COME IN, IT’S UNLOCKED ... WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

​Mr. and Mrs. Dole live on a quiet street in a virtually crime-free upper-class neighborhood. They have lived here many years and never had any problems with criminals or misfits in the area. The neighborhood association has armed security around the clock. People who live here have money and are very well-off.

The Doles have a lovely dream home, which they take great pride in. It’s a fairly modern home with two bedrooms on the first floor, one of which is the master bedroom and another bedroom upstairs, which is used for an office. There’s a large swimming pool and a small gym.

Everybody pretty much knows who everyone is in this little community, which has a population of about 3,000 people. Many people go to the only local bar, which is open until 2 am, for a drink after work or for a nightcap. Everyone knows each other in this bar and it’s a friendly enjoyable atmosphere. Bartenders who have worked there for years know all the usual customers, so when a stranger stops in this off-the-beaten-path bar, they take notice.

Tim Dole is in his mid-forties and his wife, Sharon, is much younger at the ripe old age of twenty-five. Tim is a tall lanky guy who lacks muscle size but has good coordination. He is known for telling whopping untrue stories and Tim can out-talk anyone. He makes a good living, always uses cash, and has no credit cards.

Sharon is Tim’s eye candy. She’s a trophy wife and Tim takes pride in the fact that his wife is a real knockout, a definite ten. Her shapely figure, dark brown hair, blue eyes, and tanned-colored skin make her stand out. Everyone knows them in the area and Tim is known for drinking too much, often until late in the morning.

The Doles are social people. They always go out for food and drink at establishments all around town. They are always invited to the big parties and are also known for their wild parties. Doles like attention and show off their cars, home, and jewelry all the time, trying to impress others.

One Saturday night, the Doles were at the local pub drinking until 2 am. The bartenders had to ask them to leave because Tim was beyond drunk. His wife had to drive them home.

The story goes that Tim had a few more drinks and passed out at home on the couch. Sharon was still awake and watching TV with her little dog. The toy Poodle let out a low growl even before the knock at the door came. Someone coming to the door at two or three in the morning wasn’t that unusual for the Doles. Friends would sometimes drop in for a nightcap to swap rumors or discuss the day’s news, if they saw the lights on.

Sharon got up, holding her little dog in her arms, and went to answer the door. Their front door didn’t have a peek hole to check who was there. Sharon was very trustworthy, being a girl from a small city in the Midwest. She didn’t think anything of opening the door in the middle of the night without knowing who was there. She had a laissez-faire attitude. That’s just the way she acted. It seemed that nothing fazed her.

​The knock came again, only louder. Sharon yelled, as she approached the door, “Come on in, it’s unlocked!”

The door swung open and to her great shock, a man wearing a ski mask burst inside and ran towards her at full speed. He grabbed her and knocked the little dog to the ground. He put his arms around her, while holding her from behind, and covered her mouth so she couldn’t scream. It happened in a split second and she couldn’t fight off the big brute, he was just too strong.

​The little dog was barking and growling so the thug gave it a kick that sent it whimpering away. She started kicking her feet and he held her up in the air. He whispered in her ear, “Give me your money and I’ll be nice to you. Fight me and I’ll hurt you bad.”

In the other room, Tim was out on the couch. He was of no help. She nodded her head, indicating compliance to his orders. He removed his hand from her mouth so she could speak. When he uncovered her mouth, she let out a scream, for her husband, as loud as she could, and he slapped her in the head to shut her up.

Finally, Tim woke up. Hearing the screams, he drunkenly walked out of the living room into the foyer and was dumbfounded at what he saw. Tim sobered up right away and yelled, “What the hell are you doing?” Tim jumped on the man, who then released Sharon.

The two exchanged blows, but the intruder got the best of Tim and knocked him to the floor, dazing him. Then the masked man jumped on top of him, straddling his chest, and began to ground and pound Tim’s face. The whole time he was yelling over and over, “Where’s your money!”

Sharon, in an effort to save her husband, jumped on the intruder's back but he grabbed her by the hair and threw her across the room. She came back and attempted to help her husband again, but the guy backhanded her in the face. Her nose was bleeding and she was shaking.

Getting up, Sharon observed that Tim was almost knocked out, and was basically getting pummeled to death. He wasn’t even trying to fight back, or block the punches from the raving maniac. His face was a bloody mess. She ran into the master bedroom and locked the door, not knowing what to do.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (Make a choice below and then read further to find out what Sharon Dole did … it may save your life.)
                                                                   *****
COMMENTS
Stop and think very carefully about this situation. It’s one that people have faced in real life. It is a situation that could get you and your loved ones killed if you make the wrong decisions. You are helpless. What are you going to do? Make a choice below.
a. Would you run out the front or back door and scream for help?
b. Would you run to the bedroom and phone the police?
c. Would you run to the next-door neighbor’s house for safety and tell them to phone the police.
d. Give the intruder the money and hope that he leaves without harming you or your husband further.
e. Assuming you had a weapon, would you try to save your husband before he gets killed.
Choose wisely, as your life and that of your husband is on the line. The money is not important, but time is. Every second that ticks by could be your husband's last.
     
