Chapter 3 Chapter 1 Dream City

1 This is an incredible city, the streets are like a labyrinth. If the whole body melts into the noise of the city, even one's personality and individuality will disappear, almost buried in the city. Kathmandu The capital of Nepal. Makoto Fukamachi likes to wander aimlessly in this chaotic city. This is his fourth visit to Kathmandu. The first time was just out of college, when I was twenty-two years old.The second time was when I was thirty; the third time was when I was thirty-five, and this time when I was forty. The first time, I came alone with a hiking backpack. From Pokhara via Jansen Village, trek to Tadopani.At that time, the term trekking was not as common as it is today. Holding an English travel book, he wandered alone in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Only that time I was alone, and I came to this land as a member of the mountaineering team several times later. The same is true this time. It was Fukamachi's duty this time to photograph the mountaineering team from Japan who came to conquer Mount Everest. Painful thoughts flashed through my mind when I thought about the mountaineering team. drop down. This is the sound of Ship Island heard in the 5th Battalion. A man's voice rang in the ear of cheap, carpet, and friend Fukamachi. A young man stood in front of him, pointing at the store behind him. He is a typical, proud Kshatriya man.

Kshatriyas belong to the Indian race and have a higher status in Nepal. The narrow wooden shop is filled with Tibetan rugs and sweaters, and the walls are barely visible.Those products even occupy the back alleys outside the store, making the narrow road even narrower. The young man in the carpet shop said: It doesn't matter if you don't buy it. What he meant was that it's okay not to buy it, at least take a look at the carpet before leaving. Every time Fukamachi comes here, he finds that there are more and more stores where Japanese people sell goods in Japanese like this. Indra Square is a street surrounded by old buildings.

Shops selling hatchet knives called Gurkha machetes, Tibetan Buddhist instruments, and Nepalese accessories are lined up one after the other.From pots, underwear, bamboo baskets and other daily necessities to famous products, this street has everything. However, if you enter the store every time you are invited by the clerk, you will not be able to advance 100 meters in a whole day. Hoina.Fukamachi refused in Nepali and stepped forward. It doesn't matter if you don't buy it, it doesn't matter if you don't buy it, the young man entangled behind him for a while, his voice was quickly mixed with other noises, and he couldn't distinguish it.

Fukamachi didn't have a purpose. He wanted to temporarily stop thinking, remembering, regretting and other thoughts and feelings before stepping into this sea of ​​people. Because if you stay alone in a small room quietly, your brain will work on its own without listening. afternoon The rain that continued to fall on this basin finally stopped temporarily. Nepal has entered the rainy season in June. The southern foothills of the Himalayas will then enter the period with the most rainfall of the year. At least when the rain stops, it's nice to get a little outside air. But then again, why are there so many people rubbing their shoulders on this narrow path?Within ten steps, there will be physical contact with others.The smell of sweat and body odor from those people came directly to their nostrils.

This is an incredible city. What dissolves into the city air is not only human body odor, but also the fishy smell of animals such as dogs, cows, chickens and goats; the pungent smell of fruits, vegetables and spices, even the smell of snow in the Himalayas, The taste of Hindu gods and Tibetan gods and Buddhas has also melted into the air of this city. Cows are lying on street corners here and there, strutting around bigger than people and carts. In Kathmandu, no matter how small the alleys are, there are squares surrounded by buildings, where there are statues of Hindu gods. There are stone statues of Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva, and Lord Ganesha with elephant heads and human bodies, their faces and bodies painted with crimson paint.

The gods and gods are alive in this city and will bring people wealth, misfortune or disaster. The stone statue called Linga, which symbolizes the male genitals of Lord Shiva, is also covered with blood-like bright red paint and countless petals of primary colors. On the pillars of the temple, there are carved men and women who are having sex, and in the Lamaism temple, the Huanxi Buddha is having sex with an angry face. Gods of primary color. The original color of the gods and Buddhas. There are no Japanese aesthetics and sensibilities such as elegance or silence.Living, flesh-and-blood gods, gods and Buddhas live on the same land as humans and animals.

Seeing the old goat sleeping in the corner of the temple all day, suddenly stand up slowly one afternoon, and disappear behind the temple, one wonders whether some kind of mysterious wisdom descended on it, and it was about to To tell someone what the gods entrusted to them in a dream. Stunningly beautiful women with Aryan facial features, as well as Tibetan women who look very Japanese, all blow their noses with their hands and stalk in front of the crowd. Children start smoking at the age of four, and can exchange coins and give alms at the age of six. There is a palace where a young living Buddha known as a living goddess lives, and there are also prostitute households.

