ขาว — Page 4
Down the lane to the old wat with the cracked spirit house outside its gate, then left along the road where the tamarind trees grew over the footpath and made a green tunnel even in the dry season, then back through the market lane where the vegetable sellers were packing up their tables and the smell of the day's bruised produce rose warm and sweet from the ground.
문을 나서면 갈라진 정령의 집이 있는 낡은 사원까지 이어지는 골목을 따라 내려가고, 그다음엔 타마린드 나무들이 보도 위로 자라나 건기에도 초록빛 터널을 만드는 길을 따라 왼쪽으로 꺾고, 다시 채소 장수들이 좌판을 걷어 들이고 그날 짓눌린 채소들의 냄새가 땅에서 따뜻하고 달콤하게 피어오르는 시장 골목을 지나 돌아왔다.
Malee bought things she needed, sometimes things she did not need, her basket filling slowly.
말리는 필요한 것들을, 때로는 필요하지 않은 것들까지 사며 바구니를 천천히 채워 나갔다.
Khao walked beside her without pulling, his white tail a pale flag in the golden afternoon light.
카오는 줄을 당기지 않고 그녀 곁을 걸었고, 황금빛 오후 햇살 속에서 하얀 꼬리는 희미한 깃발처럼 나부꼈다.
They returned through the neighborhood at the hour when other children were also returning from school — a loose dispersal of uniforms and heavy bags, voices, the particular energy of children newly released from stillness.
그들이 동네를 지나 돌아오는 시간은 다른 아이들도 학교에서 돌아오는 시간이었다 — 교복과 무거운 가방들이 느슨하게 흩어지고, 목소리들이 들리고, 고요함으로부터 막 풀려난 아이들 특유의 에너지가 넘쳐나는 시간.
Khao would watch them pass with his calm, even gaze.
카오는 차분하고 고른 시선으로 그 아이들이 지나가는 것을 바라보곤 했다.
None of them were the right child.
그 아이들 중 누구도 올바른 아이가 아니었다.
He knew the difference.
카오는 그 차이를 알고 있었다.
At the gate, he would stop.
대문 앞에서 카오는 멈추곤 했다.
He always stopped at the gate on the way back in, and turned, and looked down the lane in the direction Nipa would come from.
돌아오는 길에 대문 앞에서 언제나 멈추고, 몸을 돌려, 니파가 올 방향의 골목 아래를 바라보았다.
Malee had learned to wait.
말리는 기다리는 법을 배웠다.
She stood beside him with her basket and let him look.
그녀는 바구니를 들고 카오 곁에 서서 그가 바라보도록 내버려 두었다.
It was a small thing.
그것은 사소한 일이었다.
It cost her nothing.
그것은 그녀에게 아무런 대가도 치르게 하지 않았다.
After a minute — sometimes less, sometimes more — he would turn back and follow her through the gate and up the path to the house.
일 분쯤 후에 — 때로는 그보다 짧게, 때로는 길게 — 카오는 다시 돌아서서 그녀를 따라 대문을 지나 집으로 이어지는 길을 올라오곤 했다.
He was not sad.
카오는 슬프지 않았다.
That was what struck her, the first time she understood what she was watching.
그것이 말리를 놀라게 한 것이었다, 자신이 무엇을 보고 있는지 처음으로 이해했을 때.
He was not sad, and he was not anxious.
카오는 슬프지도 않았고, 불안해하지도 않았다.
He was simply checking.
그는 그저 확인하고 있을 뿐이었다.