                                                                  *****
The story continues: “COME IN, IT’S UNLOCKED.”

Sharon ran into her bedroom and locked the door. She thought, should I call 911? No, by the time they get here this guy will have killed Tim and then he’d start on me. I have to do something and fast. What should I do?

It so happens that this intruder did not randomly pick the Dole’s house to rob. He had been scoping the Doles out all night while he sat in the corner of the bar, sipping on a beer. He saw Tim flashing around his money acting like a rich fool. He saw Tim’s big wad of cash that he laid on the bar counter. The thug saw Tim’s shiny gold Rolex. He needed money badly, and the more he observed Tim the more he wanted to take his money. He also thought Tim’s hot wife would be a bonus, and wanted her also. If he could just spend a few minutes with her, he’d let her know what a real man was like.

No one knew that this man had just got out of prison a few weeks ago after serving ten years for robbery, assault, and battery. His modus operandi was not to use a gun or weapon, because if he was caught with one the jail time would be a lot longer. So, he used his fists as weapons. The last man he assaulted had his brain turned to mush and suffered from irreversible brain damage.

Yes, this big dude was a badass. Built like a fullback with a thick neck, hard head, and muscular body. He was a fighter that rarely lost a battle. Muscles popped out of his arms from ten years of lifting weights in prison. Those muscles had to be exercised. He wanted to let his stress out on someone and he needed money. Tim was the perfect target.
It was discovered that the dirtbag came to Florida from up north. His friends had moved to Florida while he was in prison, so he followed them. They told him Florida was easy pickings because of the old people and rich socialites living there.

Sharon stood there for a few seconds thinking. Then opened her dresser drawer and pulled out her new Lady Smith & Wesson .38 special revolver. She had just purchased this gun two months ago when she received her concealed weapons permit. Her hands shook as she picked up the bullets, one by one, and slid them into the chamber. After putting in five rounds she thought to herself, come on Sharon, you can do this. Sharon had only fired this gun four times at the range. She wasn’t a good shot and feared she might hit her husband.

With the gun in hand, she rushed back into the foyer. Tim was a bloody mess and the robber was still yelling, “Where is the money?” Tim was out of it and was helpless. The intruder glanced at her holding the gun, but he didn’t stop punching Tim’s face. She could hear the bones in his face cracking with each blow.
Sharon yelled, “Stop or I’ll shoot.”
The intruder replied, “You don’t have the guts to shoot me. Drop the gun or I’ll kill you both.”

He just made a big mistake because Sharon had the guts alright. But maybe not the shooting skills to kill him. Being extremely careful, she took aim at him from about fifteen feet away.

The first round she fired didn’t seem to do anything to him. She wondered if she even hit him. He kept bashing Tim’s face, while he looked at her, and said, “Tell me where the money is, or I’m gonna kill him.”

Sharon moved around behind him and carefully aimed. She fired another round and another one into the intruder. Finally, he stood up, waved his hands, and said, “No, more. Give me that gun,” as he stumbled towards her to grab the gun.
She fired one more time. It took four rounds to stop this big monster. He fell to the tile floor with a thud in front of her and didn’t move.

Sharon took a deep breath and then called 911. Soon the police and an ambulance were at the scene. After an investigation, it was ruled a justified shooting of a home invader. Tim was badly beaten, a broken smashed nose, two black eyes swollen shut, a jaw fractured in two places, and possibly some brain damage. Detecting brain damage from blows to the head sometimes takes years to discover.

​The whole incident took a big toll on both of them. They made one mistake, which was not seeking professional medical help for mental stress or PTSD. After this incident, Tim and Sharon carried a gun everywhere they went. They became paranoid that people were out to get them. Sadly, a year later, they were divorced. The Danger Zone situation took a toll on their marriage.

The Doles were very lucky that Sharon had a weapon and knew how to use it. But what if she didn’t have a gun? Next time, when someone knocks on your door think about it. Check who’s there first. Keep your doors locked because you never know who’s knocking.

Stay out of the Danger Zone.

