“Well, it’s a famous part of the ogre’s story, that much is for certain. If I recall the tale correctly, it was…” But before Samjogo could finish, a loud, sulfurous blam exploded a few feet from them. Standing in the center of the stinky cloud, was a hideous creature, seven feet tall, completely misshapen from head to toe, wearing dark armor, holding a jagged spear, and covered in a glow of blue flames.
“What is that?” cried Young-hee, shielding her eyes from the flames.
“Oh, him,” deadpanned the Samjogo. “That would be Yeonggam, the demon of this cave. I would imagine he’s pretty upset that I’ve been freed. And even more angry at the one who freed me.”
Agwi Kwisin the Nine-Headed Ogre and the Warrior
Long ago, when the Tiger used to smoke, there lived a terrible ogre named Agwi Kwisin in the mountains of a beautiful kingdom. The huge, nine-headed rock monster would descend from his secret mountain cave and, armed with a great sword, ravage the land, stealing food, destroying villages, and sometimes taking young women.
One day, he stole the king’s three beautiful daughters. The distraught king promised a great reward and the youngest daughter’s hand in marriage for the return his daughters. But none would risk facing the monster, even for the reward.
Then a mysterious warrior came to the palace and said he would return the daughters. The courtiers laughed, finding the young warrior neither frightening nor famous. But the king, happy to have someone willing to try, offered three servants to help on the quest.
The warrior searched the kingdom’s mountains and forests for weeks and months, but found no ogre. The three servants complained endlessly, and begged for permission to abandon the fruitless quest and return to the nice palace. But the warrior refused and persisted.
One day, they came across an old man sitting calmly under a tree, cooking soup on a fire. The servants ordered the man to give them the fire and food—because they were with the king. But the warrior told them to treat their elders with respect and apologized to the old man. Thanking the warrior for his kindness, the man revealed that he was in fact the great Mountain Spirit, Sanshin. He offered to share his soup and, as they ate, the warrior explained his quest. Taking pity, San-shin advised, “Go past this mountain, then the next, and finally on the third, halfway up, you will find a big cave. Deep down in the cave you will find the ogre.”
Then Sanshin thrust a bag into the coals, and it came out full of ashes. He held them out, saying the warrior might find them useful, especially if outnumbered.
The warrior thanked Sanshin and started walking with renewed purpose. And as promised, halfway up the third mountain was the cave and, far back within it, a great hole so dark and deep he couldn’t see the bottom.
So the warrior tied all their ropes together, and anchored it to a big rock. “Servant, I will tie you to this rope, lower you into the cave. Tell us what you find.” But the servant was too scared. “Just yank on the rope twice if you are in any danger,’ the warrior reassured, “and we will pull you right up.”
The servant agreed, but he was not down long when the warrior, felt a tug, and pulled up the servant. The warrior turned to the second servant, but he was even more scared and yanked the rope after only a short way. The third servant did not make it much farther. “Okay,” said the warrior, “I shall go myself. Stay here until I return.”
The servants lowered the warrior deeper and deeper into the cave. It was vast and very dark, but gradually his eyes adjusted, and he saw a whole farm in the hole, with trees, giant buildings and more.
The warrior untied himself and went carefully forward. By one tree, not far from the huge, stone farmhouse, he found a well. Hearing someone approach, hid behind some bushes and spied one of the king’s daughters, drawing water. Seeing her alone, the warrior emerged and introduced himself, saying the king had sent him to free his daughters.
She thanked him, looking him over, decided there was no way the warrior could beat the ogre. “Do you see that large rock near where you hid? Can you lift it?” The warrior tried and tried, but barely moved it. “If you cannot lift that rock, you can’t defeat the ogre. His skin is like stone, and he can carry an ox in one arm. His sword weighs more than you.” But then the princess had an idea. “Wait here,” she said, as she turned and quickly walked away.
She returned with a strange piece of ginseng. “This is no ordinary ginseng,” she revealed. “It is pullocho, a magical ginseng. Eat it.” Every day the warrior ate the pullocho the princess brought, and every day felt stronger. Finally, after two weeks, the warrior could lift the rock.