Vocabulary
- 문을
- mun-eul — Door (object marker); refers to a door or gate
- 나서면
- na-seo-myeon — When one steps out or sets forth from a place
- 갈라진
- gal-la-jin — Split, cracked, or divided into branches
- 정령의
- jeong-nyeong-ui — Of or belonging to a spirit or nature deity
- 집이
- jib-i — House or home (subject marker attached)
- 있는
- it-neun — That exists or is present; existing, located
- 낡은
- nalg-eun — Old, worn-out, or dilapidated in appearance
- 사원까지
- sa-won-kka-ji — All the way to the temple or shrine
- 이어지는
- i-eo-ji-neun — That continues or connects leading to somewhere
- 골목을
- gol-mog-eul — Narrow alley or lane (object marker attached)
- 따라
- tta-ra — Along or following a path or direction
- 내려가고
- nae-ryeo-ga-go — Going down and (continuing to next action)
- 그다음엔
- geu-da-eum-en — Then after that; next in sequence
- 나무들이
- na-mu-deul-i — Trees (plural subject marker); several trees
- 보도
- bo-do — Sidewalk or pavement for pedestrians
- 위로
- wi-ro — Upward or over something; above a surface
- 자라나
- ja-ra-na — Growing up or sprouting outward from below
- 건기에도
- geon-gi-e-do — Even during the dry season; dry season too
- 초록빛
- cho-rok-bit — Green-colored light or hue; shade of green
- 터널을
- teo-nel-eul — Tunnel (object marker); a tunnel-like passage
- 만드는
- man-deu-neun — Making or creating something; that forms
- 길을
- gil-eul — Road or path (object marker attached)
- 왼쪽으로
- oen-jjog-eu-ro — Toward the left side or direction
- 꺾고
- kkeok-go — Turning or bending and then continuing
- 다시
- da-si — Again; once more; returning to a state
- 채소
- chae-so — Vegetables; edible plants used in cooking
- 장수들이
- jang-su-deul-i — Vendors or street merchants (plural subject)
- 좌판을
- jwa-pan-eul — Street vendor's display mat or stall board
- 걷어
- geod-eo — Rolling up or clearing away; packing up
- 들이고
- deul-i-go — Bringing in or taking inside and continuing
- 그날
- geu-nal — That day; on that particular day
- 짓눌린
- jit-nul-lin — Crushed or pressed down under weight
- 채소들의
- chae-so-deul-ui — Of the vegetables; belonging to the vegetables
- 냄새가
- naem-sae-ga — Smell or scent (subject marker attached)
- 땅에서
- ttang-e-seo — From the ground or earth; rising from ground
- 따뜻하고
- tta-tteut-ha-go — Warm and (continuing to describe something)
- 달콤하게
- dal-kom-ha-ge — Sweetly; in a sweet manner or fragrance
- 피어오르는
- pi-eo-o-reu-neun — Rising up or wafting upward like a bloom
- 시장
- si-jang — Market; a place where goods are bought and sold
- 지나
- ji-na — Passing through or past a place
- 돌아왔다
- dol-a-wat-da — Came back or returned to a previous place
- 필요한
- pil-yo-han — Necessary or needed; required for a purpose
- 것들을
- geot-deul-eul — Things (plural object marker); various items
- 때로는
- ttae-ro-neun — Sometimes; occasionally; at times
- 필요하지
- pil-yo-ha-ji — Not necessary; base for negation of need
- 않은
- an-eun — That is not; negating a preceding adjective
- 것들까지
- geot-deul-kka-ji — Even things; up to and including extra items
- 사며
- sa-myeo — Buying while or buying and simultaneously doing
- 바구니를
- ba-gu-ni-reul — Basket (object marker); a woven carrying basket
- 천천히
- cheon-cheon-hi — Slowly; at an unhurried or leisurely pace
- 채워
- chae-wo — Filling up; packing or loading into a container
- 나갔다
- na-gat-da — Went out or proceeded; continued going forward
- 줄을
- jul-eul — Rope or leash (object marker attached)
- 당기지
- dang-gi-ji — Pulling; base form before negation particle
- 않고
- an-ko — Without doing; not doing and continuing
- 그녀
- geu-nyeo — She or her; third-person feminine pronoun
- 곁을
- gyeot-eul — Side or beside (object marker); near someone