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Waiting for me outside of customs was a large bald-headed Japanese man dressed as a limo driver, holding a sign with my name. He reminded me of the big guy in the old James Bond movie, Goldfinger, whose name was Top Hat. He was the oriental man who threw the steel top hat like a Frisbee, killing people.
Then I remembered who this big guy was. He was the big Sumo that was at the Golden Dragon the night I shot and killed Masumoto, who was the best friend of Nakanishi. Midori had informed me this huge man’s name was Fujimoto. Fujimoto was the one who, more or less, stopped the violence that night.
Fujimoto bowed and greeted me, “Welcome to Japan, Jack-san. Follow me to the car.”
I returned the bow and said, “Arigato, Fujimoto-san.” He seemed surprised that I knew his name.
He took my bag and we walked out to the car, which was parked at the curb in a no parking zone. The big Sumo opened the back door of the big stretch Cadillac limo for me to get inside. Then he put my one small bag in the trunk. Since I was going to be living here for a year, I didn’t bring much with me.
I bent over to climb in and was surprised to see Kamata and Midori inside waiting for me. Midori had a big smile on her face as she grabbed my hand, and pulled me in the car to sit next to her. Midori was more beautiful than I remembered. Just the sight of her aroused my manly desires.
 
Midori, the adopted daughter of Kamata, was in love with me for some unknown reason. We had quite a romp my last week in South Korea, while she was visiting Keiko, the wife of Ambassador Ted Stevens. Midori is an exciting and beautiful woman, to say the least. Standing five-foot five-inches tall, she has a knockout body that makes men take notice. She looks like a teenager with her short blond hair, but is actually almost thirty years old. Don’t let her looks fool you, she is very muscular and skilled in many forms of martial arts. Her perfectly shaped face, full lips, and brown-green eyes draw your attention. You can’t help but ogle her.     
She’s very interesting and more intelligent than I had thought. My nickname for her, Bimbo-san, didn’t fit her, but I liked it anyway. We came to know each other very well in the short span of a week. My feelings grew to the point where I had a real affection for her. We were developing a close relationship, which could influence my position as Director of Security for Kamata. I could be falling in love, but I don’t know what that means anymore. Once I thought I knew, but now I am not so sure. 
 
As I slid in next to Midori, Kamata said, “Konnichiwa (Hello). It is good to see you, Jack-san.” He bowed slightly and so did I.
Kamata and Midori both spoke perfect English since they attended college in the United States. It was much better than my poor Japanese, which I taught myself using books and tapes over the years.
“Konnichiwa, Kamata-san. It’s nice to see you also. Thank you for coming to pick me up. I look forward to starting work.”
 
Kamata looked the same as the last time I saw him about a month ago. His pure white full head of hair and short goatee laced with black and gray made him look distinguished. He had on an expensive looking black suit, which I am sure it was considering he’s a multi-millionaire. Kamata was in great shape for his age. I estimated him to be around 63 years old. He spoke with a deep commanding voice that let you know he was in charge. He was the big boss of the Inagawa Yakuza crime organization. He was also the principal owner of Kamata Enterprises. His company was into everything, generally the same types of business as the Yakuza.     

