Empire of the Ring

In many countries, there are many versions of ‘The Ant and the Grasshopper’ from Aesop’s Fables.

This is an interesting American version of the story:

‘As the winter came, the grasshopper went out to search for food since he had nothing stored in his house for spending all summer singing and playing. He knocked on the ant’s door to beg for food but the ant’s reaction was cold for the grasshopper who had not worked for himself during the summer. Cold and hungry, the grasshopper played his violin with his last strength reminiscing about the past summer days. His last play was sad and touching. The ants that had only worked hard for the summer and had not known about music started to listen for the grasshopper’s violin. Not letting go of this opportunity, the grasshopper shouted to the ants to pay for the admission ticket. From then on, the grasshopper held a recital every winter and eventually he became a famous and rich musician like Michael Jackson.’

It is a very Americanized version.

The grasshopper used his specialty to sell his performance ticket and the ants would give him the food they stored during the winter. The moral of the story was that both grasshopper and ants could live helping each other but in another perspective, it was part of a new creation.

The United States was a country that had been creating something new through a mixture of diverse people and cultures. The country became strong because of the flexible and dynamic culture that was not rigid.

The story of ‘The Ant and the Grasshopper’ was not just an interesting spin-off of an already-existing story. A new spin-off was created by mixing an old and somewhat comfortable thing with a new, strange thing; making elegant things and vulgar things mingle, and tossing hard and soft things together.

Any new products and innovative inventions were created out of nothing but were the result of the efforts to get rid of the old and uncomfortable inconvenience.

Youngho’s little success was also achieved by thought to get rid of trial and error from past experiences. It was not done because he was smart. It was a kind of creation as well.

The reason for the second migration success without any injuries or stragglers was that Youngho had observed the previous migration and learned from it. He picked the right season for the migration, thought about a number of cases of things that would happen during the migration, and prepared everything properly.

The housings of the farm were also ready for new immigrants.

“I guess what you’ve eagerly prepared for was all needed after all.”

It was Jongil who had scolded Youngho since he made a fuss and hired doctors and nurses to send them to Bulgaria.

“It’s 2,000 people. Do you think there wouldn’t be any accidents or emergency? Phew! If there was no doctor, the laboring mom would’ve been in grave condition by now.”

As the row of ships entered the Volga-Don Canal, a pregnant lady went into labor and she could give birth safely because of the medical people Youngho hired. Because she was going through dystocia, it would not have been possible without a doctor.

Not only the pregnant lady, there were also many countless people who were waiting for medical help. They had decided to leave their home since their life in Serbia was hard. A third of the whole immigrant crowd carried small or big illnesses. Many of them had pneumonia because they neglected cold throughout the past winter.

They could get on board only after being treated and giving medicines at the Port of Burgas. It was a long story but it was managed well.

Youngho was glad that he left Fatima home. If she had seen the people’s conditions, she would have been heartbroken.

***

Four car-ferry ships and one huge freighter were being inspected at the edge of the Ural River. Kazakhstan Navy’s two missile patrol boats and an administrative boat were moored right next to the car-ferry ships in order to get the headcount of the immigrants.

“Youngho, isn’t that our Naval patrol killer? They’re the Chamsuri boats.”

There was an event in 2006 that the Korean Navy had given three retired Chamsuri patrol boats to Kazakhstan each at the symbolic price of a hundred dollars. They were all retired from the Kazakh Navy but the same-looking patrol killers had come to inspect the new immigrants.

“Well, they look the same but that one’s a newer version. I’ve seen from the TV news that the Kazakh Navy had come to buy Korean Naval small vessels.”

In the Caspian Sea, missile patrol boats in the 250-ton class were considered a matchless power. To protect the country’s territorial waters, the Kazakh Navy had been training Navy soldiers and the Kazakh Naval officers had been receiving commissioned education by Korean Naval Academy, so both countries had a close relationship.

Youngho spoke to a Naval officer.

“I’m the owner of Arirang Farm in Atyrau.”

“Oh! I knew that I had heard of the name of the ship. I’m Victor Jun the Kazakh Naval captain. I’m the third generation Koryoin here.”

Since his face was exotic, Youngho did not think that he was a Koryoin, but he just claimed that he was a third generation Koryoin. It seemed that he still deeply identified himself as a Korean descent.

“You must’ve received commissioned education in Korea. I’m also from the U.D.T Unit of the Korean Navy.”

“Why, is that true? I’ve also participated in the U.D.T. training for a week in Jinhae. They were indeed great warriors.”

When the commissioned education request from outside was accepted, the unit was known to roll people even harshly to show off their strength and it seemed Victor had been a sacrifice of that custom. Holding the captain position of the top-of-the-line missile patrol boats meant that he was an elite soldier of Kazakhstan.

“All of the people from Atyrau and Koryoins know about Arirang Farm. You’re our pride. It’s an honor to have met you.”

“Oh, that’s too much compliment. It’s nothing.”

“No, no. My father danced when I told him I was going to commissioned education to Korea, but he showed his tears when he heard that Arirang Farm was established. He said he was proud to be a Koryoin.”

Youngho was glad to hear that the existence of Arirang Farm encouraged the Koryoins in Kazakhstan, but he also felt uneasy at the same time since he had not done so much for Koryoins except for hiring some people and helping out some Koryoin merchants.