Going forward from Indra Square and entering the alleyway behind the old palace, you will see many suspicious men coming forward to sell cannabis resin, hallucinogens, marijuana and other drugs. The city is erotic in its purity, flashy in its simplicity, and chaotic. Fukamachi came to the front of the old imperial palace.He looked sideways at the man who often dressed as an Indian Satu (ascetic monk) in this area, asking tourists to take pictures for money, and walked in the direction of the new road. There is a square in front of the new road, and the surrounding area is crowded with vendors selling famous products.

From there go down a smaller alley. In stock. A man in ripped jeans leaned over and offered Fukamachi a sales pitch in Japanese. Cannabis resin, marijuana, what you want. Pretty easy to understand Japanese. But Fukamachi doesn't want to take drugs. His purpose is to get lost in the city. Turned a few corners in the alley, mixed into the depths of the city.Gradually, Fukamachi felt his body being swallowed up by the internal organs of the city and slowly being digested. He walked in the alley where he walked for the first time.Unknowingly, the number of people decreased, only children were seen playing in front of the house from time to time.Not only specialty shops, but also general grocery stores have decreased.Just one family here, one family there, scattered along the road.

Fukamachi walked into the fork again. At the end of the alley is an old red brick wall, which is a dead end. Fukamachi wanted to turn back, but when he stopped, he found the shop. Three sleeping bags hang from the eaves of a mountaineering supply store. Fukamachi suddenly wondered if he came to Tami District while getting lost. Thamel district in Kathmandu is famous for many cheap hotels and mountaineering supplies stores.There are several hotels in that area, and you can stay overnight for only 300 yen, and provide shared shower facilities.Hippies from all over the world used to gather there. Mountaineering supply stores are all second-hand stores. Buy the mountaineering supplies left by foreign Himalayan expeditions at low prices, and then sell them at prices equivalent to foreign prices.The owners of such stores are mostly Sherpas who can get those supplies from foreign mountaineering teams. Fukamachi stopped and stepped into the shop. The shop is dark and cramped. Opposite the glass display case that replaced the counter, stood a man with a stinky face. He is not a Sherpa. Like the owner of the carpet shop just now, he is a Kshatriya. He has a mustache and is about fifty years old. Namaste. Fukamachi greeted him in Nepali, and the Kshatriya man still did not change his expression that others owed him millions. The goods hanging on the wall range from small parts such as hooks and rings to hiking backpacks and ice sticks. There are about 30 meters of eight-centimeter climbing ropes in the display cabinets. In addition, there are tantric instruments whose authenticity is difficult to distinguish. Fukamachi glanced casually at the merchandise, and suddenly stopped on the item next to the climbing rope. It was an old camera. It is a bellows camera, the kind where the bellows and the lens part can be retracted into the fuselage. Based on the photographer's professional instinct, Fukamachi knew what kind of camera it was just by looking at its appearance. The camera in the display cabinet, the bellows is pulled out from the fuselage, and the lens is facing the guests. Fukamachi took a closer look and found a slanted crack on the lens. The crack is not in the center, but near the bottom. However, if the other functions are normal, it should be barely able to take pictures. However, since the camera was hit hard enough to crack the lens to that extent, it's very likely that something other than the lens is at fault. However, Fukamachi was very interested in the model of that camera. Why is this kind of thing here? It is impossible for any mountaineering team member of any country to take pictures with such an old camera.No, some of the camera geeks would deliberately want to take pictures with an old camera like this, so it's not entirely out of the question. At least two or three cameras will come, including the regular camera and this one.The photographer dropped the camera while taking pictures, cracking the lens.With such a long-standing antique camera, it is impossible for the manufacturer to have replacement parts or lenses on hand. This camera was probably sold by the photographer in Kathmandu. Fukamachi tried to look away, but he was inexplicably interested in it, and his eyes subconsciously couldn't stay there. He always felt that he had seen it somewhere. However, Fukamachi has never used that camera until now. Where the hell is