​The year is 1951 and the Miller family moved from Chicago to Pittsburg because Mr. Miller accepted a job with Greyhound Bus Lines. This was a big break for Mr. Miller landing a job as foreman for the world’s largest bus lines. In the 1950’s everyone took the bus. Greyhound went to every major and just about every minor city in the USA. It was the only means of dependable cheap transportation. Greyhound was the largest transportation company in the United States.
The Miller family was made up of Billy (6 years old), Bobby (4 years old), Grandma (nicknamed, Boo Boo), Sue (Mother), and Clifford (Father).
World War II had just ended in 1945 and there were a lot of ex-soldiers, still unemployed looking for a job. So, work was hard to find for a few years. The pay was low because of competition. Mr. Miller learned to become a truck mechanic during the war, which is almost the same as a bus, so he landed a great job. However, it required him to leave the city he grew up in and move to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, at his own expense.
It was a job that he was required to start right away. Since the Millers didn’t own a house, they packed up and moved in a few days. Mr. Miller had a plan to buy a trailer with what little money they had and live in a trailer park until they had saved enough money to buy a house. At the time these parks were very popular for several reasons, but the main one was the low cost.
After checking out the Pittsburg area mobile home parks’ they chose Camp Horne Trailer Park which was close to work for Mr. Miller. They even purchased a small trailer there, so they could move into their new tiny home right away.
Camp Horne was located in a hilly area and the park was in a small valley bowl-shaped indent on the side of a slight hill. The trailer park was filled with about 100 trailers of all sizes. The Camp Horne main office was located at the top of the hill, at the entrance.
The Miller tiny home was near Horne Creek which ran right behind their trailer. It was a small creek, only 3 or 4 feet wide and only ankle deep in most places. Billy and Bobby thought it was great because they could catch frogs and small crawfish. It was a woodsy area that didn’t permit a lot of sunshine to break through the dense forest of trees.
The family had been living here for almost one year. The boys had a lot of fun playing in and around the creek. They loved making mud pies and throwing them at each other. It was their favorite thing to do. Every day they would get so dirty that Mrs. Miller was always washing their mud-covered clothes. Grandma would watch the boys while Mother did the housework and laundry.
It was springtime, the rainy season in Pittsburg. It had been raining for the last two weeks so the creek had grown in size and was overflowing its banks. Mrs. Miller made the creek off-limits for the boys. So, the boys couldn’t make any mud pies or play by the creek until the water receded.  
It was early in the morning when Grandma left to go grocery shopping, like she does every Friday. Mrs. Miller told the boys to stay inside while she quickly went to the main office to do a load of laundry. She told them she’d be right back. Sue put on her raincoat, grabbed the laundry basket, and took off running through the rain leaving the boys alone.  
It started to thunder and rain began pouring down in buckets. The rain was so heavy, the boys couldn’t even see across the street as they watched for their mother to return. They wondered, why is she taking so long.
Billy kept looking out the window at the creek which now was growing in size very quickly. It was getting so high that Billy became worried because the water was deep and flowing very fast.
 Billy opened the trailer door to look for his mother, but she wasn’t in sight. He shouted out as loud as he could. Bobby joined in and they screamed at the top of their little lungs. Their tiny voices couldn’t be heard over the pounding rain and thunder.
Now the boys were afraid to leave the trailer because the water was too deep. The water was quickly coming up to the first step. Billy told his little brother, “The water is getting deep. We can’t leave now.”
Bobby, while crying, said, “I want Mommy!”
“We have to wait here for Mommy.” Billy held his little brother’s hand and looked at all the water just outside the trailer door, just inches from coming inside.
Meanwhile, Sue who was busy doing laundry stopped to notice the heavy rainfall. It had been 45 minutes since leaving the trailer. She looked out the window once again and something told her this could become a serious situation. Sue hurried to finish the laundry so she could leave as soon as the rain let up a little.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO? (Make a choice below and then read further to find out what Mrs. Miller did.)
                                                                   *****
COMMENTS
Stop and think very carefully about this situation. The boys are now in the Danger Zone and so is Mrs. Miller. Floodwaters, even if shallow, are strong forces of nature and can wash away cars, let alone two young children. You and your loved ones could be killed if you make the wrong decision. What are you going to do? Make a choice below.
