<div><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">‘</span><span>복수를 도와주는 기계</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.’</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>정부 주관 경연대회에서 우수상품으로 선정된 기계 치고는 꽤나 으스스한 명칭이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>이거 어디 쓸데나 있겠어요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>많은 사람들이 의문을 가졌지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>일단 우수상품으로 선정된 만큼 실용성에 대한 테스트를 받게 되었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>소규모 연구소가 차려지고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>대대적으로 실험자를 모집했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">‘</span><span>임상실험 대상자를 모집합니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.’ </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>필요한 것은 오로지 간단한 이력서와 복수를 할 대상에 대한 사연뿐이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>연구소에서 생각했던 것 보다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>많은 사람들이 실험에 응모했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>무료봉사라도 좋으니</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>제발 뽑아 달라고 하는 사람도 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>연구소는 엄격한 과정을 거쳐 최초의 실험 대상을 선발했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이름은 이영호</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>나이 </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">28</span><span>세의 취업준비생이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호가 복수를 하고 싶은 대상은 이전에 다녔던 중소기업의 사장이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그 사장은 사내커플이었던 이영호의 여자친구를 성폭행 했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그는 재판을 받았지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>심신미약 및 정신병을 이유로 제대로 된 처벌을 받지 않고 병원에 입원했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>여자친구는 그 사실에 분노해 작년 겨울 자살을 했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>사실상의 살인이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>실험 방법은 간단했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>먼저 기계의 힘을 빌려 실험자의 상상력을 극대화 해 그가 원하는 복수를 할 수 있게 해준다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그리고 복수가 절정에 이르렀을 때 인간이 느끼는 허무함을 깨닫게 해 줌으로써 복수가 가지는 무의미함을 인식시키는 것이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이 모든 과정을 거친 인간은 다시 원래의 평온함을 찾을 수 있다는 설계였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>자</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>영호 씨의 사연은 우리 모두 잘 알고 있습니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>연구소장이 이영호에게 말했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>실험실에는 연구소장과 이영호</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>연구원 등 총 네 명이 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>네</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호가 짧게 대답했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그는 여자친구의 복수를 위해 할 수 있는 노력을 다 했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>인터넷 청원부터 </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">1</span><span>인 시위</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>서명운동까지 벌였지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>결국 그에게 남은 것은 벌금과 접근금지 명령뿐이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>이미 설명을 들으셨겠지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>이 기계는 영호 씨의 복수를 도와 줄 겁니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>네</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>기계에 들어가면</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>영호 씨가 상상하던 장면이 펼쳐질 겁니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>거기서 영호 씨는 본인이 생각했던 복수를 이뤄 주시면 됩니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>소장이 이영호의 옆에 있는 기계를 보며 말했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. MRI</span><span>처럼 누워서 사용하게끔 되어 있는 기계에는 뇌파를 측정하는데 사용하는 것 같은 장치가 달려 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>가장 중요한 것은 복수가 끝난 다음에 느끼는 감정을 잘 기억하는 겁니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그 감정이 복수에 대한 응어리를 해소해 줄 테니까요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>준비 되셨나요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>네</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호가 기계 위에 올라가 눕자</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>연구원 하나가 이영호의 머리에 뇌파를 측정하는 장치를 부착했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>자</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>그럼 복수를 시작 하도록 하겠습니다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호가 기계 안으로 들어간 다음</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>출구가 밀폐되었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>괜찮을까요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>한 연구원이 소장에게 물었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>뭐가</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>이영호 씨요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>흥분 수치가 너무 낮은 것 같은데</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>그건 우리가 알 수 없는 거지</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>아</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>시작 됐다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>일단 화면에 집중 하자고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>소장이 가리킨 화면에는 이영호의 상상이 영상으로 재생되고 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호는 눈을 뜨고 주변을 둘러보았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>익숙한 풍경이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이영호가 있는 곳은 </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">1</span><span>년 전까지 자기가 다니던 회사의 사장실이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그는 입술을 질끈 깨물었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>죽은 여자친구가 성폭행을 당했던 곳도 사장의 사무실이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>손에 든 검은 방망이를 꼭 움켜쥔 채</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>누가 들어오더라도 들키지 않도록 몸을 화초 뒤로 숨겼다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>잠시 후 누군가 말을 하며 걸어오는 소리가 들렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>사장실의 문이 열리고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>환자복을 입은 사람이 들어왔다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>사장이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이영호는 심장 박동이 빨라지는 것을 느꼈다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>가슴 한쪽이 뜨거워 지면서</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>참을 수 없을 만큼의 분노가 끓어올랐다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>흥분 수치가 조금씩 올라가고 있네요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>다행이군</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>계속 영상을 보자고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>소장과 연구원이 다시 영상으로 눈을 돌렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>최학길 이 십새끼야</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">!”