Chapter 18 Chapter Sixteen Mountain Wolf
1
There are mountains.
There are mountains.
There is a mountain in front of Fukamachi.
There are mountains behind Fukamachi.
There is a mountain on the right side of Fukamachi.
There are mountains on the left side of Fukamachi.
There are mountains that make people want to cry.
There are majestic and beautiful mountains.
There are sad mountains.
Alas, whether it is noble, vulgar, or sad, all the emotions and desires that look down on people stand there unshakably.
There are mountains in the mountains full of pits and valleys, the mountains are emerald, the peaks are connected, the mountains are born with small mountains, one mountain is higher than the other, and the peaks and peaks are connected to the sky
Fukamachi was alone in it.
Fukamachi was alone among them.
Rocks breathe the winds of the stratosphere.
Snow bites time in the freezing air.
The huge rock peak of Mt. Nubu is right in front of Fukamachi.
The icefall is not far away.
The snow gathered from Mount Everest turned into a glacier and fell there.
What a magnificent icefall.
The source of the glaciers is the snow that falls on the top of the mountain.
The source of the snow is the higher blue sky.
Snow piled on top of snow, sliding from uphill to downhill.
They gather from the mountain to a huge valley four kilometers wide, surrounded by the 8,000-meter and 7,000-meter peaks of Everest, Lhotse, and Nubu.
Some turned into an avalanche and poured down in one breath, and some moved at a slower speed than a snail
Various speeds and weights compress the snow, causing it to freeze and climb out of the valley downward.
This is the glacier.
Ice river.
The river flows, measured by a few centimeters a day
A few meters per year.
It will descend in one go at the exit of the valley.
It's like the green pool water accumulated in the abyss, turning into a waterfall and overflowing from there.
This is the icefall.
The snow that fell on the top of Mount Everest froze, and it took about 1,500 years to reach here.
It would take another two thousand years to reach Robchi, at the end of the lower glacier.
The journey was about twenty kilometers
It took three thousand and five hundred years.
Fukamachi was in that long period of time.
He was alone under the icefall, pitching a tent beside the glacier, breathing the high-altitude air.
Across the glacier, on the opposite side is Nubu Peak. Looking back, the snowy slopes of Luoling are dazzling.
Once upon a time, Mallory challenged Mount Everest in 1921. Looking down at this huge valley and icefall from the side of Mount Everest, it was this Luo Ridge that made him give up climbing to the summit from Nepal.
The British team chose the more difficult ridge on the northeast ridge to climb to the summit. In 1921 and 1922, they sent the first and second expeditions to Mount Everest, but they returned without success.
In the third expedition in 1924, the tragedy of Mallory and Irving happened.
As a result, the first time someone stood on the top of Mount Everest was during the eighth expedition in 1953.
The route at that time was not the northeast ridge, but the route that Mallory thought was impossible to succeed, and there was an icefall passing through the Nepal side.
The climbers were Hillary from New Zealand and Tenzing from Sherpa.
These things were mentioned in Fukamachi's climbing records that he could memorize in the past, and in the climbing books they wrote.
That thing revived in Fukamachi's mind.
It's been four days since I entered here.
The expedition team that challenges Mount Everest from Nepal will definitely set up a base camp.
When it comes to the base camp of Mount Everest, whether or not there is a mountaineering team stationed there, it refers to this area.
The porter will carry the luggage here with the yak, and then go down the mountain with the yak that day.
There is no grass for yaks in this place.
Once the grass eaten by the yak is piled on it, other luggage will not be able to pile up.
Therefore the base camp does not have any food for the yaks.If you don't go down the mountain that day, the yak will be physically weak.
Fukamachi has spent three nights at this place.
Today is the fourth day.
5,400 meters above sea level.
Breathing the clear air alone at this altitude, I always feel that the relationship is gradually weakening.
The impurities in my heart disappeared day by day, not only my mood, but also my body seemed to become transparent.