it? Fukamachi's gaze suddenly looked at the part that folded the bellows and became the cover when the lens was retracted into the fuselage. The manufacturer's name is written there. KODAK. It's a Kodak camera. Upon learning of this, an unimaginable shudder ran down Fukamachi's spine. Is it possible? This thought crossed my mind. Maybe it's psychological troubles, I always feel that even my heartbeat has accelerated. Tyo kamera dekaunos? Fukachi said: Can you let me see that camera? He picked up the camera that the boss had brought out. black camera Lighter than it looks. The model of the camera is marked in English above the lens. BEST POCKET AUTOGRAPHIC KODAK SPECIAL. His hands trembled slightly. That's right. If I remember correctly, it should be like this name. Fukamachi didn't want the boss to notice his excitement.Because once the boss knows that the customers are interested in the products in the store, he will nonchalantly shout the price. The boss will definitely say a price that is three times higher. Kati paisa? Fukamachi asked how much it cost. The boss suddenly became a smiling face: Two hundred doller. Fukachi said: There is a crack in the lens.Two hundred dollars is too much.Can it be cheaper? Alikati sasto m dinos. No.The boss shrugged exaggeratedly and said: It is because of the crack that you are only charged two hundred dollars. Originally, this item was worth five hundred dollars. The conversation between the two was brief. When the boss said one hundred and fifty dollars, Fukamachi nodded cheerfully. Okay. The amount of US$150 is enough for a Nepalese family to live for a month. The boss carefully wrapped it in newspaper, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Fukamachi. When he walked out of the shop, the afterglow of the setting sun hit Fukamachi's cheek. 2 Fukamachi drinks in a cramped hotel room, Nepali liquor. Raksi, called shochu in Japan, is a distilled liquor made from rice. Fukamachi was waiting for a call from Japan, and started drinking this liquor to suppress his excitement. He sat on the edge of the bed, holding the wine glass in his right hand, looking at the window. Outside the window, it was the darkness of the night, with raindrops beating on the windowpane. Fukamachi was alone. Why did I decide to stay in Nepal alone during this rainy season? My partner returned to Japan five days ago. Anyway, even if you go back, no one is waiting for you. There were originally seven members when they arrived in Kathmandu from Japan in April, but when they returned to Kathmandu from Mount Everest, there were five. The expedition failed. The challenge to Mount Everest was delayed until the rainy season, and the team members fought to the last moment, but two team members died on the 8,500-meter rock edge of the southwest face. If you put aside the height, there is no technical difficulty. Frozen snow covered the forty-five-degree slope. Jing Gang was walking on that slope, the soles of his feet slipped and he slipped.The boat island behind him was tied with the same climbing rope as his body, and they were implicated and fell together. The accident happened when I gave up on the summit and was halfway down the mountain. When climbing the mountain, both Jinggang and Chuandao easily overcome the snow-frozen slope. Probably the timing of the start was slightly messed up, and the front claws of the crampons did not firmly grasp the frozen snow. Fukamachi saw that scene through the camera. Ironically, the sky cleared after the pair gave up on the summit and began their descent. Through the 500mm telescopic lens, Fukamachi captured the figures of the two descending the mountain. Two black dots came down the snow-covered slope. At that time, the leading black dot suddenly began to slide rapidly and without warning.The climbing rope was stretched in a straight line, and Chuan Dao, whose body was tied by the other end of the climbing rope, followed Jing Gang a second later and slid out of the snow slope. The two fell faster and faster, Jing Gang's body jumped into the air from the steep rock field, and then Funaoshima's body was also thrown into the air. Fukamachi couldn't hear the screams of the two, nor could he see their expressions. An image unfolding in a silent shot. When thrown into the air, Funashima's red backpack was imprinted on Fukamachi's retina. The bodies of the two fell one or two meters at a time, hit the rock plate on the way with force, rolled down from that rock plate, fell into the snow further below, and disappeared without a trace. Fukamachi pressed the shutter release ecstatically, taking ten consecutive shots of the scene. Bright scene. Fukamachi gritted her teeth. I remembered again. The more I want to forget, the more I think of that scene. As if trying to drive it out of his