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호가 화초 뒤에서 뛰어 나와 들고 있던 방망이로 사장을 내려쳤다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>누</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>누구</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>방망이가 박살나며</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>사장은 뒤 돌아볼 틈도 없이 자리에 쓰러졌다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이영호는 사장실의 문을 잠그고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>쓰러진 그를 붙잡아 마구 때렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>주먹으로도 때리고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>발로도 때리고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>때릴 수 있는 것은 다 잡아서 때렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>안에 누구야</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">? </span><span>나오지 못해</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>밖에서 누군가 들어오려는 듯 문을 걷어차는 소리가 들렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>너 이 십새끼</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>너 때문에</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.” </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호는 이미 축 늘어진 사장을 때리며 오열했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>생각했던 것에 비해 너무나도 허무한 복수였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>밖에서 문을 걷어차는 소리가 더 거세지</span></font><font size="2"><span>고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>곧이어 직원들이 우루루 쏟아져 들어왔다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이영호는 끝까지 사장의 멱살을 잡은 채 숨을 가쁘게 쉬었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그리고 경찰에게 잡혀 재판 받는 과정이 진행되었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>하지만 어딘가 부족하다는 생각이 이영호의 머릿속을 계속 떠다녔다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>다음 순간</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>눈을 뜨니 이영호는 다시 연구실로 돌아와 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>어</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>여</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>여긴</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>그는 여전히 가쁜 숨을 내몰아 쉬고 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>자신의 상황이 이해가 되지 않는 듯 기계에서 일어나 주변을 돌아보았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span>연구소장과 연구원들이 얼굴의 땀을 닦아주며 이영호를 지켜보고 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>괜찮으세요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>소장이 물을 건넸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호는 아직 여러 가지 감정이 섞여 있는 듯 머리를 흔들었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>마음은 좀 편해 지셨나요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>소장의 다음 질문에 이영호는 겨우 정신을 차렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>아</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>네</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>아</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>아뇨</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그게 조금</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.” </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>조금</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>그게</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>너무 순식간에 끝나서 뭐가 뭔지 솔직히 잘</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그리고 조금 모자란 것 같아요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>모자라다구요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호의 답변에 연구소장과 연구원의 표정에 실망이 떠올랐다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>음</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>조금 더 자세히 봐야겠지만 이영호 씨는 충분히 시뮬레이션 속에서 복수를 하셨어요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그리고 거기에서 허무감도 느끼셨구요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그런데도 부족하다는 말씀이시죠</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>네</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.” </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>어떤 점이 부족하게 느껴지셨나요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?” </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호는 다시 한 번 상황을 떠올렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>자신이 상상하던 복수가 과연 그런 모습이었을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>그는 고개를 가로저었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>제 여자친구가 받았던 고통에 비하면 너무 약한 것 같아요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>본인이 원하는 최고 상황에 도달하지 못했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>이 말인가요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>네</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>혹시</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>혹시</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>상황을 좀 다르게 바꿀 수 있을까요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?” </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호의 이야기에 옆에서 듣고 있던 연구원이 깜짝 놀란 표정을 지었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>말해 보세요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.” </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호는 자신이 생각하고 있는 것을 이야기 했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>하지만 그건 윤리적으로 좀 문제가</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.” </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이야기를 들은 연구원들은 난색을 표했지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>결국 소장이 밀어붙이는 바람에 어쩔 수 없이 따르게 되었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>위험하지 않을까요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호가 다시 기계에 들어가자</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>점검을 하던 연구원 하나가 조심스럽게 물었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>어쩔 수 없지</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>본인이 만족할만한 복수를 해야 거기서 허무감을 느끼고 다시 일상으로 돌아올 수 있는데</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>일단 해 봐야 아는 거지</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>연구소장이 고개를 저으며 대답했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span>다시 이영호의 상상이 화면에 재생되었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span>이번에는 어두컴컴한 방이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span>이영호는 아까 전의 복수를 곰곰이 생각했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">‘</span><span>아무리 생각해도 여자친구가 받았던 고통에 비하면 약한 것 같다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.’