“Good, you’re ready,” she said. “The ogre attacks our land for one-third of the year, does nothing but eat for another third, and only sleeps for the other third. He’ll wake soon, so you must try to kill him tonight.”
The princess took the warrior to the ogre’s bedroom. The huge monster filled a huge bed, his nine heads (all snoring loudly) spread across nine pillows. His rocky hide rumbled as he tossed and turned. The princess gave the warrior the ogre’s huge sword and, thanks to the pullocho’s power, with one huge swing he cut off all nine heads.
Unfortunately, that only served to awaken the now-headless and extra-angry ogre. He swung at the warrior with his immense, stony hands even as he tried to recapture his heads full of huge, thick, snapping teeth. Dodging the jaws and arms, the warrior managed to cut off one of the ogre’s hands, but the dismembered hand kept fighting too.
Nearing exhaustion, the warrior suddenly remembered Sanshin’s advice. He grabbed the spirit’s bag, opened it, and threw ashes at the hand. When they touched the severed hand, it turned to simple stone and stopped moving. Dodging the ogre’s body, the warrior peppered the necks with more ashes, and the body stopped moving, too. With only the heads left, the warrior covered them with ashes, and they also stopped moving.
The princess was so happy to be free, but there still was work to do. They opened all the ogre’s barns. In one were all the animals the ogre had stolen from the kingdom; in another, the princess’s sisters, nearly dead from hunger. A third barn held all the ogre’s stolen gold and jewels. So they loaded a cart with the jewels, freed the animals, and made their way to the rope. First, the warrior sent up the three princesses, then the jewels and gold. But when it was the warrior’s turn, the rope did not move. He yanked on it, but no one pulled him up.
The evil servants had ticked him and stolen the princesses and treasure! The warrior climbed the rope to the top, but the servants had covered the hole with a stone so huge that even his pullocho strength could not budge it.
The warrior returned to the bottom of the empty cave to think. He heard a donkey approaching from the darkness and as it got closer, saw someone riding on its back—Sanshin.
The Mountain Spirit gave the donkey to the warrior and told him to ride into the cave, toward the tallest tree. There, at the back of the cave, the warrior discovered a small path. Riding the uncomplaining donkey, he followed it for days, through the endless darkness, and last came into the light.
The warrior rode the long journey back to the palace. There the king was feasting with the servants, celebrating his daughters’ return. The king was surprised when warrior rode up on a donkey, because the servants had said he died fighting the ogre. When the warrior explained, the king had the wicked servants beheaded. He gave the warrior his prettiest daughter to marry, a great estate, and many treasures, and the kingdom enjoyed peace for many years.
The demon’s lumpy, flaming armor clanked heavily as it menaced Young-hee and Samjogo with his spear. Large, misshapen fangs jutted from its mouth at odd angles, and three bumpy horns covered its forehead. Long hairs, thick as broom bristles, shot from its eyebrows and sideburns. A cool, blue flame licked its skin and hair without burning, sometimes dripping like water. The monster emanated a foulness and evil Young-hee felt deep inside. I guess there’s no chance this guy turns out friendly like Mansoo, Young-hee thought, eyeing the jagged blade.
“Little bird
,” cackled the demon to Samjogo in his hoarse, bitter voice, “who opened your cage?” He gestured, and from his hand, a strand of blue flame dripped and transformed into two thin chains. “I think this creature wants to join you as my guest.”
“Yeonggam, old friend, it’s good to see you again,” laughed Samjogo, shielded Youghee with one arm, and remarked, “I highly recommend against his hospitality—it’s far too permanent.”
“Samjogo,” sneered the monster, “struggling will only make your meat more gamey, and I’ll have to age you all the longer.” As it jostled the magical chains, pools of flame gathered at its feet. “Don’t be rude now. These dark caves are mine, and I have certain obligations as host. Introduce me to your friend. I like to have a friendly relationship with my meals.”
With his shoulder, Samjogo edged Young-hee away. “I don’t suppose you have any sort of blade on you?” asked Samjogo, never taking his eyes off of Yeonggam.
“Not even a sharp stick.”
“In that case, I have what I think is an excellent suggestion,” said Samjogo. “Run! Fast!” Before Young-hee could react, the Samjogo disappeared into the darkness, leaving her with her lantern and the demon. Not good. Then Young-hee ran, too.