mind, Fukamachi brought the wine glass to his mouth. If you want to go that much, don’t you just have to go?you go!Do whatever you like, don't worry about my feelings.Kayoko's words echoed in his mind. You live your life casually, and I am also happy to relax.'Cause I can live my life too Why do you think of Kayoko's words at this time? Fukamachi knew why he didn't return to Japan. It is a lie that nothing waits for oneself in that country.Because there are indeed things waiting for me in that country. Fukamachi has been escaping until now, waiting for him in that country. If you go back, even if you don't want to face it, Fukamachi will have to face it directly. if If the expedition is successful There may be various developments in my future life.However, two victims emerged and the expedition failed. Funding provided by sponsors is half of the scheduled amount.Insufficient expedition expenses will be apportioned by the team members on a head-to-head basis. Although it was an agreement at the beginning, but the survivors of the two people who are about to die will pay the amount shared by the head, and the other team members really can't say that. Therefore, the amount that was originally scheduled to be shared by seven people became shared by five people.One person has to pay about three million. It's not just about the money. If we go back, the matter with Kayoko will have to be concluded.No, I'm afraid there has already been a conclusion between myself and Kayoko. If so, what are you afraid of? Fukamachi moved his eyes from the window to the room, and saw his own figure reflected in the mirror on the wall.A haggard man's face with horror eyes.The skin is scorched by the sun and dry and rough due to UV damage. The beard that was left to grow, although it was shaved after arriving in Kathmandu after descending the mountain, it began to appear unshaven again. listen to me Fukamachi stared at himself in the mirror, as if he wanted to tell himself. Human beings are living beings with various burdens on their backs. If you don't solve those things thoroughly one by one, you can't start the next one, and you won't be able to unfold everything. But ordinary people are always forced to carry all kinds of past, and when the past is not over, they will fall headlong into the next one. By doing so, things that should be weathered become weathered.And some things will not be completely weathered, like fossils will always exist in my heart. There is no one in this world who is not burdened with such things. However Fukamachi thought, the current self doesn't know what to do next. I'm going to stay here for about half a month, and I'll go back when I have accumulated enough photos to be compiled into a photobook.He said so to captain Eiji Kudo. When you get back and get settled, have a drink in Tokyo. The four said so and went back to Japan. Everyone has a job in Japan. For this expedition, each overcame their own problems and came here from Japan. They had to run around, visit vendors that provided instant food, and mountaineering supply stores that lent out mountaineering equipment for free, etc., and explained the incident to the bereaved families in Funashima and Jinggang again. People in the mountaineering world will probably also issue various criticisms.Those who return to China first must face these trivial matters directly and deal with them one by one. On a certain level, Fukamachi pushed these annoying things to the four people who returned home first. I still have photos for the photobook that I didn't take, which is his excuse. The editor who worked with him in the past suggested to him: gather the photos related to the Himalayas you have accumulated before, and publish a photo book. Basically, there is a consensus between the two that the premise of publishing a photobook is the success of this expedition. Photos of the Himalayas themselves are no longer rare in Japan.The conquest of Mount Everest itself does not spark any topics. Fukamachi himself is not a well-known photographer, and it is not enough to make readers buy books with the brand of Makoto Fukamachi. After more than fifteen years in the business, Fukamachi remains a relatively unknown pawn. He doesn't just take pictures of mountains. There are very few jobs photographing mountain landscapes.He usually takes photos of cooking for magazine cooking specials, photos of conversations, or merchandise for catalog magazines. No job will come to you because of Makoto Fukamachi's talents and characteristics. He made a living off of skills common to photographers. In other words, there are as many photographers in this line of work that can replace Makoto Fukamachi. The reason why this mountaineering is special is that, except Fukamachi, all the participating team members are over forty-five years old. Some are doctors, some are office workers, and some are the president of a real estate agency company. Such a group of people want to challenge the highest peak in the world This aroused the interest of the media. 