</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이번에야 말로 천천히</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>그 고통을 다 되돌려 주겠다고 결심했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>자신을 향해 소리치는 사장과 그 옆에서 떨고 있는 딸을 보며 이영호는 웃음을 지었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>너 이새끼야</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>니가 이러고도 무사할 것 같아</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>사</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>살려 주세요</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호는 사장 앞으로 다가가 그의 뺨을 때렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>사장은 분노에 찬 눈으로 그를 바라보았지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>두 손</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>두 발이 모두 묶여 있어 저항을 할 수 없었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>자기 상황을 잘 모르나 본데</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>칼을 꺼내 옆에서 떨고 있는 사장 딸의 옷을 찢었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>왜</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>왜 이러세요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>왜 이러긴</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>니 아빠가 잘못한 걸 그대로 돌려주려고 그러지</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>옆에서 사장이 뭐라고 소리를 지르든</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>이영호는 그 딸에 집중했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>속옷을 벗기고 억지로 물건을 집어넣어 강간했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>한 번으로 만족하지 않고</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>보란 듯이 몇 번이고 희롱했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>제발 한 번만 봐주게</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>어떻게 내 앞에서 이럴 수가 있는가</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>제발</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>제발 한 번만 용서해 주세요</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>사장이 용서를 빌면 빌수록 이영호는 더욱 악독해졌다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그가 더 분노하고 좌절하고 슬퍼하도록 온 힘을 다해서 딸을 욕보였다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>고통스러워하는 그의 목소리를 들으니</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>방금 전과는 다른 만족감이 마음속에 스며들었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>몇 번을 들어도 질리지 않는 비명소리에</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>마음 속에서 환호를 질렀다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>영상을 지켜보던 연구소장과 연구원은 이영호의 상태를 유심히 관찰했다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>시작은 방금 전과 비슷했지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>이영호의 흥분은 절정에 달한 것 같았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>이제 슬슬 다른 상황을 부여 할까요</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">?”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>그렇게 해야지</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>버튼을 누르자 영상에서 경찰의 사이렌 소리가 들렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이미 포위되었다는 상투적인 대사가 들리자</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>이영호의 흥분 수치가 떨어졌다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>원하던 결과였다. 연구진은 만면에 웃음을 띠었다. </span><span>충분한 만족을 이끌어 냈으니 남은 것은 이영호가 깨어나면 어떤지를 관찰하는 것이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>잠깐</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>영상을 빨리 재생하려는 연구원의 손을 소장이 잡았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>영상을 보니 이영호가 집에 불을 붙이고 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>얼마나 마음이 아팠겠냐고</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>그렇게 말하며 불을 지르는 그의 표정에는 지독한 좌절감이 묻어 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>예상했던 반응과는 전혀 다른 감정이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">“</span><span>실험 중지 해</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.”</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>기계를 끄자 안에서 누워있던 이영호가 천천히 나왔다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>몸 전체가 땀범벅이었을 뿐만 아니라</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>이번에는 눈물까지 흘리고 있었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>연구원들이 수건과 음료수를 줬지만</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">, </span><span>그는 계속 허공을 응시한 채 눈물을 흘릴 뿐이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>실험은 중지되고 그가 느낀 감상은 그가 진정 된 다음에 듣는 것으로 일정이 변경되었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>하지만 연구소장과 연구원들은 이영호의 이야기를 들을 수 없었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그가 사장과 그 일가족을 살해하고 집에 불을 내 자살했기 때문이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>연구소장은 그가 마지막으로 했던 말을 떠올렸다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">‘</span><span>얼마나 마음이 아팠겠냐고</span><span style="letter-spacing:0pt;">…</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">.’</span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="font-family:'바탕';"> </span><span></span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span>이영호는 복수의 희열과 허무함 외에 다른 감정을 느낀 것임에 틀림없었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그렇기 때문에 그런 행동을 했던 것이다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그것은 여자 친구에 대한 슬픔이었을까</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">? </span><span>확실한 것은 알 수 없었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>이후 실험이 중지되었기 때문이었다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span><span>그리고 이와 같은 실험에 다시는 정부 지원이 투자되지 않았다</span><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';">. </span></font></div> <div><font size="2"><span lang="en-us" style="letter-spacing:0pt;font-family:'바탕';"></span></font> </div>