a. Would you run out in the storm and through the dangerous floodwater to save your boys?
b. Would you use the office phone to call the fire department and the police?
c. Would you run to the next-door neighbor’s house for help?
d. Would you ask someone with a car to help recuse your boys?
e. Would call your husband and ask him what to do?
Choose wisely, as every second that ticks by could be the boys' last.
     
                                                                  *****
The story continues: “FROM MUD PIES TO THE DANGER ZONE”
Mrs. Miller was standing in the main office of the park, waiting for the heavy rain to let up, while listening to the radio. Then she heard that flood warnings were issued for their area, including Horne Creek. Sue walked outside and peered through the deluge trying to see what the creek was doing. To her surprise and great concern, she saw that the creek had become so large the water now completely covered the streets. Furthermore, it appeared that a wall of water was coming down the hill.
With no hesitation, Sue ran down the office steps and began to fight her way through the already knee-high swift current, which was trying to sweep her off her feet. She knew that falling could wash her downstream.
Mrs. Miller had to cover a distance of about 100 yards or the length of a football field. As she trudged along fighting the water Sue passed a neighbor woman hanging on to a telephone pole screaming for help. She couldn’t stop to help, as there was nothing she could do. Mrs. Miller now knew her little boys were in terrible danger.
Halfway there another woman went rapidly floating by, reaching out her hand for help. Again, Sue couldn’t do anything to help her, as she watched her neighbor Judy disappear under the swirling muddy water. Mrs. Miller thought, God please help us. She was getting tired, but just the thought of her boys drowning gave her the strength to keep going.
Tree branches were swiftly floating down the floodwaters. Sue knew if one hit her, knocking her down, it could be all over. Dodging tree branches she finally made it to her home. The water was deeper here almost up to her waist.
The boys saw their mother sloshing through the almost waist-high floodwaters in the pouring storm. They jumped for joy meeting her at the door. She was their hero. Mother would save them because she would know what to do.
Mommy climbed into the trailer finding that the water inside was deep enough to cover her ankles. Mrs. Miller was now worried that any minute the trailer could be swept away by the strong floodwaters with them inside. She had no choice but to make the trip back to safe dry ground. She looked out the door just as a huge trailer across the street began to float downstream. The floodwaters were sweeping it away.
Quickly picking up each boy, one in each arm, she told them to hold on tight and not to let go no matter what happened. Mrs. Miller was now holding 80 pounds of precious love in her arms. They were heavy, but she gave no thought to that as her adrenaline was flowing providing her added strength. A strength that Miller never knew she had, as she entered the water for the return trip.
Mrs. Miller began the long hike through the waist-deep swiftly moving current. Sue had almost made it to dry land, but she was completely exhausted. With just 20 yards to go, she stopped as she felt Bobby slipping out of her left arm. She didn’t have the strength to hold him anymore. Bobby was slipping into the water.
Sue shouted, “Billy, grab your brother help me hold him up!” Billy did just that. He grabbed his little brother with one arm and held on to his mother with the other. He was using all the strength his little body could muster to save his brother. 
Men standing on the hillside saw Sue was in trouble so they jumped into the floodwaters to help her. A policeman grabbed the boys and two firemen caught Mrs. Miller just in the nick of time as she collapsed into the water from pure exhaustion. They carried her to the safety of dry land placing her and the boys in the back seat of a police car.  
In another second Sue and her boys may have been washed away in the swift current becoming victims of the Danger Zone. Sadly, on this day three people lost their lives. All the homes at Camp Horne Trailer Park were destroyed. Many families were left homeless in the span of a couple of hours. Their dreams and possessions were washed away by the powerful floodwaters.
No one knew they were in the Danger Zone until it was too late.    
AUTHOR’S NOTE
This true story was told to me by my mother who knew the people involved. Always pay attention to your surroundings as the Danger Zone is lurking out there somewhere. It will strike when you least expect it. People can and will commit acts of courage and bravery when faced with danger. However, it is better to stay alert and avoid the Danger Zone, if at all possible. Mrs. Miller made several mistakes, but the most serious one was leaving the boys alone as they were too young to be left unattended. 