If the sun rises during the day, there will be an avalanche every 30 minutes along with the low earth chime, and the edge of the snow clinging to the rock wall of Nubu Peak will collapse.Snow smoke often comes near base camp.
This base camp is not an absolutely safe place for avalanches.
Each avalanche will cause a large number of avalanches to fall.
Avalanches always happen in the same place.Only there will be a lot of snow gouged, the snow becomes easy to flake off.
However, no matter how much the avalanche falls, no matter how much the avalanche falls, the snow on the rock wall still does not decrease.It was as if the snow would pour there endlessly from the deep mountains.
How much snow is there?
Three meals have to be prepared by yourself.
Install the supercharger on the EPI gas stove bought in Kathmandu, put a universal pot filled with snow on the fire.
Once the snow melts, it turns into a meager amount of water.
Add snow several times on one side, boil it into hot water, add a lot of sugar, and make hot black tea.
Drink more than three liters of water a day in this way.
Five biscuits.
A few boiled potatoes.
A slice of cheese.
Eat an apple a day.
Chew the apple even the skin and the core.Chew it a lot until it has no taste, absorb the essence, and then spit out the dregs and seeds left in your mouth.
It is intended that the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines absorb the nutrients contained in an apple, not even a drop of vitamins.
Concentrate on doing a stretching exercise in the morning and massage the muscles of the whole body with your fingers.
In the afternoon, I walked around for a while, and after I came back, I did some stretching exercises in the tent.
Thigh and calf muscles have good elasticity and feel muscular firmness.
Conditions are better than they were in May.
It is probably because of the step-by-step increase from the Tianbo cut that it has an effect.
Stay overnight at Angalin's house and depart the next day.
It is also possible to go to Felice in one go, but Fukamachi slept well at Angarin's house and set off after noon.
Walk for two hours and stay overnight in Pampoche.
Walk for three hours the next day and spend the night in Felice.
It took five hours to walk slowly from Felice at an altitude of 4 to 240 meters to Robchi at an altitude of 4 to 887 meters.
Stay there for two nights.
There are more than twenty hiker's tents.Fukamachi walked up the hill near the campsite and back again, twice.
From Luobuqi to Gora Snow at an altitude of 5,100 meters, the height difference is 213 meters
During this section of the road, Fukamachi walked for two hours looking at the glacier on the right.
Stay overnight in Gloria.
The next day, leave in the morning.
Climb over sidewalls and walk on glaciers to base camp.
Although it is a glacier
The surface of the glaciers in this area is almost covered with sand, sand, mud and rocks from landslides.Where there are crevasses or faults, white and blue ice can be seen, and several icicles stand on the surface of the glacier.
On an icicle more than three meters high, a huge rock was carried, and there was a block of ice the size of a building, exposing the surface of the glacier covered with sand.
What kind of strength and movement formed this scene?
At a place higher than the height of human life, Fukamachi moved towards the sky, and at the same time let the word "Kami" come and go in his heart.
Arrived at base camp three days ago
November 23rd.
Three days later, on November 26th.
Nine days had passed since leaving Angarin's house.
that day
Naladar.Rachandra disinfected the wound of Meng Han who was shot through the left shoulder, gave him first aid, and asked the two men who came with him to accompany him down the mountain first.
Fumachi and Naradar.Rachandra stayed with her at Angalin's house.
that night
Himself and Naradar.Lachandra, what did you talk to Torma about?
Now in a world that is higher than human life, in the mountains, I always feel that it has happened far away.
Could you please sort this out gently if you can?I should have said that while drinking tea.
I don't want to make a big deal out of it.
Fukamachi didn't want the police or government officials to intervene during this period, and he probably didn't want Hanyu either.
Bisalu sap probably hopes that way too.
I'm glad you said that too.Our business, I hope to resolve it internally as much as possible.Naladar.Lachandra said so.