Youngho told Victor Jun who was about to leave after completing the inspection that he should visit Arirang Farm’s wharf any time he wanted to. As he offered to give lamb meat and wine for his comrades, Victor smiled. There was no reason for him to refuse an offer of a wealthy businessman from the same root.

Not just because he was a Koryoin but Youngho offered it since it would be helpful to have a good relationship with an elite Naval officer.

***

Youngho opened his eyes from his nap at the crashing sound of a lump of ice that had come down from the upstream against the freighter.

Since the ship had set off from the downstream river in the morning, he was getting close to the branch river near the farm. Although the field was warm enough to have heat shimmers from the spring’s sunshine, the water was still icy.

The Ural River’s temperature was said to be cold and not suitable for swimming even in July. The melted water from the Ural River would flow about 2,500 kilometers to enter the Caspian Sea, so it was a silly idea to wait for it to get warm.

Youngho searched for Jongil and found him fishing at the railing of the deck.

His face was confident as he had fished six trout from the Ural River while Youngho was napping. Since the river’s temperature was known to be low, the trout’s meat was hard and chewy that it was great to eat as raw.

“We have about two hours until we get to the Arirang Farm’s wharf. Should I make sashimi?”

As soon as Jongil saw Youngho, he mentioned about sashimi.

“It’s not great without Soju. I don’t like it with vodka.”

“Man, any meat from a local place is only good with the local liquor. You’ve lived overseas for a long time but are you still nagging about Korean Soju? I’ll eat it myself if you don’t want it.”

It would have been impossible to drink on the car-ferry ships but they were on The Arirang.

The Red Pepper, Hong Sungki, who was in charge of security of the migration showed off his great knife controlling skills and made some sashimi and put it on a portable table.

“Hong Sungki. When did you learn to make sashimi? That was just great.”

“I worked at a battleship’s kitchen before I volunteered to the U.D.T. Unit”

Jongil did not forget to make a joke.

“Man, are you sure you turned down a culinary position of a battleship? That’s the best department! You must’ve burned rice and was kicked out.”

“Well, I’ve caused similar problems.”

Exchanging silly jokes, the group was getting ready for a little deck party. It was their first time to drink in about a week and any liquor whether it was Soju or vodka, was welcome. In no time, the Russian chief mate came to join their party as well.

“We’ll be entering the wharf but the chief mate is trying to drink? You’re going to be drunk driving!”

At Youngho’s words, the chief mate opposed him.

“I just finished my shift and this is my free time. Also, when entering and leaving a port, no one can touch the steering wheel except the captain in charge. I’m a free man now. Please give me the drink, boss!”

“Oh is that so? I thought anyone could do it but I guess I was wrong. Okay, have some drink. If you have any other liquor hidden in some place, get them out too.”

Youngho was feeling sad since he only had one bottle of vodka but a chief mate ought to have saved a few bottles in his cabin.

***

The wharf was crowded by the town people and new immigrants. It seemed that all of the town people had come out to greet the new immigrants.

With the second generation immigrants of 391 families which were 2,135 people added, the wharf had no place to set one’s foot. It was also loud to the point that Youngho could not hear anyone. Kim Chun, who was still recovering, had also come to receive the new generation of immigrants.

The immigrants’ would be assigned houses by the number of each family, so they just follow the direction and move but they stayed at the wharf without moving for a while. It was because they were too excited to see their new home.

They left their home thinking that they would be pioneering into a wasteland but they were impressed to see a well-built wharf and a huge grain silo. As they were calming down, people’s belongings unloaded from The Arirang were loaded on the trucks that had been parked in a row. Dozens of large buses were loaded with the immigrants and set off to the farm.

To transport the whole crowd, the buses would have to have three to four round trips today.

“As the prince consort does not mind going through troubles for our people, we’re just so thankful. It’s all because the Kingdom of Serbia is blessed. Thank you for your work.”

Chief Niksic paid a visit to Youngho’s place and thanked him with tears in his eyes.

“Were you not sad that you couldn’t go with us this time? I didn’t take you because I knew it was going to be a tough journey for you.”

“I’d only be your burden if I came with you with this old body. I feel more happy to carry a rock to prepare the farm for the new immigrants. I’m grateful that enough houses were completed for today’s immigrants. I appreciate you on behalf of all descendants of the Serbian Kingdom.”

Then Old Niksic paid respect as if a knight would do for his king, kneeling down on one knee. Youngho was embarrassed to receive such respect as it happened so suddenly. It seemed that he has to be used to such things by now.

The next day, the whole farm was busy with people moving their belongings to their houses. The belongings left at the wharf and in the empty fields of the farm were all carried inside each house.

In the alleys and the playground, all kids came out to play and made noises, and the women who received new appliances and furniture were busy letting out an exclamation.

Youngho had asked to put appliances and furniture in houses beforehand but Kim Chun insisted that it was better to give them as gifts after people had moved in. So, the people were impressed one more time.

Since many nomadic villages are in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the number of children were their assets. It was the same as the Serbian people and there were at least four or five children in each family. On top of that, they lived with old parents and naturally each family was big. Considering that, Youngho had ordered to make five or six rooms for each house. He did that, so children could have their own rooms since it’s many children’s dream.

Youngho smiled thinking that the children’s future would be brighter as they would have their childhood dreaming in their own rooms.