Young-hee and the Pullocho by Mark James Russell Read Free Book Online Page A

never noticed that door before,” said the female.
    â€œMe neither. Very peculiar . All the more reason to know what she is.”
    â€œI… I don’t know what you mean,” said Young-hee.
    â€œShe doesn’t know very much.”
    â€œDefinitely a golem.”
    â€œNo, I mean, I’m nothing special. Just a girl.”
    â€œâ€˜Nothing special’,” echoed the female jangseung. “Just a … waita-minute … a girl ?”
    â€œFrom the mud world?” said the male totem pole. “A bear daughter?”
    â€œA human girl?”
    â€œEr, yeah,” said Young-hee. “I mean, yes, to the human part. Not the bear part or the mud.”
    There was a brief pause, then both jangseung started talking rapidly at the same time.
    â€œCould she be a true girl?”
    â€œIt’s been an age since I saw a human. What could it mean?”
    â€œWhy now? We shouldn’t be hasty.”
    â€œDo you think she’s here to fight?”
    â€œCould she tip the balance?”
    â€œShe doesn’t look like much of a fighter.”
    Young-hee didn’t understand. Fighting? Balance? This was way out of her league. “Uh, excuse me?” she ventured. “I never meant to make trouble or offend anyone.”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry, dearie,” said the female jangseung, her scowl softening. “We’re being terribly rude. These are difficult times and sometimes Cheonha and I forget our manners.”
    â€œSo … am I allowed to pass?”
    â€œOh, yes. A bear daughter? Of course.”
    It was a promising response, and Young-hee relaxed a bit. “You’re the first real jangseung I’ve ever met, but you both look very beautiful and elegant. And you saved me from that nasty dragonfly thing, so I really owe you. Thank you so much.” Young-hee bowed politely as she finished speaking.
    â€œYou are very gracious girl, and grace is always appreciated,” said the male, bowing his wooden body politely. “I am General Cheonha, and my bride is General Jiha. We are the guardians of the jureum forest and surrounding lands, from the Crying Stream to the Swollen Pond, and from the Lonely Wastes, past the goblin market, to Haechi’s Horn.”
    â€œHaechi’s Horn?”
    Jiha gave a flick of her head toward the steep grassy hill beyond the forest. “Haechi’s Horn. Because the hill is so steep, like the horn of a haechi.”
    â€œAh,” said Young-hee, looking at the hill towering over them. “Well, it is wonderful to meet you both. I’m Young-hee. I’m nothing special like a general or a guardian, just a normal girl. I’m certainly not a bear.”
    â€œA bear daughter ,” corrected Jiha. “You are a human, descended from Ungnyeo the bear and the first son of heaven.”
    â€œWait, are you talking about that Dangun story?” she asked, remembering the old Korean tale. Young-hee wasn’t up on mythology, but had read the tale in a comic book. “Is that where I am? In the world of Dangun and stories like that, not the real world.”
    â€œWell, that depends,” said Cheonha. “Our realm is as real as any other. But it hasn’t been the first world in a long, long time. Not since your mud world took our place.”
    â€œTook your place …?”
    â€œYes, long ago, before the Second Great Giants’ War,” said Cheonha. “Before the nine-headed ogre Agwi Kwisin stole the daughter of the vice regent, when the river fairies still ran wild, and the evil yellow dragon came down from …”
    â€œI’m sure the girl doesn’t want to hear the convoluted history,” interrupted Jiha. “Besides, as long as we are here, no one has to fear ogres or tigers or the like.”
    Cheonha seemed ready to argue with his wife, but a shadow passed across the sun, covering Young-hee and the forest in darkness. Young-hee looked up,