<p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;"><font face="바탕" size="6"><b><br></b></font></span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;"><font face="바탕" size="6"><b>나는 외계인을 만났다.</b></font></span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><br></span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">‘</span><b><font size="5">나</font></b><span style="font-size:12pt;">는 외계인이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">.’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀가 건넨 첫 마디는 그랬다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어둡고 외진 곳이었고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">누구하나 지나지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">고민할 필요는 없었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">미.친.놈</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이었으니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">품 안엔 벌써 아홉명의 피를 머금은 칼이 있고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 숙련된 도살자였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">삶의 이유를 찾지 못하는 내게 유일한 유희가 알아서 찾아온 것이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. 헛소리 따윈 잊고, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그냥 가볍게 즐기면 될 일 이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">겉옷을 벗겨 팔을 뒤로 돌려 묶고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">속옷으로 안면을 가렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">냉랭한 두 번의 정사</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">(</span><span style="font-size:12pt;letter-spacing:0pt;">情事</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">), </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">풀 섶에 조금 튀었지만 문제는 없다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">비가 오고 있으니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">알량한 지문 따위 단번에 쓸어낼 거친 폭우다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">여느 때와 같은 뒤처리</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">목을 조르다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">가슴을 아홉 번 정도 난도질 했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">더 이상 움직이지 않는다는 결말은 뻔하지만 과정이 주는 스릴은 여느 영화 못지않다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-size:12pt;font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;">. </span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">시체를 유기한 후</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">산길을 따라 조금 떨어진 곳으로 나와 이동한다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그야말로 간단했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">오히려 너무 쉬워 아쉬울 정도였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">악을 쓰지도 노여워하지도 않는 걸 보니 그 여자도 나처럼 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">별종</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">인가 싶었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">하지만 문제는 다음 날이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">놀랍게도 그녀가 다시 날 찾았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그것도 똑같은 모습으로</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">어안이 벙벙한 표정으로 바라보는 나에게 그녀는 말했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나 외계인이라니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀가 내게 건넨 두 번째 말</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">묘한 기시감이 느껴졌다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">역시나 어둡고 외진 곳이었고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">누구하나 지나지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 내 두 눈과 귀를 의심하여 몇 번이나 비비고 후벼 팠지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">명확한 답은 떠오르지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">설마 쌍둥이일까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">유치한 의문을 가지기엔 이 여자</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너무도 태연했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">결국 나는 마음을 고쳐먹고 조용히 따져 물었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">진짜 외계인이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">보고도 몰라</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">생긴 게 똑같잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">촉수도 없고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... E.T</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">처럼도 안 생겼어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모형 판매를 위한 영화사의 수작을 믿는 거야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그런 건 아니지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내가 여기 또 왔잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그보다 명확한 게 있을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀는 당차고 또한 평온해 보였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이제껏 내가 죽여 온 여타의 사람들과는 달랐다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">울부짖지도 도망치지도 않는다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내 삶의 유일한 즐거움조차 시들하게 만드는 고약한 태도였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">낙담한 나는 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">털썩</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그 자리에 주저앉으며 물었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그런데 하필 왜 날 찾았어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그럼 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">NASA</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">라도 찾아 갈까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아니면 국방부</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그것도 좋겠지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">순간이동 기술이라도 알려주면 내가 구태여 알리바이를 만들 필요도 없을 테니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어렵진 않아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이해할 수 있는가는 다른 문제지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">꽤나 쉽게 말하네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내가 물은 거나 대답해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">왜 날 찾았지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">심드렁한 목소리로 말했지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">사실은 매우 궁금했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">으슥한 곳을 찾는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">혼자 있는 사람을 찾는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">목격자가 없는 지를 확인 하는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">증거를 없애고 사라지는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">만약을 대비해 알리바이를 만드는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">일련의 행동들은 늘 그 높은 위험도만큼이나 나를 만족시켜 왔다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">하지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">눈앞의 이 여자가 진짜 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">외계인</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이 맞다면</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">알량한 취미의 우선순위 정도는 조금 미뤄도 좋을 것이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">궁금했어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">뭐가</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">왜 죽이는지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">겨우</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">우리로선 꽤나 난해한 일이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">외계인도 퍽이나 할 일이 없나보구나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 실망스런 질문에 할 말을 잃었지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀는 그제야 나에 대한 호기심이 치미는 듯 바짝 다가와 열변을 토했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이건 꽤나 중요한 문제야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">왜 지구인들은 동족을 죽이는가</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너희는 동족을 죽이지 않아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">당연히</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">절대로</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">결코</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래서</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">동족을 죽이는 내가 궁금했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">먹거나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">생존을 