. 속 물살도 어지간히 센 데다가 발에 채이는 돌멩이도 미끄러워 금시에 훌칠 듯하였다. 나귀와 조 선달은 재빨리 거의 건넜으나 동이는 허 생원을 붙드느라고 두 사람은 훨씬 떨어졌다.

"모친의 친정은 원래부터 제천이었던가?"

"웬걸요. 시원스리 말은 안 해주나 봉평이라는 것만은 들었죠."

"봉평, 그래 그 아비 성은 무엇이구?"

"알 수 있나요. 도무지 듣지를 못했으니까."

"그, 그렇겠지." 하고 중얼거리며 흐려지는 눈을 까물까물하다가 허 생원은 경망하게도 발을 빗디디었다. 앞으로 고꾸라지기가 바쁘게 몸째 풍덩 빠져버렸다. 허위적거릴수록 몸을 걷잡을 수 없어 동이가 소리를 치며 가까이 왔을 때에는 벌써 퍽으나 흘렀었다. 옷째 쫄딱 젖으니 물에 젖은 개보다도 참혹한 꼴이었다. 동이는 물속에서 어른을 해깝게 업을 수 있었다. 젖었다고는 하여도 여윈 몸이라 장정 등에는 오히려 가벼웠다.

"이렇게까지 해서 안됐네. 내 오늘은 정신이 빠진 모양이야."

"염려하실 것 없어요."

"그래 모친은 아비를 찾지는 않는 눈치지?"

"늘 한번 만나고 싶다고는 하는데요."

"지금 어디 계신가?"

"의부와도 갈라져 제천에 있죠. 가을에는 봉평에 모셔오려고 생각 중인데요. 이를 물고 벌면 이럭저럭 살아갈 수 있겠죠."

"아무렴, 기특한 생각이야. 가을이랬다?"

동이의 탐탁한 등어리가 뼈에 사무쳐 따뜻하다. 물을 다 건넜을 때에는 도리어 서글픈 생각에 좀더 업혔으면도 하였다.

"진종일 실수만 하니 웬일이요, 생원."

조 선달은 바라보며 기어코 웃음이 터졌다.

"나귀야. 나귀 생각하다 실족을 했어. 말 안 했던가. 저 꼴에 제법 새끼를 얻었단 말이지. 읍내 강릉집 피마에게 말일세. 귀를 쭝긋 세우고 달랑달랑 뛰는 것이 나귀새끼같이 귀여운 것이 있을까. 그것 보러 나는 일부러 읍내를 도는 때가 있다네."

"사람을 물에 빠뜨릴 젠, 따는 대단한 나귀 새끼군."

허 생원은 젖은 옷을 웬만큼 짜서 입었다. 이가 덜덜 갈리고 가슴이 떨리며 몹시도 추웠으나 마음은 알 수 없이 둥실둥실 가벼웠다.

"주막까지 부지런히들 가세나. 뜰에 불을 피우고 훗훗이 쉬어. 나귀에겐 더운 물을 끓여주고. 내일 대화장 보고는 제천이다."

"생원도 제천으로…?"

"오래간만에 가보고 싶어. 동행하려나 동이?"

나귀가 걷기 시작하였을 때, 동이의 채찍은 왼손에 있었다. 오랫동안 아둑시니같이 눈이 어둡던 허 생원도 요번만은 동이의 왼손잡이가 눈에 띄지 않을 수 없었다.

걸음도 해깝고 방울소리가 밤 벌판에 한층 청청하게 울렸다.

달이 어지간히 기울어졌다.

🌌 영어 버전: 'slow night, ancient tales'

[Intro] "Welcome to 'slow night, ancient tales,' a quiet corner for your weary mind to rest. Tonight, we journey to a moonlit path in rural Korea. I will be reading 'When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom' by Lee Hyo-seok, a timeless piece of classic Korean literature. Imagine the gentle jingling of donkey bells and the cool, refreshing night air as you let go of today's burdens. So, get comfortable, close your eyes, and let us wander into a story bathed in soft, silvery moonlight."

[Outro] "The moon has dipped low in the sky, and the steps of our travelers continue onward into the quiet night. The sound of the bells is slowly fading away into the distance. Your day might have been as challenging as a steep mountain pass, but for now, it is time to lay all your worries down. May you find deep, undisturbed rest. I will always be here, bringing you gentle tales to soothe your nights. Sleep well, and good night."