AUTHOR NOTE: This book is free. Just go to my contact page and let me know you want to read it and I will send you a PDF copy.
​Hard charging Jack Gunn is at his new assignment working as Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Korea when he accidentally uncovers a couple of Koreans acting in a very suspicious manner. Mi-Young, his long-time lover, puts her life in danger to help Jack crack the case.
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                                     MYSTERY OF LIFE and THE MOUNTAIN MONK
                                                               A SHORT STORY
 
                     “In every truth there is non-truth; in every fiction there is non-fiction."
                                               By Thomas H. Ward (Amazon Author)
 
The year was 1980 it was my second trip to South Korea. President Park had just been assassinated a few months before, so the entire country was on high alert and there were rumors of a coup in progress. Korea a land of mystery, was also known as the hermit kingdom for hundreds of years because outsiders were not permitted into Korea. To enter the country meant certain painful death. The Koreans have a lot of secrets and a way of life that had not changed in an eon. They wanted to keep it that way.
Here I was, in the land of witchcraft, mystery, and hermits which is 80 percent Buddhist with a 100 percent Confucianism lifestyle. Most Koreans, even today, do not trust foreigners but are polite and honest to all who visit. I had come here on business but there was another reason that was far more important to me. I had heard about a special mountain. A mountain where one could find the answers to life. Why are we here on earth? What is the purpose of life and what happens after death? These questions could possibly be answered by an ancient monk who lived in a hidden cave on top of a mystery mountain, so the story goes.
Many had searched for this mystery mountain and cave, but few had found it. Even fewer had seen the ancient monk or spoken to him. Rumor was that only the pure of heart and soul would find the mountain cave where the monk would be revealed.
I have climbed many mountains just for fun, such as Pikes Peak, Mount St. Helens (before the eruption and after), Mount Fuji in Japan, and the Grand Tetons to name a few. I read about this mountain in an old Korean book that was translated into English. I found it a fascinating story that actually could be true, at least the hidden cave part. Since I was now in South Korea, I definitely had to find and climb this mystery mountain. I had to find the hidden cave and the ancient monk, assuming he was still alive. There were no recent reports, since the Korean War, of anyone climbing a mountain and finding any type of hidden cave.
Based on the book I read, the mystery mountain was located somewhere between Pusan and Seoul. So, I knew it wasn’t in North Korea. I asked some Korean friends about the mountain but they laughed and strongly suggested the story about the mystery mountain and the monk is only a fairy-tale told to all the children. Their response sure didn’t encourage me to continue my search.
However, I continued my research because my motto is: In every truth there is non-truth; in every fiction there is non-fiction. I went to the Seoul City Library, the main library for the entire country. Surely someone there would have a book or information about this mountain. After inquiring at the information desk, I was pointed in the direction of the Director's Office.
There, I meant the Library Director Ms. Kim, an older lady who was very knowledgeable on the subject and she spoke perfect English. I explained that I was searching for the mystery mountain to find the ancient monk and the meaning of life. She knew the story well and had done her own research years ago when she was young. She also wanted to find the mountain. The mountain was also known as the “mountain of life” because whoever climbed the mountain could obtain a blessing from the monk. According to her the real name of the mountain was kept secret by the local people to prevent its use by those who were evil.
I was very lucky to find this woman who knew so much about the mountain. I asked, “Do you have any idea where the mountain is located?”
She replied, “I am not sure, but I believe it is one of the mountains located near Gumi City. It could even be Guemosan. But young man, I must tell you I have climbed it many times but never found the cave. So, it must be hidden very well. I suggest you start your quest there.”
“Thank you so much, Ms. Kim. If I find it, I’ll let you know.”  
“One more thing. When I was searching, years ago, a monk once told me, ‘That which you cannot see is not invisible.’ "
“What does that mean?”
“Good question. I don’t know. He also commented, ‘Turtles have long life.’
I said, “Well, that one is pretty clear. They do live to over a hundred.”
Ms. Kim replied, “These were clues given to me to find the mountain. Keep them in mind during your quest.”
I bid her farewell promising to contact her if I happened to find the mountain and cave. However, after our discussion, it seemed unlikely that I would find either. Needless to say, my spirit had dropped a little, but on the other hand, it became more of a challenge since she also believed the story to be true.
I packed up my climbing gear and arranged for my best friend in Korea, K. Y. Lee, to pick me up for the drive to Gumi the next day.