위한 이유가 아니니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그건 아주 특수한 경우라 할 수 있지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">재밌네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나처럼 무미건조한 인간이 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">특별</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">하다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나쁘지 않네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">웃었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">얼마만의 일이었을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">특별하다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">대게의 내가 들어온 단어는 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">특이하다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">어린 시절</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">기르던 개가 닭 뼈를 삼켜 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">컥컥</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">거렸던 적이 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">난 급히 녀석을 마당으로 데리고 나갔다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">도움을 주려는 아이의 마음이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 곧장 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">TV</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">시리즈에서 본 근엄한 의사로 분해 메스대신 식칼을 손에 들었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">낑낑</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">대는 녀석의 입에 걸레를 물리고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">버둥대는 몸뚱이를 묶은 후 갈라냈다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">뭉클</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">핏물이 쏟아졌다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">옷을 더럽힌 일은 아쉬웠지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">난 나의 첫 번째 집도</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">執刀</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">를 성공적으로 마쳤다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">커다란 닭 뼈가 척출됐고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">개는 더 이상 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">끙끙</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">거리지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">꺄악</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">엄마가 비명을 질렀다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내가 바란 것은 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">가벼운 칭찬</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그것뿐이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">별난 아이</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">무서운 애</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">엄마의 부탁으로 이뤄진 담임교사의 특별상담은 당시로선 큰 비밀이 아니었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">선생님들끼리의 수다는 곧 나에 대한 다양한 수식어들을 파생시켰고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그것은 그다지 달가운 일이 아니었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">적어도 어린 시절의 나에게는 말이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">알았으면 이제 들려줘</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이유 말이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이유</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">뭐 이유랄 게 있을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그냥 좋을 뿐이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어떤 점이</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아무도 못 하니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아무도 못한다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">약간 어려운 데</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">더 쉽게 말하면</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">자아를 찾는 달까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">존재의 이유</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이게 더 어려운가</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아니</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">흥미로워</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">굉장히 어려운 일</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아무도 못 하는 일</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그리고 그걸 할 수 있는 나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">요지는 그거야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">일종의 자아실현인거네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">비슷하다 할 수 있지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. TV</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">에도 신문에도</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">온통 내 얘기뿐이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어설픈 취미와는 비교할 수 없지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">잡힐 거라는 두려움은 없어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">일단은</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">대부분 내 그림자도 밟지 못한 멍청이들뿐이니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어제도 봤어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">뭘</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">유력한 용의자를 체포해 심문중이라는 기사</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">다른 사람을 너로 착각한 거네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">항상 그런 식이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">난 저 멀리서 지켜보고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그들은 헛발질을 하지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그건 또 그 나름대로의 즐거움이고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그렇구나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">고마워 이제 조금 알 것 같아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀는 그제야 조금은 납득이 간다는 표정으로 고개를 끄덕였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그즈음 나는 약간의 조바심을 느끼고 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어찌됐든 외계인이란 말은 이곳이 그녀의 집이 아님을 뜻했고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">언제든 떠날 수 있음을 이야기했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">취미의 우선순위까지 밀어둔 마당에 유행가 가사마냥 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">웃으며 안녕 하는</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그런 사이는 되고 싶지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그런데 넌 왜 그걸 묻지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">말했잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">궁금했다고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아니</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">넌 분명히 꽤나 중요한 문제라고 말했어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내가 그랬나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">분명해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">할 수 없네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">털어 놓을 수 밖에</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">뭔가 꿍꿍이가 있었던 거야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">비슷해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">비슷하다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">좋아 말해봐</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">에일리언이란 영화 봤어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">응</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">몇 년 전에 꽤 흥행했던 영화잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">거기서 에일리언이 인간에게 어떻게 하지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그거야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">알을 까지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">인간을 숙주 삼아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너 설마</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래 비슷해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">고백할게</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">인간은 우리의 숙주야 너희 모두는 우리의 알을 품고 있지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">뭐</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그걸 지금 나보고 믿으라고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어디</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">대체 그 알이란 건 어디 있지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀의 말에 난 몸을 