3 When did you first mention climbing Mount Everest? It happened about a year and a half ago in Shinjuku. Since Kenzo Tamura had not come to Tokyo from Shinshu for a long time, those who could attend the party decided to have a drink. It was a cold winter. That night, Tamura, Kudo Eiji, Takizawa Shuhei, Masuda Akira, Ioka Koichi and Fukamachi gathered together in Shinjuku. The location is a small izakaya near Shinjuku Park. The crowd sat around the fire and began to drink. All of them are people Fukamachi met through mountain climbing. Shenmachi did not belong to any mountaineering club of a university or the mountaineering club in the town.Only because I like mountains, and in the process of taking pictures of mountains, I became familiar with people from various mountaineering clubs. The reason why I chose the profession of photographer is because I want to take pictures of mountains, and the reason why I also accept the job of taking pictures of other scenery is purely because taking pictures of mountains alone cannot make a living. Fukamachi is good at capturing the expressions of people entering the mountains. Vividly photographed the aura of people facing the rock wall and the anxiety mixed in it; the expression when resting around the bonfire, the back view of the captain when he was worried about who to choose as a member of the summit team; fingers looking for a grab point on the rock wall ; Looking up through the soles of the predecessors' shoes, the expression of the predecessors clinging to the rock. Fukamachi will take photos of fingers, feet, arms, lips, backs, etc. without the person knowing. In addition to facial expressions, even body expressions that I am not aware of. Therefore, although the photos taken by Fukamachi are unpretentious, they are highly praised for their ability as a photographer. Even as a climber, Fukamachi could manage to follow behind them with camera equipment on their shoulders without being a burden to the members at the party, if it was the traditional route on Takiya in Hotaka① or the rocks in Tanigawadake③. Note ①: Mt. Hodaka is located in Nagano and Gifu prefectures, Japan. It is a mountain group south of Mt. Guno and north of Kamikochi, including Mt. Nishigaka, Mt. Gao Yue.Among them, Mount Okuho is 3,190 meters above sea level and is the highest peak in the Hida Mountains. Note ②: Takiya, located in the rock field of Mt. Kitahotaka.Together with Kendake and Tanigawadake, it is known as the three major rock fields in Japan. Note ③: Although the elevation of Mount Guchuan is less than 2,000 meters, it is famous all over the world because of its steep rock walls and complex terrain, and it is also the central watershed. The weather changes drastically. The number of victims in Mount Guchuan is very high. Fukamachi met Eiji Kudo ten years ago, when he was thirty years old. At that time, an expedition to Manaslu ④ was planned, and a certain ski equipment manufacturer became a sponsor. Note ④: Manaslu (Manaslu), located in the middle of the Himalayas in Nepal. Manaslu Peak is 8,163 meters above sea level and is the eighth highest peak in the world.The purpose of the expedition was to reach her summit and ski down from there. Kudo and Fukamachi participated in that expedition as doctors and accompanying photographers respectively. Tamura, Takizawa, Masuda, and Jingoka were also members of the team at that time. The people launched an expedition in the autumn, which ended in failure.Because of the blizzard that surpassed the record in recent years, the team members were trapped in the snow for more than half a month. At that time, an avalanche hit the third battalion, and a Sherpa was killed. Nevertheless, the plan was carried out to the part where the summit team set out from the final camp, but the summit team turned back at nearly 8,000 meters.Just shoveling took twice as long as planned due to the amount of new snow that had accumulated. At this time, the captain entered the tent alone to meditate in the base camp in order to determine the members of the attacking team.Every team member wants to be selected as the summit team to conquer the peak.The captain must choose two of them. At this time, Fukamachi was the person who took the back view of the captain meditating alone in the tent from behind; this photo made him a little famous in this field. The team members consisted of various mountaineering clubs and free climbers, led by the captain Horiguchi at the time. After the expedition failed and returned to China, several team members