[SEO & Upload Info]

When Buckwheat Flowers Bloom

Author: Lee Hyo-seok

The summer market was a lost cause from the start. The sun was still high in the middle of the sky, but the market square was already deserted. The hot rays of the sun beat down mercilessly, roasting the backs of those sitting under the scattered awnings. Most of the villagers had already headed home, and though a few unsold woodcutters lingered aimlessly on the streets, one could not expect them to wait around forever—these were the sort who would be satisfied with trading for a bottle of kerosene or a meager cut of fish. Even the swarms of flies flying in annoyingly, and the mischievous street urchins, were a nuisance. Heo Saeng-won, a pockmarked, left-handed cloth merchant, finally spoke up to his fellow trader, Jo Seon-dal.

"Shall we pack it up?"

"Good idea. Have we ever really made a decent sale here at the Bongpyeong market? We'll just have to make our fair share tomorrow at the Daehwa market."

"We'll have to walk all night tonight, won't we?"

"The moon will be up, won't it?"

Hearing the jingling sound of Jo Seon-dal counting the day's earnings, Heo Saeng-won untied his wide awning from the wooden pegs and began to pack up his wares. Bales of cotton and rolls of silk tightly filled his two large wicker trunks. On the straw mat, only scattered scraps of fabric remained. The other merchants had also mostly packed up their stalls.

Some groups had already left with quick haste. The fishmonger, the tinker, the taffy seller, the ginger merchant—none of them were anywhere to be seen. Tomorrow, markets would open in Jinbu and Daehwa. The merchants had no choice but to trudge through the night, walking sixty or seventy ri in whichever direction they chose. The market square was as messy as a courtyard after a great feast, and fights had broken out in the taverns. The shrill, sharp voice of a woman pierced through the curses of drunken men. The evening of a market day, as if by rule, always began with a woman's shouting.

"Saeng-won, you can play innocent, but I know everything. I'm talking about the Chungju Tavern."

Reminded by the sound of the woman's voice, Jo Seon-dal gave a sly smirk. "She's a pie in the sky for you. You'd have to compete with the young lads to even stand a chance."

"I wouldn't be so sure. It's true that the men fall head over heels for her, but even so, what about that young lad Dong-i? It seems he's completely won over the Chungju woman right under our noses."

"What, that greenhorn? He must have lured her with some trinkets. I thought he was a decent, hardworking boy."

"Who can ever know the ways of the world? Don't just sit there wondering, let's go see for ourselves. I'll treat you."

Heo Saeng-won followed along, though his heart wasn't truly in it. He had never had much luck with women. He lacked the confidence to present his pockmarked face, and no woman had ever shown him affection either; it had been a lonely and twisted half-century of life. Just the thought of the Chungju woman made his face flush childishly, his legs tremble, and his body shrink in on itself.

When he stepped through the gate of the Chungju Tavern and unexpectedly found Dong-i drinking at a table, a sudden surge of anger boiled up inside him. Seeing the young man with a flushed face, brazenly flirting with the woman, was more than he could bear. The boy was acting like a seasoned playboy, and it was a disgraceful sight. A kid whose head still smelled of mother's milk, getting drunk in broad daylight and flirting with a woman. He was roaming around ruining the reputation of all traveling merchants. To think he dared to claim a share of the market alongside them. The moment Heo Saeng-won stepped in front of Dong-i, the scolding began.

When he met Dong-i's flushed eyes staring back as if to say, 'Mind your own business,' he couldn't resist the urge to slap the boy across the face. Dong-i flared up with anger and stood up abruptly, but Heo Saeng-won, without changing his expression, poured out everything on his mind.

"I don't know where a rough-around-the-edges boy like you came from, but you must have a mother and father somewhere. They'd be thrilled to see you acting like this. A merchant should do his business properly, what's all this nonsense with women? Get out. Out of my sight, now."

But watching the boy walk out silently, without offering a single word of defiance, Heo Saeng-won suddenly felt a pang of pity. They were barely acquaintances, and he felt a chill in his heart, wondering if he had gone too far. It was out of line; they were both just customers at the tavern, and no matter how young the boy was, what right did he have to grab a grown man—old enough to be his son—and beat and berate him? The Chungju woman pouted and poured the drinks roughly, but Jo Seon-dal smoothed things over, saying that such harsh lessons were good medicine for the youth.

"You've fallen for the boy, haven't you? It's a sin to tease a young sprout."

A long while passed after the commotion. Emboldened by his sudden courage, and perhaps wanting to get completely drunk for some reason, Heo Saeng-won downed nearly every glass offered to him. As he grew tipsy, he found himself worrying more about Dong-i's well-being than thinking about the woman.