Regarding the incident caused by Meng Han, Doma didn't want to make it big.
Naladar.Rachandra will handle this internally
That's how things should settle.
The three of them also chatted about Hanyu.
Regarding the question of where Hanyu is: Puka Didoma whispered.
He went to climb Pukadi?Fukamachi asked.
Torma nodded.
To suit the height.she said.
Pukadi Peak is a mountain towering in the southeast of Luobuqi, with an altitude of 5,806 meters.
Torma said: Hanyu is now going there with Angarin.
After setting foot on the summit, pitch a tent for two nights at an altitude of 5,770 meters directly below the peak
Hanyu intends to fully adapt to the altitude by completing the climb of Cho Oyu and completing the basic adaptation of the body.
After finishing that trip, Hanyu planned to go home for one night, get ready to go, and enter the base camp of Mount Everest.
this is a good idea.
As he listened, Fukamachi felt suspicious.
Could it be that Hanyu would do this?
Fukamachi remembered the shivers running down his spine when he thought of that.
The next morning, Fukamachi and Naradar.Rachandra said goodbye in front of Angarin's house.
Fukamachi is going to a higher place, Naradaar.Rachandra is going back to Kathmandu.
At the time of parting, Naradaar.Lachandra should have said something while shaking Fukamachi's hand.
What did he say?
Is it about the country?
Or is it a personal matter?
No, it's both.
Even if you wait, no one will give you anything.Mr. Fukamachi, in this sense, the country and the individual are the same Naradahl.Lachandra said so.
If there is something you want, you have to get it yourself.
good luck
This is Naradar.Lachandra's last words.
Torma stayed.
Please tell Hanyu, I will wait for him at the base camp.Fukamachi left a message to Torma and left Angalin's house.
For a second, Fukamachi wondered if he should wait for Hanyu in that house, but he let it go.
If you stay at home for one night before leaving Mount Everest, it must be a precious night.
Hanyu should have spent that time with his family.
Fukamachi thought so, and entered the base camp alone.
Anyway, Hanyu wasn't going anywhere.
No matter where Hanyu is, sooner or later he will come to this base camp on Everest, as long as he is alive
That's for sure.
Fukamachi was already mentally prepared.
Feel free to let your horse over!Hanyu Joji
2
November 27
Fukamachi was waiting for Hanyu.
Hanyu should have already left that house, he must be coming here.
Shenmachi always feels
Hanyu's footsteps approached slowly.
Climb over that moraine, cross that glacier, go around that icicle, and approach here.
The footsteps are not far away
Fukamachi thought that way several times, but Hanyu didn't come each time.
However, there is no need to feel uneasy.
Because Fukamachi knew that this was the only place where Hanyu would come.
Before that, one or two groups of two to three people came to this base camp every day, each of whom was a hiker.
Many hikers don't come to this base camp specifically, but from the top of Kalapata, a small hill next to the Gora Snow Climb.
It's a little higher than base camp, and the view from there is beautiful, so everyone goes there.
Fukamachi himself climbed there during his Spring Expedition.
You can see Everest, Lhotse, and Nubu at a glance, and you can clearly see that the glacier sliding down from the valley hits the rock edge of Pumori Mountain, changes direction significantly to the south, and flows under Mount Kalapata.
Many hikers are content there.
Or exhausted physically, the footsteps are like a thousand catties, unable to walk to the base camp.Probably some people were forced to go down the mountain due to altitude sickness.
So, only a limited number of people will come to base camp.Even if they come, they are very few.
Not half a team of climbers made it to base camp.
Fukamachi was alone.
Originally the British team was supposed to enter here, however, the British team caused problems between October and the Nepalese government.
What kind of question?
The problem stems from the Nepalese government's decision to increase mountaineering fees starting in the fall of 1993.
Prior to this, the Mount Everest climbing fee of 30,000 U.S. dollars for a team became 50,000 U.S. dollars for a team, and the maximum number of team members was also changed to five.