- 걸었고
- geol-eot-go — Walked and (then did something else)
- 황금빛
- hwang-geum-bit — Golden-colored light or hue; golden shimmer
- 오후
- o-hu — Afternoon; the time after noon
- 햇살
- haet-sal — Sunlight; rays of sunshine streaming down
- 속에서
- sog-e-seo — From within or inside; in the midst of
- 하얀
- ha-yan — White; pure white in color
- 꼬리는
- kko-ri-neun — Tail (topic marker); an animal's tail
- 희미한
- heui-mi-han — Faint, dim, or barely visible; vague
- 깃발처럼
- git-bal-cheo-reom — Like a flag; resembling a waving flag
- 나부꼈다
- na-bu-kkyeot-da — Fluttered or flapped gently in the breeze
- 그들이
- geu-deul-i — They (subject marker); those people or beings
- 동네를
- dong-ne-reul — Neighborhood or village (object marker)
- 돌아오는
- dol-a-o-neun — Returning or coming back; on the way back
- 시간은
- si-gan-eun — Time (topic marker); the time period referred to
- 다른
- da-reun — Other or different; another kind or type
- 아이들도
- a-i-deul-do — Children also; kids too (inclusive particle)
- 학교에서
- hak-gyo-e-seo — From school; at the school location
- 시간이었다
- si-gan-i-eot-da — It was the time; that was the time (period)
- 교복과
- gyo-bok-gwa — School uniform and; school uniforms together with
- 무거운
- mu-geo-un — Heavy; having great weight or burden
- 가방들이
- ga-bang-deul-i — Bags or backpacks (plural subject marker)
- 느슨하게
- neu-seun-ha-ge — Loosely; in a slack or relaxed manner
- 흩어지고
- heut-eo-ji-go — Scattering or dispersing and then continuing
- 목소리들이
- mok-so-ri-deul-i — Voices (plural subject); many voices heard
- 들리고
- deul-li-go — Being heard; audible and continuing (listed)
- 고요함으로부터
- go-yo-ham-eu-ro-bu-teo — From silence or stillness; departing from quiet
- 막
- mak — Just now; right at that moment; barely
- 풀려난
- pul-lyeo-nan — Released or freed from a restrained state
- 아이들
- a-i-deul — Children; kids (plural form)
- 특유의
- teug-yu-ui — Unique to; characteristic or peculiar to something
- 에너지가
- e-neo-ji-ga — Energy (subject marker); vitality or liveliness
- 넘쳐나는
- neom-chyeo-na-neun — Overflowing or brimming over with energy
- 차분하고
- cha-bun-ha-go — Calm and; composed and (listing qualities)
- 고른
- go-reun — Even, steady, or balanced; uniform gaze
- 시선으로
- si-seon-eu-ro — With one's gaze or line of sight; by looking
- 지나가는
- ji-na-ga-neun — Passing by; going past a certain point
- 바라보곤
- ba-ra-bo-gon — Used to gaze or look at; habitually watched
- 했다
- haet-da — Did; past tense marker completing an action
- 중
- jung — Among or in the middle of a group
- 누구도
- nu-gu-do — Nobody; not anyone at all (emphatic negation)
- 올바른
- ol-ba-reun — Correct, righteous, or proper in conduct
- 아이가
- a-i-ga — Child (subject marker); a kid or young person
- 아니었다
- a-ni-eot-da — Was not; past-tense negation of identity
- 차이를
- cha-i-reul — Difference or distinction (object marker)
- 알고
- al-go — Knowing and; being aware and (continuing)
- 있었다
- it-eot-da — There was; existed; had been (past tense)
- 대문
- dae-mun — Main gate or front gate of a property
- 앞에서
- ap-e-seo — In front of; at the front of a place
- 멈추곤
- meom-chu-gon — Used to stop; habitually came to a halt
- 길에
- gil-e — On the road or path; at a point on the way
- 언제나
- eon-je-na — Always; at all times; without exception
- 멈추고
- meom-chu-go — Stopping and; halting and then continuing
- 몸을
- mom-eul — Body (object marker); one's physical body
- 돌려
- dol-lyeo — Turning around; rotating one's body or direction
- 올
- ol — Will come; future tense of coming
- 방향의
- bang-hyang-ui — Of the direction; belonging to a certain direction
- 골목
- gol-mok — Narrow alley; a small side street or lane
