Reach Out And Touch Us

"We'll never reach the summit by nightfall," Carson yelled over the howling winds of Everest. "The Sherpas think we should turn back, and I, for one, agree with them!"

Sands gritted his teeth. They had come too far to turn back now. And with tomorrow's forecast for heavier snow than the region had seen in months, this might be their last chance to beat the Uruguayan climbing team.

"No. We must press on, Cedric" Capt. Sands shouted back. "If we just keep going, we can make it. After all, the fellows at the club are depending upon us."

Carson exchanged a few brief words with the head guide, furrowed his brow and approached Capt. Sands. "Lhakpa says that there is a sheltered cave an hour ahead. He and his men are willing to go that far and no more. If the snows are as bad as predicted, we may be trapped up here for days, Jackson. If you refuse to turn back, at least say we'll stop with the Sherpas. They're much more likely to keep us alive than we are ourselves."

"Agreed. Tell Lhakpa we'll stop at his cave. We needed a new base camp, anyway. And tomorrow we shall make for the summit. Snow be damned," Capt. Sands replied stiffly. He turned and began to pick his way along the trail, knowing that Carson and the Sherpas would soon be following.