Depending on the situation, two more players can be added on the way, but in that case another $20,000 must be paid.
Fifty thousand dollars for five people, seventy thousand dollars for seven people, equal to ten thousand dollars for one person.
If the exchange rate is one dollar to one hundred yen, ten thousand dollars equals one million yen.
Before that, if one team pays 3 million yen, an unlimited number of people can stand on the summit of Mount Everest, but in the future it will be 7 million yen for seven people
With an average of one million per person, the deductible has increased.
The British team, which entered Mount Everest in the autumn, applied with five people. As a result, seven people stood on the summit of Mount Everest, adding two more.
However, the British team did not report the incident and did not pay.
As a result, the Nepalese government did not allow the British team to return home.
Later, the United Kingdom launched an action against the Nepalese government to boycott the climbing of the Himalayas. The Nepalese government was not to be outdone, and canceled the once-approved mountaineering permits of other British teams. This situation of you coming and going continues.
The reason why the British team, which was originally scheduled to attack Mount Everest this winter, did not enter the base camp is because of this.
For Hanyu, it can be said that God helped me.
However
Climbing a mountain requires one person to pay one million yen. Except for the communist countries, only Nepal.
This amount is not for the result, but for the amount paid for the climbing permit.
In other words, you have to pay that money whether you get to the top or not.
As far as Japan is concerned, climbing Mount Fuji does not require government approval, and the government does not charge foreigners climbing fees.
If you want to climb Mt. Fuji, you are free to climb it, regardless of whether you are Japanese or a foreigner.
If you hire a guide, of course you have to pay the guide fee to the guide, but it is a substantial expenditure, a payment for a certain kind of labor, even for foreigners, the price is not high.It doesn't matter if it's the US, UK or New Zealand.
However, for other countries that do not have many ways to earn foreign exchange, it is understandable that Fukamachi has no objection to changing the country's only tourism resource, mountain climbing, to a permit system to make money.
However, Fukamachi believes that the amount of one million yen per person is too high.Maybe I'll walk towards the summit of Mount Everest without permission next.
The same goes for Hanyu.
Hanyu also entered the mountain without permission.
Because of this, Hanyu was afraid that the incident about himself would spread, and tried to make the big thing small and the small thing into nothing.
Fukamachi waited for Hanyu.
Waiting for him like turning into a stone on a glacier.
Out in the sun and thin air let the wind blow, just wait.
As if becoming part of the mountain is waiting.
Sitting on the rocks in front of the tent, looking up at the rocks, the rain and the blue sky and waiting.
From that point, the summit of Everest will be hidden from view by the ledge ahead.
As if the invisible peak was on the opposite side, or as if the peak stood in his heart, Fukamachi turned his eyes to the blue sky and waited for Hanyu.
I always feel that even the internal organs are bleached by the wind and dyed the color of the blue sky by the wind in the sky.
Everything on earth has become distant, and many things have become unimportant.
The excess is gone.
The substance that remains after all impurities have disappeared.
Pure and unblemished substance.
Something like a core.
a few stones.
The kind of stone rolling in the belly.
Segawa Kayoko
Ryoko Kishi
A stone with such a name.
And, camera.
oh
I remembered!
I forgot to ask about the camera.
I forgot to ask Toma where Hanyu got that camera.
No, I asked once.
How did Hanyu get this?
On the mountain Torma replied like this.But did not say a word.
The mountain refers to Mount Everest.
However, she did not say where on Everest.
No, she couldn't say it.
Even if Hanyu told Torma, she couldn't verbally explain where she found it.
Did he find Mallory's body?Fukamachi asked.
Torma shook her head.
Fukamachi didn't know that meant not knowing, or knowing but not being able to say.
Please ask him directly, Torma said so.
Therefore, Fukamachi gave up asking.
That's right.Torma was right.
Just ask Hanyu.Hanyu should be asked about this matter.
