Jjok-baris village (lit. a village of Japanese) (4)

Liberated and on the sea again

For a while we talked about the disaster of the typhoon, when my father was called and went up to the deck. As soon as he came back, he said to us, Navigating by the tugboats stops here. From now on, we will sail only by two motor-powered-sailboats ., and added to us, It was decided that we will embark separately ---one boat is for men and another is for the families including the old and the children.
My father continued to explain, I dont know the exact reason because I didnt speak to them directly but I heard that a police man in Nanpo said, Japanese passengers cant be permitted formally to the South Korea, but  Though its unofficial one and on account of the process in Sinjangju that this sailing was permitted, we will permit to sail again as for the families., then As for the men, it is difficult to permit essentially but we decided to overlook for not keeping company with them from the first. They recognize this sailing as a separate act, so we should change the boat quickly and ship out.
A little while ago, after the tugboat men and Coast Guard had talked about something , two of them transferred to this place and talked with some Japanese and the crews. Having watched that, I was afraid that some trouble might happen. But at least it was so lucky to elude the capturethe worst situation-- , so I felt relief at the news.
I thought like that---the tugboat men couldnt stand an awful sweat like towing a boat any more. Also the authorities had considered it was troublesome to deal with such a large amount of Japanese people、so its better to set them free as soon as possible.
Immediately our fathers transferred to the other boat with their hand baggage and families in the other boat moved to this boat with the collecting baggage. The move began hurriedly. They ordered us one family must be together but there was a disturbance. Except 2 bout men, there were only us, children, as male help, so five men remained here as the surveyors. I was so envied these families because we should be apart from our fathers.　Within one hour or so the move had finished. While the two bouts were the same size but there were about 60 people on the bout for male and there were 120 people on the boat for families, and the voyage started again at Chinnanpo to the Southward. Though the boats advanced to the open sea early in the afternoon, our family boat could sail openly along the sea coast, but as for fathers boat it was necessary to sail as secretly as they could as they had no permission.
Therefore they advanced within the offing not to be found out by the Cutter, so the shape of the ship was gradually far and dwindle away.
For some time our ships were sailing side by side in our each sight, but in the afternoon the weather changed worse again because of an approaching typhoon. Wind and wave became strong and high, so the ship rolled terribly, and frequently the sign of another ship disappeared from our sight and at last in the evening we lost it.
For us the last nightmares were still remaining in our mind, so it was so helpless to be on board without fathers. On the board the conversations dwindled away and gloomy air was floating.
Our fathers were taken away anywhere, Im afraid.
By my mothers talking to herself, I was scared too, and thought, Thats could happen!Ｔheir requirements were so strange for us.
Even though they would take our fathers by only the Korean shipmens will, they cant do such a thing against for the several Japanese men, so after all they were captured by the Coast Guard? Any way as not having anything to do, we could not help spending that night on the board in the close quarters with anxiety.
After the nervous night it dawned and a person on the board was shouting.
I can see another ship! I ran up to the board quickly and looked at the direction the man pointed. Surely I could recognize the ship where I said good bye to our fathers. Our ship was far from the land so it was a miracle to meet each other by chance on the mighty ocean! Still there was quite a few distance but the people on another board noticed us, so it gradually came to close. In 30minutes or so the ship drew together and we could distinguish each faces. I found my father smiling toward us.
Though we met together we could not transfer yet, so the ship sailed side by side to the South like before. Even though we were on the ship separately, I was very glad to see that my father was safe and fine and stayed near us. I guessed another family felt the same way.


Landed secretly for water and foods at night

Including this lucky day, 5days had already passed since we started Dasado Island.
According to our first plan we should have arrived at the destination already, but we only came half because of a typhoon. About foods we brought somewhat enough but the remains were lessening and the every quantity of ration decreased day by day. We all often thought Hungry! or Want to eat anything to the full! But we were the escapees on the ship, so we didnt have any resource to get foods. Without a rod we couldnt catch fish which were sailing around a lot. After all there was no way to keep the food except eating little by little, and to pass a hunger we tried not to move.
The more serious problem than foods was water. Every body brought water bottles or kettles but they became already empty. The supporting water in the ship was slowly bottoming up. The amount of almost water was scarcely enough for only one day to satisfy their thirst of so many people. If it rained we could get it on the sail and store a little, but the amount would be a few. Actually last night it rained a little so we gathered it on the sail but got only three cups of bagaji. (bagaji cut a melon into halves and hollow inside then dry up use for a bucket or a dipper )
We, fine and healthy, were able to endure by only complaining hungry or thirsty. The weak and the infant, looked patient but had weakened apparently. It was so pitiful.
We all decided that from now on, in case of taking at least three more days (we must supply water and foods anywhere at any risk.) Fortunately we had a male help tonight, so planed to land by night.
From the evening our ship approached the coast little by little and got to the little fishing village (I supposed) when it darkened around. 20 Japanese landed with 4 Korean crews who leaded us. Beforehand we gave a bribe to them, so the crew with some money rushed into the private house and procured some foods like corn or millet and water. In the mean time we went around to the back yard and dug out the potatoes or vegetables at random in the field. Incidentally I looked around for watering place to satisfy my thirst in the dim light but couldnt find it. I had no choice and drank scooped standing water cautiously on the surface in the field with my hand. It was not clean and stank a little, but on this occasion it was inevitable.
Dont drink too much for fear of diarrhea!
Shouting so, fathers were scooping and drinking the water, too.
As an official procuring member, the crew was safe but we, burglars, rushed to the ship with spoils. Staying for a long time was unnecessary. As soon as the crew came back with water, they unbound the moor and started immediately. It was lucky that the Guards didnt chase us crying, Burglar!
We delivered the booties equally by all and the dishes cooked by mothers were so warm and delicious supper even though they could not eat until our stomach distended.

(To be continued - in translation)