A part of him harshly scolded his own foolishness: 'What did I plan to do anyway, stealing the woman away like that with my face?' That was why, when Dong-i came running back breathlessly in a panic some time later, Heo Saeng-won threw his glass aside and frantically rushed out of the tavern.

"Saeng-won, your donkey broke its tether and is going wild!"

"It must be those mischievous brats, no doubt."

It was a concern for the animal, yes, but Dong-i's kind heart also moved him. As he ran across the market square following the boy, his half-closed eyes felt like they were welling with hot tears.

"They are rough boys, there wasn't much I could do."

"I won't let anyone who torments my donkey get away with it."

It was a beast that had shared half his life. Sleeping in the same taverns, bathed in the same moonlight, wandering from market to market, twenty years had aged the man and the beast together. The ragged mane on the donkey's neck was as frail and thinning as its master's hair, and its wet, gummy eyes wept rheum just like its master's.

Its tail, worn short like a stubby broom, couldn't even reach its legs no matter how hard it swished to chase away the flies. He had lost count of how many times he had pared down its worn hooves and fitted it with new iron shoes. The hooves had long lost their ability to grow, and blood seeped thinly through the worn iron. It could recognize its master just by his scent. It welcomed him, crying out loudly with a pleading voice.

When he stroked its neck gently, as if soothing a child, the donkey flared its nostrils and snorted softly, spraying mucus. The animal had caused Heo Saeng-won plenty of worry over the years. The children's teasing must have been severe, for the donkey's sweat-drenched body trembled violently, and it seemed unable to calm down. The halter was off, and the saddle had fallen to the ground. "You wicked brats!" Heo Saeng-won shouted, but the gang had already fled, and the few remaining children backed away nervously at his booming voice.

"It wasn't us messing around, he just went crazy seeing a female!"

A snot-nosed kid yelled from a distance.

"Watch your mouth, you little..."

"When Old Man Kim's donkey walked by, he started kicking up dirt and foaming at the mouth, jumping around like a mad cow. It was so funny we were just watching. Look at his belly."

The child shouted in a defiant tone and laughed loudly. Without realizing it, Heo Saeng-won's face grew hot. To block the crowd's stares, he had no choice but to step in front and cover the animal's belly.

"Acting up like that at his age. Stupid beast."

At the child's laughter, Heo Saeng-won flinched, and unable to endure it any longer, grabbed his whip and chased after the boy.

"Catch me if you can! The left-handed man is trying to hit someone!"

There was no catching a street urchin running at full speed. A left-handed man couldn't even manage to strike a single child. He threw the whip down. The alcohol was rushing to his head, and his body felt unusually flushed and hot.

"Let's just leave. There's no end to it if we tangle with those brats. The street urchins in the market are more frightening than the adults."

Jo Seon-dal and Dong-i each placed the saddles on their donkeys and began loading their goods. The sun seemed to have dipped quite low.

Even after twenty years as a traveling cloth merchant, Heo Saeng-won rarely missed the Bongpyeong market. He traveled to neighboring counties like Chungju and Jecheon, and even wandered as far as the Yeongnam region, but aside from going down to Gangneung to stock up on goods, he spent his life wandering from town to town within the county. Every five days, as sure as the phases of the moon, he crossed from one district to another. He proudly claimed Cheongju as his hometown, but it seemed he had never actually returned there to tend to it.

The beautiful rivers and mountains along the roads from market to market were his true, beloved home. When he had walked steadily for half a day and was nearly arriving at a market village, and his weary donkey let out a loud, resonant bray—especially if it was evening and the lanterns were just beginning to flicker in the gathering dusk—Heo Saeng-won's heart would always leap with excitement, even though it was a familiar routine.

In his younger days, he had saved up a decent amount of money through frugal living, but one year, when the Baekjung festival was held in town, he played wildly, gambled it all, and lost everything in three days. He had almost been forced to sell his donkey, but out of heartbreaking affection, he grit his teeth and refused to let the animal go. In the end, back to square one, he had no choice but to begin his life as a traveling merchant all over again.

When he fled the town with the beast, he had stood crying by the side of the road, stroking the donkey's back, whispering how glad he was that he hadn't sold it. Once he started accumulating debt, any hope of building wealth vanished, and he barely managed to keep himself fed by wandering from market to market.

Even though he had played wildly in the past, he had never managed to win over a single woman. Women were cold and heartless creatures. He felt sorry for himself, believing he was destined to have no such connection in life. The only thing truly close to him was his one unchanging donkey. And yet, he could never forget that one, single first encounter. A strange and singular connection, the likes of which he had never experienced before or since! It had happened in his youth when he first started traveling to Bongpyeong, but whenever he thought of it, he felt that his life had been worth living.