Hanyu, where are you?
Have you already taken steps towards this?
Has come not far away?
Fukamachi asked this question several times in his stomach, as if asking himself.
November 28
And so, the man whom Fukamachi had looked forward to and looked forward to finally came.
3
A sunny day.
noon
The sun in the middle of the day shines on the snow edge of Mount Nubu.
On rock faces and overhangs that are too steep for snow to adhere to, exposed rock faces can be seen.
A huge glacier flows through the foot of Nubu Peak.
Makoto Fukamachi sat on a rock, looking at the mountains and glaciers.
He was in the middle of the glacier, watching the glacier flowing down from the upper reaches pass before him, and flowed downstream.
He saw it in the downstream direction of the glacier.
There are two points moving next to the glacier.
The two points slowly approached the base camp.
I was thinking that I might be a hiker again, but I found that the movement of these two points has a very good sense of rhythm.
wrong.
Not a hiker.
Many hikers walk panting like cows.It was like crawling on the ground, panting and walking step by step.
For hikers, the summit is the base camp's 5,400-meter elevation.
However, this base camp is only the starting point for those attempting to summit Everest.
If you have just arrived at the starting point and are already out of breath, there is no way to move forward from here.
The gradually approaching figures of the two entered the glacier, climbed onto the side rocks, and approached flickering between the rocks and ice.
They don't rush.
Stepping on the ground firmly, however, the pace seems to be walking on flat ground
That breath, that rhythm.
Fukamachi knew very well that this was the walking style of a strong mountaineer.With the muscle strength of my own legs, I lift my body step by step towards the sky and embrace that kind of aspirational body.
That body comes close.
Then, two yaks were mixed among the two figures.
The yak is full of luggage.
As if something was turning over, a sense of anticipation rushed through Fukamachi's heart.
Is that the guy?
Heart pounding, Fukamachi stood up.
Hanyu Joji?
Fukamachi stood there staring at the two figures approaching slowly.
They leaned over.
Definitely right.
It was Joji Hanyu.
Hanyu and An Jialin are in front of each other.
Fukamachi didn't move.
He stood there the whole time, waiting for the two to approach.
The distance between Fukamachi and Hanyu gradually shortened.
Occasionally, the cold wind blowing down from Luoling passed between Fukamachi and Hanyu, whizzing towards the glacier.
Then, Hanyu stood in front of Fukamachi silently.
Hanyu probably already knew that Fukamachi was here.
Seeing Fukamachi, he was neither surprised nor panicked.
On top of Hanyu's underwear, he only wore a woolen sweater.The shirt is undone to the second button.
Even at altitudes over 5,000 meters above sea level, during daytime activities, he only wears underwear and a shirt.
wearing sunglasses.
The face and lips are all sun-tanned to the same color.
black.
The inside of the collar, even the base of the neck, is black.
Doma is under your care, Hanyu said briefly.
This sentence became Hanyu's greeting.
Hanyu parted his ragged black lips, revealing his white teeth.The tongue that moves on the inner side of the teeth is bright pink, and the other part of the skin is black, highlighting the whiteness of the teeth and the color of the oral mucosa.
I want to thank you.Fortunately, you are here.Hanyu said while taking off the hiking backpack on his back.
Angarin had already started to unpack the yak on the opposite side.
It wasn't me who saved them.It's Naradar.Rachandra.Fukamachi said.
Hanyu silently watched Fukamachi.
Fukamachi didn't know what kind of eyes Hanyu showed under the dark glass lenses of the sunglasses.I only saw my own figure reflected on the surface of the glass lens.
On Hanyu's cheeks and chin, there were beards.
The appearance became very pleasing to the eye.Hanyu said.
It took Fukamachi a few seconds to realize that it was referring to his own face.
When he understood, Hanyu squatted down and unzipped the bag above the backpack.
Hanyu took out something wrapped in newspaper from the bag.
for you.