at that time would meet in Tokyo several times a year.These also include Kudo and Fukamachi. That party lasted for about two years, and then unknowingly, using busyness as an excuse, the team members stopped gathering. At this time, Captain Horiguchi died of cancer. That was three years ago. At that farewell ceremony, those team members reunited after a long absence, and unknowingly began to gather again. However, although it is a party, the date of meeting is not determined regularly.Instead, when a certain team member comes to Tokyo, those who can be present gather together. Only when Tamura came to Tokyo from Shinshu and everyone got together, would the topic of Mount Everest be brought up. Everyone gathered around the stove to drink, and naturally they would talk about mountain climbing. Everyone is in their twenties to early thirties, and they are all top-notch people who have climbed mountains of all sizes. During the establishment of RCC (Rock Climbing Club, Rock Climbing Club) Ⅱ, these people have never climbed before. The first wedge was driven into the Japanese rock face or the European Alps that the Japanese had not yet climbed. Is anyone else climbing? Take advantage of the trend to develop this kind of topic. I rarely go.Masuda said. I am also Tamura said. Tamura works as a real estate agent in Shinshu.Among the team members, he is second only to Kudo in age: he turned fifty last year. The only ones who are still climbing are Chuandao and you at most, right?Tamura glanced at Takizawa. I can't compare to Ship Island.That guy stayed in the mountains for half a month and Takizawa scratched his head. And you? On average, about a week a month at most. It is also very powerful. That night, among the usual team members, the only one who didn't show up was Takashi Funashima. Where is Ship Island climbing now?Masuda asked. Valley River.Takizawa replied. Tanigawa's? One warehouse. Still on the front line. Ichinokura Valley is located in the northern part of Gunma Prefecture, from the top of Tanigawadake to the east side of the ridge line of Ichinokuradake, facing the valley sunken by the Yuhiso River. The north and south of this valley are surrounded by the Higashi Ridge and the Ichinokura Ridge. There are rock walls with an altitude difference of more than 800 meters and many large rock ditches. The Dayangou there is especially difficult in winter.Masuda said. Big Rock Ditch refers to a rock ditch located on a steep rock wall.During the snow accumulation period, it often becomes a channel for avalanches. What he wants to climb is Screen Rock.He also asked me out, but I couldn't because I had a job. Takizawa, are you working?Masuda said half-jokingly. That's it.But it's not a job What are you doing? I served and ordered at an izakaya in Shibuya how long have you been there five months. It took a long time this time. Because in addition to the cost of climbing, I have to pay rent and food.I also want to have a good wife like Chuan Dao. wife?Is Funashima Married? His wife's name is Xiaomei.It seems that there is no naturalization, but that is no different from getting married. After chatting, I found out that only Funashima and Takizawa are standing on the front line of climbing. Takizawa is single and has no job. Every time I don’t know where to find a job, I work for two or three months and save money, then quit my job and go mountaineering. Funashima lives with a woman she has been dating for five years. Her name is Kawamura Mizuyo and she is thirty-seven years old.She works as an administrator at a construction company in Machida City. While living a life similar to Takizawa's, Funashima earns climbing fees. In addition, she pays for food and rent. As a diner, Funashima lived in the apartment where she used to live alone and maintained such a relationship between the two. I don’t know which time, Chuanshima was wearing a brightly colored new sweater, and was ridiculed by everyone, so he said shyly: Hey, that guy bought it for me The relationship between the two is silent, in other words, the two seem to get along pretty well. Everyone drank around the fire and kept chatting about mountain climbing.Before you know it, you haven't climbed a mountain for nearly ten years. I have become a loner who can climb mountains anytime.Jing Gang drank until his face was flushed and said. Jing Gang divorced.The reason is that Jing Gang had an affair. Although Jinggang broke up with the woman he had an affair with, he didn't get along well with his wife and divorced half a year ago.The children aged seven and five belonged to his wife. That night happened to be Saturday, so Jing Gang came all the way from Nagoya.Rather than being alone, drinking with acquaintances seems to be a better solution to sorrow. After three cups of yellow