“Where do my dainties think they are going?” the demon called out, amused. “There’s nowhere to run. This cave is all mine.” Young-hee sprinted past the tree and ducked behind the stone wall. Coming closer, the demon’s steps crunched on the rocky cave floor. “I can see you,” it sing-songed.
Only then did Young-hee remember her lamp. Stupid! she cursed herself. Covering it, she was enveloped by darkness—except for Yeonggam’s blue glow—coming steadily nearer.
“I’m not a creature of sun,” it chuckled. “I don’t need lanterns to see in the dark. Please, feel free to run and hide. I like a little dinner entertainment.”
She gathered herself, thinking if she couldn’t hide, she could at least run, and took off full speed toward the barn. Shadows from her lantern bounced ahead of her. She hoped Samjogo was lurking nearby, ready to pounce, but he seemed completely missing. More powerful than a dragon. Right, she thought. Maybe a nine-headed ogre would show up to fight the demon for her. Of course, with her luck, the two would be friends, and would only fight over her best meat.
She searched the structures for an escape, but each moment looking was a moment not distancing herself from the demon. Crunch, crunch, crunch came its steady footsteps. Desperately reaching, she found something like a handle—she pushed then pulled, shoved then yanked, but the door stuck fast.
The blue glow shone brighter as the crunch-crunch got louder. The demon was right there. She turned to tug on the door one more time, but in her fear and haste Young-hee dropped her lantern. It hit the ground with a heavy clunk, and the light blinked out. The silent darkness that blanketed her in emptiness was pricked only by the steady crunch, crunch, crunch and the flick of dull blue flame. In a moment, he would be upon her.
Young-hee fled straight into the darkness, hands in front to avoid colliding with a cave or building wall. Instead, her foot slammed into something immobile, and she heard the demon laugh as she fell heavily, scraping her hands and bashing her toe. “Okay, dinner, that’s enough,” the demon called. “Stop running before I get upset.” But Young-hee rose and ran through the pain, as hard as before. “Hrumph,” the demon said disdainfully, “I told you to stop!” A crackling, whooshing filled the air, and a jet of blue flame shot past Young-hee’s face. She recoiled and fell again, frightened by the heat and noise. A sickly smell hung in the air, and she realized it was her singed hair. This is bad. Bad-bad-bad.
As the burning monster approached, Young-hee saw that a flaming blast had hit the ground near the great tree, lighting the center of the cavern. She ran toward it, muscles pumping, lungs bursting, oblivious to Yeonggam’s vile insults. She ran to the tree and then, not knowing how she did it, powered straight up the trunk, like a terrified cat. Reaching branches, she grabbed on and climbed. Up and up she went, until the branches became thinner and swayed threateningly. She struggled to breathe and clear her mind.
Far below, the blue, fiery demon paced. “You know,” he said, “if I was trying to escape a creature who controlled fire, I wouldn’t hide in a tree.” With a great thwack of his spear, flames danced across the bark. “But that’s just me. No judgments.”
“For an ancient creature of myth and tradition,” she shouted defiantly, “you’re quite a big jerk.”
“That may be the case,” he said frowning, “but I’m the one holding the giant, flaming spear.” He stabbed the tree again, harder, deeper, and this time, it started to burn.
Young-hee looked for the cave roof, or somewhere to flee. But no such luck. The flames rose up the trunk, larger and hungrier. “I don’t suppose there’s anything I could trade, in exchange for letting me go?”
“Sorry. I’m a simple demon. I don’t collect trinkets. I just want some barbecued girl.”
“I’m not a girl,” Young-hee sniffed. If she was going to die, she it would be on her terms—defiant. “And you’ll never get what you need to be happy.”
Below, Yeonggam’s fiery hand merged with the burning tree. “Happy?” he repeated quizzically. “I’m a demon. I’m supposed to be miserable. But, in my own way I will enjoy tearing the burnt meat from your bones, little bear daughter.”