                                                           *****
Arriving in Gumi it was late in the afternoon. We checked into the Guemosan Hotel which was at the foot of the Guemosan mountain This hotel was very shabby and not well kept. You could tell it wasn’t a big tourist resort as it was intended to be. It was built years ago by President Park who was just killed a few months ago. Judging by the parking lot there were not a lot of paying customers. I guessed maybe ten at most because only five cars were in the lot.
We had a typical Korean dinner and I had no idea what the heck I was eating. But the garlic and red-hot peppers killed any bad taste. The hot spices lit my mouth on fire. A couple of OB beers later the fire was put out. We asked our waiter where was the best place to start to climb the mountain. He advised that we should just go up the road about a half of kilometer and there we would find a trail.
I asked Lee, “What does the word Gumi mean?”
He replied, “It means turtle’s tail.”
“Well don’t turtles mean long life?”
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“The Library Director told me the mountain was also known as the mountain of life. Since Gumi means turtle tail it could be a clue.”
Lee laughed and commented, “Yes, maybe you are right and maybe you are wrong.”
I replied, “She also told me; that which you cannot see is not invisible.”
“What the heck does that mean?”
“I don’t know and neither did she. Some monk told her that when she was searching for the cave.”
Lee said, “Monks are very tricky with wording like that.”
Waking early, we ate a good breakfast and double-checked our climbing gear. We didn’t know what we may need but we had 100 feet of rope, gloves, climbing picks, water, two radios, flashlights, and energy bars. This was going to be a fairly easy climb since it was not a steep rock climb. Guemosan mountain was estimated to be less than 5,000 feet in height.
The climb gradient started very gradually and proceeded to become steeper and steeper as we gained altitude. It also became rockier. Huge rocks made climbing in a straight line impossible. We had to weave around them while paying attention to our footing. It became so steep that any slip could mean a bad tumble and possibly a broken arm or leg. The climb became almost vertical, straight-up, the last 20 feet and we grasped for hand and footholds.   
After stopping several times to rest we finally made the summit. The top of this mountain was about half the size of a football field. Not all mountains come to a sharp tiny peak. We spent over an hour searching around the top. We turned over every large stone and rock that we could move looking for an entrance to a cave.
Lee and I sat down exhausted from the search. I said, “We have to be missing something. The cave isn’t here on the very top of the mountain. So, it must be inside the top.”
Lee replied, “What do you mean inside the top?”
“Right below us inside the top. We passed the cave entrance climbing up here. The entranceway has to be on the side of the mountain near the top.”
“Yes, that makes a lot of sense, but where? It could be on the other side of the mountain.”
“Right. Let’s go back down to the point where the climb became vertical and search around the mountain at that level. You go one way around the mountain and I’ll go the other. If we find anything we’ll use our radios to advise what’s going on.”
Retreating down from the top to a point where the vertical rise started, we split up. I proceeded to the right and Lee to the left. By this time, I was exhausted and started to feel weakness in my legs and I was breathing very heavily. The altitude was getting to me. We had been on the mountain for more than 6 hours.
I had no idea of the distance around the mountain or circumference at the altitude we were at. I assumed it could take a few hours. About one hour later I came to a dead end on the north side of the mountain. Straight ahead of me there was a cliff with what appeared to be a 1,000-foot vertical drop. A solid stone wall was on my left. The wall was a cliff, that went straight up to the top of the mountain while at the same time bent and curved at almost a 90-degree angle. I concluded that this stone wall had to continue around the side of the mountain for some distance. At this point, the only direction I could go would be down the mountain. So, I couldn’t proceed around the mountain as planned. I couldn’t go up the wall and I couldn’t go straight. Standing on the edge of the cliff I could see the whole tiny city of Gumi. Cars were the size of ants. I was unable to clearly make out any people. It was an awesome unobstructed view.
Taking out my radio I advised Lee of my situation. Lee told me he also could not proceed around the mountain any further due to a similar reason. He had not seen any cave openings. We decided to meet back where we started.
I sat down on a rock pulled out a power bar and gulped down some water while peering out over the cliff at Gumi City. After a short rest and some refreshment, I moved down the mountain walking along the edge of the cliff. I was trying to see around the stone cliff 90-degree angle but going down the mountain didn’t improve my view.
I went back up to the cliff wall and held onto the stone surface with my left hand as best as I could, while leaning out over the cliff I looked directly along the stone cliff 90-degree angle, which I couldn’t see before, and visually scanned it up and down. Then I saw it. I was standing just a foot away from a hidden ledge. It was right in front of me, one step away. Unless you were looking down at the ledge, right on top of it, you couldn’t see it because it blended into the stone wall becoming an optical illusion. A ledge that went seemingly around the stone cliff face. It was about 2 feet wide for a distance of 4 feet and then the ledge width increased to about 3 feet.
I pulled myself back and thought about what I had just seen. Could that ledge lead me around the mountain to a cave? I was willing to try it. The ledge appeared to be secure and solid. It was dry so it wouldn’t be slippery.
My radio hissed, “Hey, where are you?” Lee asked.
“Lee, keep coming this way. I found something.”
“Ok, I’ll be right there.”
                                                           *****                                                                     
Lee and I studied the ledge closely. It looked dangerous alright because one slip and you would fall to your death. However, I did bring 100 feet of rope so we could tie it off to stop my fall if I slipped. I calculated if I could get to the wider part of the ledge, it would be a cakewalk.
Lee commented, “We can only see 20 feet of the ledge, so you don’t know what happens to it after it curves around the mountain.”
I said, “Tie off the rope around one of those pine trees. I have to find out if this ledge leads to the cave.”
“Man, I don’t think you should risk it.”
“Lee, I have to risk it. The cave could be just around the corner. Remember what the monk said, ‘That which you cannot see is not invisible.’ "
“Yeah, right. I just don’t want to call your wife to tell her you died in Korea looking for a monk. She’ll never believe that one.” We both had a good laugh at that one. I laughed so hard my gut hurt.
Lee tied off the rope and I made a type of harness that fit around my body. Stepping forward I put my back to the wall. I said, “Wait! Here take my wallet and money just in case I fall. Send it to my wife.” We both started laughing again which was a defense mechanism against the fear I felt.