훑었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">알</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">숙주</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">죽고 사는 일에 연연하는 성격은 아니지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내 안에 다른 무언가가 있다는 말을 들으니 약간은 불쾌한 감정이 들었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그렇게 찾을 필요 없어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">알은 바로 너니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래 너</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내가 어떻게 알이란 거지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">몸은 껍데기고 진짜는 영혼이지 죽은 사람들의 영혼은 어디로 간다고 생각해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그러니까 너 지금 내가 바로 그 알이고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이 몸은 숙주다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">맞아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">인간의 육신을 빌어 우리 외계인들이 잠시 머무는 거야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">알이 성숙해져 유체를 탈피하는 데 필요한 시간은 보통 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">60</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">년에서 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">90</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">년</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">숙주가 붕괴되면 모성</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">母性</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">의 별로 돌아가는 거지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이걸 믿어야 하나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그건 네 자유야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어차피 때가 되면 다 알게 돼</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">지루한 삶은 그저 나비가 되기 위한 번데기의 나날이란 걸</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">껍질을 깨고 나오면 더 많은 것을 보게 되지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그럼 너도 결국 인간이었단 얘기잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">맞아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">인간이었지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너한테 죽은</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그럼 왜 나한테 물었지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">왜 동족을 죽이냐</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너도 인간이었으니 그런 질문을 할 필요는 없었잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">가끔 귀신을 봤다는 사람들 본 적 있어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">물론</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그들은 왜 귀신이 됐을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">글세</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">기억을 지우지 못해서야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">기억을 지워</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">응</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">육신이 붕괴되면 그 때의 기억은 모두 지워져</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">지난 생에 대한 집착이 남으면 모성</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">母星</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">으로 가지 못해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그걸 막기 위해 기억은 육신의 소멸과 함께 지워져</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">하지만 언제나 예외는 있지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그러니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">귀신들이 그 예외다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">원한이 깊거나 억울하게 죽거나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">보통 그런 사람들이 죽어서 귀신이 된다고들 하잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모성으로 돌아가 무한한 삶을 누려야 하지만 그 집념이 기억을 남긴 거야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">돌아가길 거부한 거지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">물론 종종 스스로 그 기억의 굴레를 벗어던지고 돌아오는 경우도 있긴 해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">하지만 그리 많은 건 아냐</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">매우 희귀한 케이스라 할 수 있지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래서 나한테 왜 동족을 죽이냐고 물었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">유충이 성숙해지기 위해선 일정한 숙성기가 필요해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아까도 말했지만 어림잡아 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">40</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">년</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">짧아도 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">30</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">년은 필요하지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그 전에 죽어버리면 모성으로 돌아갈 추진력을 잃고 말아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">미아가 되는 거지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">두둥실 떠올라 저 위로 날아가지만 어느 한 점에서 힘을 잃고 끝없이 부유해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">우주엔 그런 길 잃은 영혼들이 그득하지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">셀 수 없을 만큼 많이</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">그래서 나 같은 부류에 대한 연구가 필요했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">재밌네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">그럼 난 어때</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">충분히 성숙한 건가</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:-.4pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“100% </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">확신할 순 없지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너 정도면 모성으로 돌아가는데 큰 어려움은 없어 보이네</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">하지만 충분히 성숙한 후 오길 바래</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">왜지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모성으로 돌아와서도 동족을 죽이면 안 되니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">풋 농담이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어떤 집념이나 해결하지 못한 불만이 있는 게 아니라면 네 기억도 지워 질 테니</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">만약 내게도 해결하지 못한 불만이나 원망</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">집념이 있다면</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그럼 너도 기억을 유지한 채 영원히 이 별에 남겠지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모성으로 돌아가는 건 본능적 선택이니까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">! </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">본능을 억누를 의지가 있다면 남을 거야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">실제로도 그런 예가 있다고 들었어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그럼 하나만 더 물을게</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">기억을 유지하면</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너와 같은 성체</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">成體</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">가 되면</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">난 또 같은 자들을 죽일까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">너와 같은 성체 말이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그건 대답하지 않겠어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀는 조금 당황한 듯 보였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. Yes </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">와 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">No </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">둘 중 무어냐 묻는다면 </span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">Yes</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">라는 표정이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 확신했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모성의 별에 나와 같은 자가 없는 이유는 하나다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그곳으로 돌아가지 않은 것이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이곳에서 지워지지 않은 기억으로 계속</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">취미생활을 향유한 것이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나 갑자기 가보고 싶어졌어</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어딜</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모성에</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">정말</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">진심이야</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">거짓말이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 