soup, everyone talked more. It was the oldest Kudo who listened quietly to everyone talking. I, at the age of fifty, finally figured it out.Kenzo Tamura said. Figured out what?Takizawa asked. To put it bluntly, it is a mountain. Mountain? That's right.Tamura nodded and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. That night, Tamura was staying at Kudo's house.It seems safe to get drunk. I, unknowingly, became a bad person. After speaking, Tamura shook his head. I don't mean to say that I used to be a good person When I was a rookie, Mr. Tamura once forced me to use a bento box to scoop up water from a pond to cook rice, and he also insisted that I eat it together with the tadpoles.Takizawa said. I don't know if Tamura heard Takizawa's words, but he silently filled his glass with wine. Big money would pass by my eyes.After speaking, Tamura drank the wine in his glass. Sometimes 200 million, sometimes 300 million.Most of the time, even 500 million or 1 billion will flow past my eyes.Before I knew it, I started embezzling that kind of money.Unbelievable, right? Tamura's words seemed to be speaking to himself. At the beginning, it was a few million, and as many as 10 million or 20 million.In short, I was going all out, and I was addicted to the money game, unable to extricate myself.I want to make money bigger.Then, I wanted to do a transaction of 30 million or 50 million.Later, the amount exceeded 100 million, and before I knew it, it became an astronomical amount of one billion.Big money didn't flow into my pocket, it just moved from here to there.Still, I kept some on hand.But ah, I always feel that this is very strange, and I feel that there is something wrong.From 1 million to 10 million, from 10 million to 100 million, from 100 million to 1 billion, from 1 billion to 2 billion, money will feed people's appetite, wanting more, more money.I thought to myself, what the hell is that for?Money can never run out.What on earth am I making money for? I have done things that are on the edge of the law, and I have done things that cannot be told.By the way, I have done more than one or two things that I cannot tell my wife.I've lived to this age, and I've learned all the dirty things I should have learned Tamura confided about the past with a mixed sigh. Alas, the year before last was probably the best time for prosperity in the 1990s.The real estate brokerage company I opened in a local town is also very busy.However, from last year to this year it was a dismal operation.Many of our peers went out of business or declared bankruptcy.The more real estate you have on hand, the more dangerous it is.Alas, it's not just the industry that's at stake these days.The reason why I came to Tokyo this time was also to borrow money.Oops, I don't know how to put it, anyway, I've been thinking about whether I want to do this kind of thing, whether this kind of thing is what I want.When the company was at the critical point of survival, Tamura hunched his back and said to the empty cup in front of him. Then, you just said that it is a mountain, what do you mean?Takizawa asked. That is, what are you working for?In other words, what am I making money for?At this age, I am really embarrassed to say such childish things, but it seems that I am really thinking about this kind of thing.To put it bluntly, I work and make money to live.However, if it is just to survive, a certain amount of money is enough.Blindly earning more money than one can live on does not make one's mind clear.So, Takizawa, you are far superior to me in terms of lifestyle or method of making money.Chuan Dao handed over the living expenses to the woman, and used all the money she earned to climb mountains.From this point of view, the boat island has reached the realm of God So, in the end, all I had left was to climb mountains.Tamura said. It would be embarrassing to say that I turned into a half-bad guy, filthy all over, just to make money.So, I want to use the money I earn to climb mountains.However, I suddenly realized that I had borrowed more money than I had earned. Saying this may be a bit different from the mountain climbing that Tamura refers to, but in various situations, it is often natural to convert money into mountain climbing and think about it.Jing Gang said. In addition to our salaries, the company also gives bonuses, right?At this time, I would think: ah, with this amount, I can go back to Hotaka five times late, or go on an expedition to the Himalayas once. That's right.Takizawa nodded. When I was forty-five, I calculated the salary I had earned in my entire life.Before retirement, how many times can I receive salary, how much bonus, and how much salary increase? But, counting and counting, I always feel sad for myself.It feels like I understand how much my life