I now stood on the third floor, back to my usual self. The only thing that had changed was that the wet towel that had been covering my head had sunk in place of Benjamin, who was floundering nearby. I first checked on Kim Gayoung, who had slumped to the floor.
"I saw you fall as you came in. Is the place where you fell okay?"
"......It's starting to hurt now."
Kim Gayoung groaned softly as she panted, rubbing her buttocks and waist vigorously. Sounds of "Ouch, ouch" escaped her lips.
Yoo Geum, sitting on the floor, looked up at the ceiling with a dazed expression, as if her soul was escaping through her slightly open mouth. She slowly mumbled to me with her trembling lips.
"I'm really tired today. I've never thought I lacked stamina before."
It's not easy to pull a 75 kg adult male with sheer strength. Moreover, we've been through too many things all at once. I thought that if I had been holding the cat tightly and the two of them had let go, we would have landed on the water without much trouble, but I couldn't say that to these two who had worked so hard. It would have belittled their efforts and hard work.
Thanks to these two, I didn't have to go back into the water, and the cat didn't get wet. The former is one thing, but the latter is quite valuable, isn't it? I can dry off, but animals hate getting wet. Besides, the three of us going through this ordeal isn't anyone's fault. Looking at Kim Gayoung and Yoo Geum, I slowly said,
"Thank you both. It was really heavy, and you worked hard to pull me up. ......I didn't think he would throw the cat."
Unimaginable things have been happening one after another. I also didn't think someone would want my backpack in such a situation. I've never lived in a world where people desperately try to steal the bags of those carrying them. Isn't it normal for bags left on cafe chairs to be safe even when you go to the bathroom? Is it because the security in Korea is good, or is it because this place is particularly bad?
The two of them leaned against the railing, looking exhausted. Logan and Kanu were smoking again as if this was none of their business, James was jeering at the second floor, and Sam was shouting, "You're a real piece of shit, Logan."
Looking down, I saw Benjamin swimming hard and entering the second floor through the railing. The second floor, which had been completely filled with water, was now draining to the level of people's calves.
Benjamin and I made eye contact as he looked up from the second floor. He raised his middle finger like a 9-year-old and folded the rest of his fingers. Oh, come on. ......Are you really that old and still doing this? Even Henry, who was suddenly abandoned in a leaking underwater base and was terrified, didn't act like that. I considered flipping him the bird back but decided it was too childish and unproductive. I'm not a kid.
Yoo Geum turned her head to the railing, saw the scene, and sighed deeply.
"Why does he live like that?"
"He probably wants to vent his stress on weaker beings. I bet he's always been like that."
Kim Gayoung, who had been rubbing her waist and buttocks, frowned at Yoo Geum's words. Venting stress on weaker beings? What kind of life is that? ......I couldn't even imagine it, even if I tried twice. I'd rather eat a lot of sweets and visit the dentist.
I supported Kim Gayoung's arm over my shoulder. She looked very unstable just with that. I briefly excused myself and grabbed her pelvis to help her stand. Once I lifted her with my strength, she could stand on both feet and walk with her arm over my shoulder.
Yoo Geum, who had been mumbling that she was fine, slowly got up by holding the railing, took a deep breath, and walked over. Everyone, including Lee Jihyun, who was sprawled out on a chair, looked exhausted. They all needed to rest or eat something. Or just rest.
But we can't rest. When the water level drops to a certain point, we need to go down to the first-floor elevator at the right time. We don't know when or how much water will come back.
Will the elevator work? What about the Infinite Bridge guys upstairs? I only noticed Carter approaching from my left after a moment. When I stopped walking, he hesitated and said,
"I didn't know he would throw your cat. I didn't even know there was a cat in the backpack."
You bastard. Is that an apology? I held back the urge to punch him. The main reason was that if I let go, Kim Gayoung would fall. I stared at Carter and asked,
"What did you think was in the backpack?"
"Dollars. Or......drugs."
Are any of the prohibited items in the underwater base actually enforced? I had a rough idea from the state of his teeth. I don't know what kind of drugs, but the severe tooth decay suggests an acidic type. The drug's side effects would have caused poor digestion and loss of appetite, leading to a diet of sugary drinks and chocolate, accelerating tooth decay.
......Wait a minute. Do I look like a drug dealer? Every time Carter spoke, it felt like he was adding fuel to my anger. He came to apologize, not to start a fight. I asked Carter,
"Are you sorry to me?"
"......"
I don't know if I'm interpreting the situation positively or just being overly optimistic. But from the way he came to unburden his guilt, it seemed that if Carter had known there was a cat in the backpack, he wouldn't have tried so hard to take it.
Is this too positive a fantasy? But what do I gain by thinking negatively in this situation? Endless depression? Skepticism about human selfishness? A desire for revenge? Benjamin......I don't know. Let's just focus on Carter for now.
We are just people who happened to meet in the disaster of a leaking underwater base. From the moment the water started leaking until now, I've judged that building animosity towards each other won't help at all. In an environment where even helping each other with all our strength might not be enough to survive, it's pointless.
In the 20th century, people could live well as long as they and their families and friends were safe. But the 21st century is different. Situations where only one's own happiness and safety are not enough to survive have been continuously created. The results of the 20th century's attempts to live well and safely by themselves are well known to our generation. We know that discarding selfishness and protecting others will eventually protect oneself.
If possible, I hope people can take care of and help each other through good actions.
I and Yoo Geum rescued the trapped Kim Gayoung, and I and Lee Jihyun helped Yoo Geum release the marine life. Kim Gayoung helped us when we were in danger, and we tried our best to support what Lee Jihyun wanted to do, just as these people helped me.
In this situation, money and violence offer no salvation. If having money could get you out of here quickly, then why did the person in the dream, covered in jewels, die from my gun? If those familiar with violence could get out, Shin Hae-ryang and Baek Ae-young would have escaped first in the dream. Or that Goodman guy.
Capital and coercion. I'm still alive in this chaotic underwater base because of the concern and selfless help of the people around me. I pointed to Kim Gayoung next to me and Yoo Geum walking behind and said to Carter,
"If you're sorry to me, be nice to Kim Gayoung and Yoo Geum. They came to help me even though they fell."
I want a cycle of kindness. And if you want to ask the cat for forgiveness, buy it something to eat.
Carter hesitated, looked at Kim Gayoung and Yoo Geum, and then walked past us to the lower floor. After a few seconds of silence, Kim Gayoung said,
"Something. When I talk to Geum, I feel like my lost humanity is slowly returning. Mr. Muhyeon, you're a bit like that too."
"What do you mean by that? ......Why does Gayoung have no humanity?"
"It dries up as you live. It's completely desertified. I'm trying to fill it by seeing good people."
"Don't worry. They say flowers can grow in the desert these days."
The 21st century is strangely a world where desertification and rising sea levels happen simultaneously. In some places, people die and the environment is destroyed due to lack of water, while in others, habitats are destroyed by too much water.
James approached the sprawled-out Lee Jihyun and they started talking. After a few more words, James carried Lee Jihyun on his back. Lee Jihyun pointed to some pads, and Sam, who was nearby, gathered them and shouted to us,
"Is there anything you need to take?"
What do we need to take? I can't think of anything right now. I don't know. What do I need to take from the third floor? I looked around and saw the closed door of the center director's office and the adjacent offices. I only wanted to leave the third floor as quickly as possible. I asked Kim Gayoung and Yoo Geum,