"It was a moonlit night, but even now, I can't quite understand how it all happened."

Tonight, too, Heo Saeng-won was about to bring up the same old story. Jo Seon-dal had heard it so many times since they became friends that his ears were calloused. He couldn't exactly show his annoyance, but Heo Saeng-won would feign ignorance and repeat the story as if he simply had to.

"A story like this is meant for a moonlit night."

He looked toward Jo Seon-dal, but of course, it wasn't out of apology, but because he was moved by the moonlight.

The moon, just past full though slightly waning, was gently pouring down a soft, abundant light. It was an eighty-ri journey through the night to Daehwa, requiring them to cross two mountain passes, wade across a stream, and walk across open fields and mountain trails. The moon was now hanging over the long ridge of the mountain.

It must have been past midnight, for in the deathly stillness, the beast-like breathing of the moon seemed close enough to touch, and the bean stalks and corn leaves were soaked in an even deeper, silvery blue. The mountainside was covered entirely in buckwheat fields, and the newly blooming flowers, looking as though salt had been sprinkled over them, took one's breath away in the soft, flowing moonlight. The red stalks were delicate as a fragrance, and the donkeys' steps were light and refreshing.

Because the path was narrow, the three men rode their donkeys in a single file. The sound of the bells drifted brightly and clearly toward the buckwheat fields. Heo Saeng-won, riding in the front, was speaking, and though Dong-i, riding in the back, couldn't hear every word clearly, he felt comfortably at ease in his own cheerful mood.

"The market was open, and it was a night just like this. The dirt floor of the inn was too stifling hot to sleep. It must have been the middle of the night when I got up alone and went to the stream to bathe. Bongpyeong is the same now as it was then. Everywhere you look, there are buckwheat fields, and the stream banks are covered in white flowers. I could have just undressed on the rocky bank, but the moon was so incredibly bright that I went into the watermill to take my clothes off. Life is full of strange things. And right there, out of nowhere, I ran into the daughter of Mr. Seong. She was the absolute beauty of Bongpyeong—I suppose it was just written in my stars."

Jo Seon-dal merely murmured in agreement, pulling on his pipe for a long while as if to save his words. The savory, purplish smoke flowed into the night air and melted away.

"She wasn't waiting for me, of course, but it wasn't like she was waiting for some other fellow either. The girl was crying. I had an idea why; Mr. Seong's family was going through a terrible hardship and they were on the verge of ruin. When the whole family is in trouble, how could the daughter not be worried? They wanted to marry her off to anyone decent who would take her, but she said she'd rather die than get married..."

"But is there anything that pulls at a man's heartstrings quite like a crying woman? She seemed startled at first, but when people are burdened with sorrow, their hearts tend to soften easily, and so, one thing led to another, and we began to talk.... When I think back on it, it was a terrifying and breathtaking night."

"And you made your grand escape to Jecheon or somewhere the very next day, right?"

"By the next market day, the entire family had already vanished. The market was turned completely upside down by the rumors, and people were whispering that the poor girl had most likely been sold off to a tavern. You wouldn't believe how many times I combed through the Jecheon market square looking for her. But there was no trace of her whatsoever. That first night was our last. Ever since then, I grew fond of Bongpyeong; how could I ever forget it, even after half a lifetime?"

"You were a lucky man. A miracle like that doesn't happen often. Usually, you end up with someone plain, have kids, your worries pile up, and just thinking about it makes me shudder. Still, wandering around as a peddler until the very end of your days... isn't that a hard life? I'm going to quit this lifestyle after the autumn. I'll open a small shop in Daehwa and bring my family over. Trudging along like this all year round is no easy task."

"Maybe if I ever meet that old maiden again, we'll settle down together. But until I collapse, I'll keep walking these roads and looking at that moon."

They emerged from the mountain path onto a wider road. Dong-i, who had been at the back, moved forward, and the donkeys walked side by side.

"You're a young lad, right in the prime of your youth. Don't feel too bad about the mistake you made back at the Chungju Tavern."

"Oh, n-not at all. I'm actually ashamed. I have no business thinking about women right now. Awake or asleep, all I think about is my mother."

Because Heo Saeng-won had sounded a bit melancholic with his story, Dong-i's tone had also softened considerably.

"Hearing you mention mothers and fathers nearly breaks my heart, but I don't have a father. My mother is my only blood relative."