이곳에 남으리라 마음먹었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그리고 취미를 거듭할 것이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">손 끝을 짜릿하게 하는 이 스릴</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어찌 포기할 수 있을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">다만 난 보다 완벽한 형태로의 변이</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">變異</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">를 원했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">죽음</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">보다 완벽한 죽음</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그것을 느끼게 해주고 싶었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">심장이 두근거렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">농담처럼 보여</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">마음이 급해</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">어떻게 하면 되지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">방법은 쉬워</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">네가 가장 잘 알고 있잖아</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">죽어라</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">응</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이렇게 말인가</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">?”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">쉬운 일이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">수도 없이 했고</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">실수는 한 번도 없었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">다만 그 대상이 달라졌을 뿐이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">목을 그었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">뭉클대며 피가 솟구치고 숨이 막혀왔다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내 수술의 첫 집도대상이었던 그 개도 이런 기분이었을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">? </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">고통스럽다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">무언가 더 묻고 싶었지만 바람소리만 새어나올 뿐 목소리는 나오지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">남은 힘을 모아 정신을 집중했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">돌아가고 싶지 않다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.’ ‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이 곳에 남겠다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.’ </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">명확한 의지를 가져야 한다는 생각뿐이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그렇게</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나의 죽음은 끝났다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀의 말 대로였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">한결 가벼워진 정신의 유체</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">有體</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">가 낡고 무거운 몸뚱이를 벗어던지며 지면을 박찼다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">날아올랐다는 표현이 더 적절했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그렇게 나는 완벽히 자유로워졌다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모두 나의 집념 덕분이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">보다 완벽한 살인</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">殺人</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">의 미학</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">(</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">美學</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">)</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">을 원했던 나의 소망대로였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">마음 같아선 이대로 대지를 박차고 올라 저 먼 우주의 한 점으로 날아가고 팠지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">난 멈춰 섰다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그리고 생각했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">돌아가지 않는다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.’</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">‘</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">난 여기에 머문다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.’</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">생각의 힘은 기대를 저버리지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀의 말 대로였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">두둥실 떠올랐던 몸이 천천히 내려앉았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나직한 착지</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">흠뻑 젖은 지면 위에 두 다리가 닿았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">더는 떠오르지 않을 마지막 착륙이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">비상하지 못한 아쉬움은 남았으나 낮은 곳의 저열한 욕망은 불타올랐다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">난 소리쳤다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이제 더 이상 거짓 껍데기가 아닌 진짜를 죽이리라</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">모든 것이 나의 뜻 대로다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">!”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그때 잠시 잊고 있었던 존재가 말했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그녀였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">“</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">거봐요</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">이러면 죽을 거라고 했잖아요</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.”</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">아홉 개의 빛이 보였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">익히 알고 있는 얼굴들이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">잊었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그들도 떠나지 않았겠구나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';font-size:12pt;"> </span></p> <p></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">[</span><span style="font-size:12pt;">화성 연쇄 살인사건의 공소시효가 곧 종료됩니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">하지만 아직도 범인은 오리무중입니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">지금이라도 범인의 신상에 대해 알고 계시거나</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">중요한 사건의 단서를 알고 계신 분이 계시다면 제보를 기다리겠습니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그것이 알고 싶다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">다음 시간에 찾아뵙겠습니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.]</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';font-size:12pt;"> </span></p> <p></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 아직도 그곳에 있다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">아홉 명의 아니 열 명의 그녀들과 함께</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">, </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">내가 알게 된 사실은 그것뿐이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">유체의 힘은 숙성된 기간에 의해 좌우된다는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">남녀의 차별이 없다는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">그리고 스스로를 해한 자는 그 고통을 영원히 감내해야 한다는 것</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">.</span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><span style="font-size:12pt;">그래</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">... </span><span style="font-size:12pt;">나는 여기에 있다</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">. </span></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;">너희들의 곁, 지옥에</span><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'함초롬바탕';letter-spacing:0pt;font-size:12pt;">...</span></b></p> <p style="line-height:340%;margin-left:8pt;margin-right:8pt;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;"><br></p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;"><font face="함초롬바탕"><끝></font></p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;">코멘트</p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;">봉신당 연재중에 떠오른 단편을 하나 올려 봅니다. 맨프롬어스같은 느낌을 내고 싶었는데,</p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;">제 주제엔 과도한 욕심이었나 싶습니다.</p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;">요즘 공게의 르네상스라는데, 별 도움은 못 되겠지만 졸작이나마 미력한 힘을 보태봅니다.</p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;">지적을 많이 받아 삽화는 넣지 않았습니다.</p> <p style="line-height:340%;text-indent:10pt;font-size:12pt;">즐거운 주말 보내세요.</p>