The demon started licking his lips, but suddenly his expression changed. His lips curled and parted. He coughed and clutched his throat. With horrid, bloody suddenness, a huge sword, wide as Young-hee’s leg, burst from the demon’s neck. A moment later, his head came clean off, rolling from his shoulders and disappearing in the darkness. Behind the demon stood Samjogo, holding a ludicrously large sword.
“‘If you can’t climb the tree, you shouldn’t look up at it,’ as they say. Honestly, though, that saying never really made a lot of sense before. Now, I like it.”
Young-hee looked down in shock. “Is he dead?”
“Just a moment,” said the Samjogo, wiping demon effluvia from his eyes. Then, with a great heave, he swung the sword in a big arc and split the demon’s body in half. “Yeah, I think that about does it.” The lanky young man slumped to the ground, exhausted.
Young-hee was disgusted by the gore, but also unbelievably happy to be have survived—until she realized the tree was still burning. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but I’m still in some trouble here.”
“Yes, of course,” Samjogo said, standing with great effort. “You can’t jump?”
“I’d break a leg, at least. That ground is all rock.” A wave of thick smoke made Young-hee cough uncontrollably and stung her eyes. Through acrid tears, she looked for something to cushion her fall, but saw only stone—and the fire racing to the branches where she clung.
Then the Samjogo had an idea. “Young-hee, do you see the well?”
She peered through billowing smoke and there, a few meters from the tree, a circle of stones surrounded a deep, dark hole. “Yeah, I see it.”
“If you can jump that far, there’s water in it. Then I’ll fish you out.”
“Are you serious?”
“I don’t know. Are you fireproof?”
A rather compelling argument, Young-hee thought. She threw her cloak and bag and things beyond the reach of the fire, which was now perilously close. Soon her supporting branches would break.
With no time and no other options, Young-hee lined up the angle and distance and jumped. As she fell through the flames, everything grew very hot. Then inside the stone hole, darkness, a rush of wind, and a terrifying lack of control. She bounced off the side, but before she noticed the pain she plunged into freezing water, and for a moment she had no idea which way was up or where she was. But she followed the bubbles of air that rushed inexorably to the surface and felt cool air.
“Hello?” she called, coughing as she treaded water. High above, blue flames lit the air. “Samjogo? I’m here! I’m okay,” she said. “Please help.”
/> Something landed with a splat. A rope, and it led to the silhouette of a young man with crazy hair leaning over the mouth of the well. “Sorry, it took a moment to find a rope. Hold tight, and I’ll pull you out.”
Young-hee wrapped the rope around her hands. She held on as it tightened, pinching off the blood to her fingers. But she rose out of the water to the sound of Samjogo’s grunts. At the well’s edge, awkwardly, she pulled herself out and onto the ground, unwrapped her sore hands, and lay exhausted. Behind her, the tree cracked and burned, warming the air and lighting up the cavern like holiday fireworks.
“Thanks,” she said, coughing.
“It was the least I could do. I owed you for freeing me,” said Samjogo, slouching on the ground, splattered with demon gore. “This is the home of Agwi Kwisin the Nine-headed Ogre, so I went hunting for a weapon. As luck would have it I found the old monster’s giant dagger. Not exactly a graceful weapon, and almost too big to lift, but, apparently, enough.”
“I didn’t need to be saved gracefully. But I hope that Agwi ogre guy doesn’t show up.”
“Huh?” said Samjogo, confused. “Oh, he’s dead.”
“What?”
“Had all his heads chopped off by some overambitious hero type. Ages ago.”
“He’s dead?” shouted Young-hee, exasperated. “You could have started with that.”
“Well, I was going to mention it. But I got a distracted, what with the flaming blue demon and all.”
“Jigyeowo,” she grumbled. Then she remembered the story Samjogo had stared to tell before the fire demon showed up. “Wait, you said this troll …”
“Ogre.”
“Ogre, fine, had a pullocho? The ‘magic, life-giving ginseng of the Heavens?’”
“Oh, yes,” Samjogo nodded merrily. “Certainly. Well, almost certainly. At least, that’s the story.”
“So it could still be here?”
Samjogo stood and started brushing himself off. “I don’t see why not.”
Young-hee sprang up, forgetting her wet clothes, sore hands and singed hair. “If it’s here, I’ve got to find it.”
Young-hee and the Pullocho Page 14