"Did he pass away?"

"He was never there from the start."

"How can that be in this world..."

When the older men laughed loudly in disbelief, Dong-i had no choice but to turn serious and insist.

"I was too embarrassed to say it, but it's true. My mother gave birth to me prematurely in a village in Jecheon, and she was chased out of her home. It's a funny story, but because of that, to this day, I've never seen my father's face, nor do I know where he is."

As a steep hill lay ahead of them, the three men dismounted their donkeys. The slope was rugged, and they were too out of breath to speak; the conversation paused for a while. The donkeys slipped constantly. Heo Saeng-won was so winded he had to stop and rest his legs several times. With every hill he crossed, he felt his age. He was endlessly envious of young men like Dong-i. Sweat washed down his back in streams.

Just over the hill was the stream. The wooden bridge that had washed away during the monsoon had not yet been rebuilt, so they had to strip down to cross. They took off their trousers, tied them to their backs with their belts, and plunged into the water looking half-naked and comical. Although they had just been sweating profusely, the night water chilled them to the bone.

"So, who exactly raised you, then?"

"My mother had no choice but to take in a stepfather and start selling liquor. Her new husband was a heavy drinker and a complete tyrant. From the moment I was old enough to understand, there wasn't a single day I didn't get beaten. My mother would try to stop him, and she'd get kicked, beaten, and threatened with knives, so you can imagine what our home was like. That's why I ran away when I was eighteen and started doing this."

"For a young lad, I thought you had a surprisingly mature heart, but hearing your story, you've had a hard life."

The water was deep, reaching up to their waists. The undercurrent was quite strong, and the stones shifting under their feet were slippery, making them feel as if they could be swept away at any moment. The donkey and Jo Seon-dal quickly made it mostly across, but Dong-i stayed behind to support Heo Saeng-won, so the two of them fell far behind.

"Was your mother's hometown originally Jecheon?"

"Not at all. She never speaks of it openly, but I did hear it was Bongpyeong."

"Bongpyeong? And what was her father's surname?"

"How would I know? I never heard it."

"I... I suppose so," Heo Saeng-won muttered, his fading vision blurring, and in his distraction, he carelessly lost his footing. Before he could stop himself from falling forward, he plunged completely into the water. The more he flailed, the more he lost control of his body, and by the time Dong-i shouted and reached him, he had already been swept quite a distance downstream. Soaking wet with his clothes on, he looked more pitiful than a drowned rat. In the water, Dong-i easily hoisted the older man onto his back. Even though Heo Saeng-won was wet, his thin frame was quite light on the strong young man's back.

"I'm sorry to make you do this. I seem to have lost my mind today."

"Don't worry about it at all."

"So, your mother... she doesn't seem to be looking for your father?"

"She always says she'd like to meet him just once."

"Where is she now?"

"She split up with my stepfather and is living in Jecheon. I'm thinking of bringing her to Bongpyeong in the autumn. If I grit my teeth and earn enough money, we should be able to get by somehow."

"Of course, that's an admirable thought. You said the autumn?"

Dong-i's broad, sturdy back felt warm, penetrating deep into his bones. When they finished crossing the water, Heo Saeng-won felt a tinge of sadness and wished he could be carried just a little longer.

"Making mistakes all day long, what's gotten into you, Saeng-won?"

Jo Seon-dal looked back at him and finally burst into laughter.

"It was the donkey. I was thinking about the donkey and slipped. Didn't I tell you? Even looking like that, the beast managed to get a foal. With the mare from the Gangneung house in town. You can't imagine anything cuter than that little foal, pricking up its ears and trotting around. I sometimes go out of my way to circle the town just to see it."

"If it makes a man fall into the water, it must be quite the donkey."

Heo Saeng-won wrung out his wet clothes as best he could and put them back on. His teeth were chattering, his chest was trembling, and he was freezing cold, but for some unknown reason, his heart felt buoyant and incredibly light.

"Let's hurry to the tavern. We'll build a fire in the yard and get properly warm. We'll boil some hot water for the donkeys, too. Tomorrow, after the Daehwa market, we're heading to Jecheon."

"You're going to Jecheon, too, Saeng-won...?"

"I want to go there for the first time in a long while. Will you come with me, Dong-i?"

When the donkeys began to walk again, Dong-i's whip was in his left hand. Though Heo Saeng-won's eyes had been as dim as a bat's for a long time, this time, he could not fail to notice that Dong-i was left-handed.

Their steps were light, and the sound of the bells rang out even more clearly across the night fields.

The moon had dipped quite low in the sky.