- 아래를
- a-rae-reul — Below or underneath (object marker)
- 바라보았다
- ba-ra-bo-at-da — Gazed at or looked toward; stared at something
- 기다리는
- gi-da-ri-neun — Waiting; act of waiting for someone or something
- 법을
- beob-eul — Way or method (object marker); how to do something
- 배웠다
- bae-wot-da — Learned or studied; acquired knowledge or skill
- 그녀는
- geu-nyeo-neun — She (topic marker); referring to a female subject
- 들고
- deul-go — Holding or carrying and (continuing action)
- 곁에
- gyeot-e — Beside or next to someone; at one's side
- 서서
- seo-seo — Standing and; while standing doing something
- 그가
- geu-ga — He (subject marker); referring to a male person
- 바라보도록
- ba-ra-bo-do-rok — So that he looks; in order for someone to gaze
- 내버려
- nae-beo-ryeo — Leaving alone; letting be without interference
- 두었다
- du-eot-da — Left or placed; kept in a certain state
- 그것은
- geu-geot-eun — That thing (topic marker); referring to something mentioned
- 사소한
- sa-so-han — Trivial, minor, or insignificant; a small matter
- 일이었다
- il-i-eot-da — It was a matter or task; it was something done
- 그녀에게
- geu-nyeo-e-ge — To her or for her; directed at a female person
- 아무런
- a-mu-reon — Any whatsoever; no kind of (used in negation)
- 대가도
- dae-ga-do — Even a price or cost; any cost or sacrifice
- 치르게
- chi-reu-ge — To make pay; causing someone to bear a cost
- 하지
- ha-ji — Do; base before negation; doing (incomplete form)
- 않았다
- an-at-da — Did not; past-tense negation of an action
- 일
- il — One; the number one or a minute (time)
- 분쯤
- bun-jjeum — About a minute; approximately one minute
- 후에
- hu-e — After; subsequent to a given time or event
- 그보다
- geu-bo-da — Than that; shorter or longer compared to it
- 짧게
- jjalb-ge — Briefly or shortly; for a short duration
- 길게
- gil-ge — For a long time; in a lengthy manner
- 돌아서서
- dol-a-seo-seo — Turning around and then standing to do something
- 그녀를
- geu-nyeo-reul — Her (object marker); referring to the female character
- 대문을
- dae-mun-eul — Main gate (object marker); the front entrance gate
- 집으로
- jib-eu-ro — Toward home; in the direction of one's house
- 올라오곤
- ol-la-o-gon — Used to come up; habitually came up inside
- 슬프지
- seul-peu-ji — Sad; base before negation particle (not sad)
- 그것이
- geu-geot-i — That (subject marker); the thing that did something
- 놀라게
- nol-la-ge — To surprise or astonish someone; causing surprise
- 한
- han — Did; that did (modifying following noun); one
- 것이었다
- geot-i-eot-da — It was the thing; that was what it was
- 자신이
- ja-sin-i — Oneself (subject marker); one's own self
- 무엇을
- mu-eot-eul — What (object marker); asking what thing
- 보고
- bo-go — Seeing or looking and; while observing something
- 있는지
- it-neun-ji — Whether something exists or is happening
- 처음으로
- cheo-eum-eu-ro — For the first time; as a first occurrence
- 이해했을
- i-hae-haet-seul — When understood; at the point of comprehending
- 때
- ttae — Time or moment; when a certain event occurs
- 슬프지도
- seul-peu-ji-do — Not even sad; neither sad (emphatic negation)
- 않았고
- an-at-go — Was not and; did not and (linking negation)
- 불안해하지도
- bul-an-hae-ha-ji-do — Not even anxious; neither feeling worried or uneasy
- 그는
- geu-neun — He (topic marker); referring to a male character
- 그저
- geu-jeo — Simply or just; merely without any other motive
- 확인하고
- hwak-in-ha-go — Confirming and; checking and then continuing
- 있을
- it-eul — Will be; likely existing or about to be present
- 뿐이었다
- ppun-i-eot-da — It was only or merely that; nothing more than
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