I took a deep breath and let it out to stop laughing. This was serious shit now. With my back to the wall, I looked down and moved sideways along the narrow ledge as Lee slowly fed out the rope. One step at a time shuffling slowly sideways. I reached the wider part of the ledge. I was safe but still moved slowly one foot, one step at a time. After about ten steps I was out of Lee’s sight.
The ledge was winding around the mountain. The end was not in view. I guess I had moved about 75 feet and knew my rope was running out. I yelled to Lee that I was going to remove my safety rope before it ran out of slack.
With the safety rope off I took 15 more steps sideways and the side of the mountain opened up revealing a large cave opening. I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was a big beautiful opening into the side of the mountain, not a tiny hole. You could drive two pickup trucks into it.
Finally, I wasn’t on the ledge anymore. I was at the cave entrance, and I stepped inside to safety. I pulled out my radio and advised Lee I found the cave and was going in.
 Immediately I spied a large picture of Buddha hanging on the cave wall. Other than this the cave was empty. There were lit candles, hanging on the walls, leading the way deeper inside. I wondered who lit those candles? I followed the candles with great anticipation. Was the ancient monk still here? Would my questions be answered?
The cave made a slight bend to the left and then to the right. Daylight was almost gone inside the cave and the candles flickered their dim light off the dark walls. Then the monk appeared out of nowhere like magic. He was sitting on a plush rug in the middle of the dirt floor. Around him were flowers and green plants along with hundreds of candles lighting up the small room at the end of the cave. He wore typical plain dull gray monk clothes with an outer traditional gray jacket that had wide sleeves.
The monk sat cross-legged, just like you see in the pictures of Buddha. His head was down and he was chanting prayers. I wondered if he knew I was even there. I sat down a few feet in front of him being as quiet as possible. I heard my radio hiss, so I quickly turned it off. Now he knew I was there.
Finally, his chants stopped, he placed his hands and forearms inside his jacket sleeves, folding his arms, and looked up at me. He was blind. I could tell by his eyes. The monk was old alright. Possibly he could be 80, 90, or even 100 years old. His head was shaved, and he had no facial hair. It was difficult to tell his age with the flickering candlelight casting shadows.
I removed my hat and waited for the monk to speak. He was looking straight at me even if he was blind, he could see me somehow. He was observing me, possibly looking into my very soul. Checking my character to see if I am worthy to be in his presence. It made me feel small and unworthy to be here with this holy man.
I sat and didn’t move or speak waiting for him to speak first. This is the traditional Korean way to exhibit politeness. We stared at one another. I tried to peer directly at his eyes hoping he could somehow read the thoughts in my brain.
After 10 or 15 minutes he spoke a traditional formal Korean greeting of hello how are you. “Annyeonghasimnika,” the monk said.
I replied, “Annyeonghasimnika.”
Suddenly, I remember that I am not fluent in Korean, so I turned on the radio for Lee to translate.
In English, the monk said, “Turn off the radio. I can speak English. You are not allowed to use electronic devices in the house of Buddha.”
I quickly turned it off and said, “I didn’t know you could speak English.”
He smiled and replied, “I have nothing to do but study here. It is my job to study and learn everything I can. I saw you coming up the mountain and had a feeling you would find this cave. The energy in you is strong.”
“How could you see me?”
“My eyes may not work but I can still see with other senses.”
“I understand, I think.”      
The monk asked, “What brings you here all the way from Miguk (America).”
“I read a book about this cave telling there was an ancient monk who lived there that could answer the questions of life.”
The monk laughed, “I am old but not ancient. What type of questions do you have about life?”
“First, what is the meaning of life?”
The monk replied, “Putting it in simple terms, life is what you make it to be. It could have great meaning or no meaning. It is up to you to make it meaningful.”
I pondered what he just told me. Does he mean life is not planned out for us? We have control of our own lives. “Thank you for your answer,” I replied.
The monk nodded. “What other question do you have?”
“Why are we here?”
“You are here to live life and help your fellow man as much as you can.”
Again, I thought carefully about what he just told me. The first and second answers are related to each other with the addition of helping your fellow man. Yes, that made sense to me for some reason.
“My last question is what happens when we die?”
The old monk said, “Many have asked this question. You will find out a human never dies. Only the body dies but your spirit lives on. But what happens to your spirit after your body dies depends.”
I asked, “Depends on what?”
“What happens to your spirit depends on what you do during this life. That is all I can tell you.”
“I think … I understand. Thank you so much.”
“Go now. Tell others what you have learned but I ask you to keep this cave a secret from everyone except Ms. Kim.”
“How do you know about Ms. Kim?”
“I cannot see but I am not blind. I know she helped you find this cave.”
After that amazing statement, I bid the monk farewell.
                                                            *****
I told Lee everything the monk had advised me. He was pleased that the answers were simple. The monk more or less verified our thinking and understanding of life. The spirit part was another matter. We still don’t know exactly what happens.
Lee said, “See, I told you the monks gave tricky answers.”
Lee and I laughed all the way down the mountain. We were happy and felt renewed by our findings. I informed Lee that the monk knew of Ms. Kim at the Library. Lee was also amazed about that and suggested I should phone her.
A few hours later, while sitting at the hotel bar I pulled out her name card and entered her cell number. I told her the entire story and she advised me that earlier in the day she had a vision about the cave and the monk. She would be coming to Gumi to meet the monk to answer her questions about life. I wished her the best and thanked her again for her kind help.
It was almost dark and we had a long drive back to Seoul.
Lee asked, “What is our next adventure?”
“I think that’s enough adventure for a while.”
“You know, there is a story of a King’s missing treasure. Many have searched for it but it has not   been found.”
“Wow! That could be worth millions,” I said.
“Exactly, So, are you in or out?”
“Okay Lee, count me in. This is going to be a great quest; I can feel it.”
                                                          *****
THE END
COMMENTS
You may wonder if this story is true? Did this really happen? All my stories leave you wondering if they actually happened since they are fiction based on real facts, places, and history. To tell you the truth parts of this story really did happen and parts of it are fiction. Every good story has some truth woven into it and where there is non-fiction there is fiction. If you liked this story, then read one of my books. Critical Incidents and The Finger Collector are good ones to start with. Templars Quest is another great series based on facts and history. All locations mentioned in my books are real places that I have traveled to or lived.
You can find all my books on Amazon: Amazon.com: Thomas H. Ward: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle

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