A Boy: Part IV

Seoul, with over ten million people, is South Korea's largest city and one of the most populous cities in the world.

Keum was on this slick black Porsche Carrera and the pro was driving it. The two hadn't spoke a word through the whole journey since they left the temple.

They were in the area called Gangnam, the booming part of South of Han River with many newly built high-rises, hundreds of boutique shops and fancy restaurants, clubs and bars. The pro maneuvered Porche through heavy traffic and thousands of pedestrians into a small alley and parked in front of a large house. The house was an authentic Korean architect and was indeed an strange edition to the surroundings.

The pro rang the intercom by the side of enormous size gate. The gate opened with hydraulics hissing sound and the pro took Keum into the house. Keum noticed two German Shepherds sitting and behind each of two there were two man wearing black suits. The pro ignored them and led Keum into the door. Inside of the house was dark but well maintained and filled with antique furniture. After the long corridor, the pro and Keum went into a huge room. The room was dark also and it was lit only by a small Tiffany lamp in the center of a large wooden desk. Behind the desk, there was an old man sitting. He was extremely thin and looked frail at first but Keum noticed his eyes were burning like the fire he used to build at the temple. Without saying a word, the old man motioned Keum to sit down at the chair across the room. Keum walked to the chair and sat down. In front of him he faced an old antique Badukpan with beautifully carved legs of intertwined dragons. The old man said, 'So this is the boy you have been talking about?' The pro replied, 'Yes sir.' The old man stood up and walked to the chair in front of Keum and sat down and looked at Keum and studied his face for few minutes. The old man pushed a bowl of black stones toward Keum and said, 'OK, let's see how good you are.'

The first stone was played at Somok (3.4). The old man placed his at Samsam (3.3). Keum followed with Hwajum (4.4), then old man Hwajum (4.4).

The old man's style was similar to Japanese master Sakata Eio. He played precisely, poignantly. His moves were sharp and calculated. Keum played without any emotions showing through his face as usual. His play was direct and without finesse but well prepared. His play was fight inducing. The old man's pace was slow at first then became faster toward the mid-game. Keum played at steady pace but each move had no hesitation. When the game was over, the old man's large dragon of 68 stones had only one eye. The old man smiled for the first time.

'He IS good.' 'I think he is ready. What do you think?' asked the old man. 'Without a doubt, sir.' the pro replied.

For next few days, the pro took Keum to places where Keum never imagined they existed.
Keum was dressed in black pinstriped Armany with matching shoes by Fratelli Rosetti.
Keum was taken to expensive yojung, traditional Korean restaurants where gisaeng serve food and drinks. Keum turned from a tall handsome farm boy to a tall handsome flamboyant man.

Two weeks later, on one evening, the pro drove Keum to a place in Insa-Dong, which has been the heart of the nation’s capital for 600 years, with many small alleys filled with antique stores. The pro took out a small briefcase from the trunk and led Keum to a small but clean antique store and into a back room. Three men stood up and greeted the pro and Keum when they entered the room. They were courteous and careful. After shaking hands with one of them, the pro said, 'Master Yi sends his sincere regards to Master Kim.' 'Shall we start then?' the other man replied and led the two into another room.

The room was small but had a large window, and through the window Keum could see a large backyard with Japanese Maple trees. There was no furniture except an antique badukpan and two chairs. On one chair, there was a man with long hair. The man was thin. He was wearing hanbok, traditional Korean costume and smoking a cigarette. He was there, but seemed not there at the same time. The pro motioned Keum to sit.

Keum didn't have any ideas what he was doing there except playing baduk.

Later he found out that the place was famous for underground gambling, which was highly illegal in Korea. It was his first of many baduk games he would play for the old man, who is now Keum's master. Masters were people who were at very high position in the government or owners of Chaebul* or boss of organized crime family. The stake was high, but more important than money, there was the honor.

Keum sat down. Neither of the players spoke. The late Sun entered through the window and casted a large shadow of maple trees. Keum thought about his hometown, the sea, and his mother.