is worth.Masuda said so. How much money will I make in the future, assuming I can get ahead, how high a position I can climb to, and what things I can and cannot do in my future life. thing. I thought to myself, if I am lucky, can I climb the Himalayas again?Masuda stroked his stomach and said with emotion: However, that was just a mouthful.My stomach protruded more than usual when I was climbing a mountain. I felt that I really couldn't climb from the upper plateau to the dry lake in one breath without resting like before, carrying 50 kilograms on my back. After a short silence, Tamura said: Hey, let's go. where to goTakizawa asked. Needless to say, of course it is the Himalayas. Tamura looked at everyone. Are you still brooding over what happened on Manaslu Peak ten years ago? I can't let it go.That incident has always haunted me, and I still can't forget it until this age.After all, it was my first trip abroad and my first time climbing the Himalayas Everyone's eyes focused on Tamura. I still dream about it a lot today.I keep talking about mountain climbing and the Himalayas. I think I have tried my best, but in the end, let alone the peak, I have never climbed more than 8,000 meters. It's not just Tamura-san.I don't think anyone in our group has ever been to a place higher than 8,000 meters.Masuda said in a low voice. Seriously, do you want to climb the Himalayas?Takizawa turned up the volume. Tamura glanced at Kudo, he had been listening to everyone quietly since just now. Kudo-san, how are you doing? Kudo pondered in a low voice and touched his chin. this He nodded without looking at anyone in particular. This might be a good proposition. 4 While drinking raksi in a restaurant in Kathmandu, Fukamachi remembered what happened at that time. With the help of wine, he speaks out the desire in his heart If you want to end here, you can also bring this matter to an end.Anyone can understand the difference between desire and reality. How much is the difference between wanting to go and going? A group of people who once aimed to climb the 8,000-meter peak of the Himalayas. Everyone understands what it is like to let one's body climb up to an 8,000-meter peak, and also knows how harsh conditions are in the Himalayas' peaks exceeding 8,000 meters, and how much their bodies have degraded . All are over forty years of age. After the age of forty, office workers, freelancers, and presidents each have their own social status. No matter how much you underestimate the time required to challenge the 8,000-meter peak in the Himalayas, it will take two months. Normally, it will take three months. In other words, during that period, leave your position in society. For office workers, that means quitting their jobs. Before departure, various preparations will also take up your own time.Even if a sponsor is found to provide funding, the individual has to pay from one million to three million. In addition, there is danger to life.縱然歷盡千辛萬苦，也說不定無法爬上峰頂。 就算是成功登頂，也沒有錢會入袋。 通往喜瑪拉雅山八千公尺高峰的各種路線，幾乎都已經被人爬爛了。除非以相當新穎的創意登山，否則也得不到社會榮譽。能夠獲得的，頂多只關乎個人心靈成長。 遠征回來又要回歸日常生活中。若是回來後，職場上已經沒了自己的位子，這個風險就未免太大了。 However 那個願望實現了。 而且，當時聚集的人全部無一闕漏地參與了這項計畫。 事後聽說的船島，也加入了這個計畫。 眾人意見一致：既然要爬，就從尼泊爾這一邊向喜瑪拉雅山的最高峰聖母峰邁進。 負責協助角色且爬過聖母峰的，有工藤、船島、田村這三人。 在初期階段討論的是隊員的年齡。幾乎所有人都超過四十歲，工藤和田村則超過五十歲。 要不要加入二十多歲或三十五、六歲的隊員呢？如果想加入新血，倒是有適當的人選。能夠帶幹勁十足、體力充沛的人上山，擔任協助的角色，這些隊員好歹具有這樣的人脈。 然而，瀧澤卻說：那樣是作弊。 四十多歲的人站上聖母峰頂並不稀奇。當然也有五十多歲的人登上峰頂的記錄。 but 憑我們的力量去爬吧。如果我們爬不上去的話，我也能接受這個結果。 所有人都贊成瀧澤的意見。 最後決定由工藤擔任隊長，正式決定隊員是在一年前。 隊員一共七名，分別為： □□□ 工藤英二（五十六歲），醫師。 田村謙三（五十一歲），房仲業者。 增田明（四十七歲），公司職員。 船島隆（四十七歲），待業中。 瀧澤修平（四十六歲），待業中。 井岡弘一（四十六歲），公司職員。 深町隆（三十九歲），攝影師。 以上就是這支隊伍的成員。 工藤決定趁這個好機會，讓剛成為醫生、進入研究所就讀的兒子在自己不在的期間，到自己經營的醫院幫忙。 工藤是鎮上的開業醫師，看診的幾乎都是感冒或腹痛的病患，至於需要動手術或住院的病患，則轉介給認識的醫院。 他和兒子一起替病患看診半年左右後，在攀登喜瑪拉雅山這三個月內，把醫院交給兒子。 田村則說：倒了也無所謂。 他把自己的公司交給了擔任專任董事的弟弟。 增田明向公司遞出辭呈。部長問及理由，他只說：因為我想去爬喜瑪拉雅山。 十年前，去爬馬納斯盧峰時，他也向當時任職的公司遞出辭呈。所以，這次他也如法炮製。 別意氣用事！部長當著增田的面，撕掉辭呈。 前兩年沒用的年假，積了二十多天。那一年的年假有整整二十天，如果再加上國定假日，並妥善利用星期六、日等假日，就能獲得將近三個月的長假。 這次破例。 基於部長的裁量，增田獲得三個月的長假。 船島沒有問題。他在一年內賺了由個人負擔的兩百萬。 瀧澤也是一樣。 井岡辭掉了工作。 他說想請三個月的長假，卻被公司拒絕。 如果他和增田一樣，妥善利用年假，要放三個月的長假倒也不是不可能。不過，問題是很難一口氣放那麼長的假。 如果允許你一個人，就得允許其他人這麼做。上司說，不能打亂企業的規律。 既然這樣，我只好辭職。井岡爽快地辭掉了工作。 反正我單身，一人飽全家飽。 井岡那麼向上司說。他將部分離職金充當個人負擔金額，剩下的寄給前妻和孩子後，參加遠征。 每個人以各自的方式，克服各自的問題，投身於這趟遠征。 However 卻沒有登頂。 井岡弘一和船島隆死了。 他們的死法，連收屍都沒辦法。 獨自飲酒，各種念頭在腦海中忽隱忽現。 漫無邊際的思緒。念頭。險些淹沒在其中，心情好比獨自一人漂流在一片黑暗中。 正當此時電話響起。 深町拿起話筒。 是從日本打來的。 喂，深町先生？ 是宮川的聲音。 深町點點頭，問道：你替我調查了嗎？ 嗯，我查到了。肯定沒錯。BEST POCKET AUTOGRAPHIC KODAK SPECIAL，馬洛里在一九二四年攻頂聖母峰時帶去的，就是這款機種。 謝謝你，你幫了我一個大忙。 可是，深町先生，你為什麼想知道那種事呢？是不是有什麼有趣的新聞呢？ 哎呀，會不會變成有趣的新聞，要等接下來才知道。 what is it then?請你告訴我嘛。宮川以充滿好奇心的雀躍語氣說。 目前的狀況什麼都還不能說。等弄清楚之後，我再告訴你 宮川不滿地想聽下文。 深町再次向他道謝，放下了話筒。 原來如此啊。 深町站了起來。 全身籠罩著輕微的興奮。 假如這臺相機是 深町拿起在登山用品店買到的相機。 假如這真的是馬洛里的相機，將會是一件震驚世人的事。 說不定能徹底大幅改寫喜瑪拉雅山的登山史。 tomorrow. 明天必須再去那家店一趟。 從下腹部竄上來的興奮之情，讓深町在飯店狹窄的客房裡，猶如野獸般在同一個地方反覆走來走去。