Hanyu stood up and handed out the package to Fukamachi.
Fukamachi took it over, and asked with a surprised face: Give me this?
yes.
Fukamachi opened the bag, and an old camera appeared inside.
A familiar camera.
Fukamachi remembered its size and its weight when he held it in his hand.
BEST POCKET AUTOGRAPHIC KODAK SPECIAL.
That camera was the start of everything this time around.
Fukamachi found this camera in the Manikumar store in Kathmandu.That's where it all started.
That Mallory camera.
Can I take it?Unexpected development, Refukamachi asked Hanyu.
Can.Hanyu said briefly.
He said yes, so can he accept it unceremoniously?
I was really looking for this camera and wanted to get it.
If this camera and Hanyu's process of obtaining this camera were to be written as a report, Fukamachi realized that the report had already been weathered in his heart.
I am interested in cameras, and I am also interested in how Hanyu got this camera.However, the idea of wanting to write it as a report has long since disappeared from my heart.
After this thing is over, do as you please.
after the end?
After climbing.
Hanyu said the word mountaineering in a precise tone.
Fukamachi knew that the mountaineering mentioned by Hanyu refers to the first person who climbed the southwest face of Mount Everest without oxygen in winter.
Hanyu briefly described that event as climbing a mountain.
Whether you write a report or publish a photo, it is your freedom.
But
When Fukamachi was about to say something, Hanyu interrupted him:
I have something to say later.Angarin had to go back from here immediately.Because there is no grass for yaks to eat.
Standing side by side, Hanyu and Angarin began to unpack the luggage that had just been unloaded from the yak.
It is necessary to set up tents, arrange luggage, and set up base camps within this day.
I'm here to help too.
Side by side with Hanyu, Fukamachi began to unpack the luggage.
4
Although the base camp
But compared to the base camp of ordinary mountaineering teams, it is much simpler.
There are three tents in total.
One large tent for eight people, and two dome-shaped single-person tents used by Hanyu and Angarin.Although it is a personal tent, it is usually sold as a two-person or three-person tent.
In the large tent, short-term food, pots, gas stoves and other daily necessities are placed, and a simple stove is also installed inside.
The rest of the luggage was piled outside the tent and covered with plastic sheeting.
Fukamachi's tent stood alone a little far away from the three tents.
Before evening, An Jialin led the yak down the mountain, saying that he was going down to Gora Snow, where he would return the yak, and he would go up the mountain again at noon tomorrow.
Oxygen cylinders, Japanese instant noodles, pressure cookers, and even rice.
Add to that meat, vegetables like tomatoes and gherkins, fruit like apples and bananas, and a handful of chocolate and biscuit treats.
Although it is December 1st, it is not necessary to leave immediately.
If the weather is bad, you have to wait here for a few days, sometimes even more than half a month, until the weather improves.Therefore, this base camp must prepare sufficient food in advance.
Maybe after going up the mountain and finding that the weather is bad, you have to turn back and start attacking the summit again after you get rid of fatigue. This kind of situation is also very likely to happen.
Although climbing to the summit without oxygen, oxygen is needed in case of an accident.Even if you don't take the oxygen cylinder up, it should be in the base camp.
When was that, Fukamachi saw Angalin coming out of Ganesha in Kathmandu with an oxygen cylinder on his back.The oxygen cylinders at that time were probably the ones here now.
Considering Hanyu's life and financial situation, this should not be a one-time purchase.Probably for this day, it took several years to buy it bit by bit.
Then, when I saw An Jialin going down the mountain tomorrow, I left this short sentence.
Fukamachi and Hanyu stayed there until Angarin disappeared.
Hanyu wasn't going anywhere anymore.
He's not going anywhere.
This is his home.
The sun has sunk into the other side of Nubu Peak, and it will be dusk soon.
Fukamachi and Hanyu started cooking dinner in the large tent at the base camp.
Cook rice in a pressure cooker and heat instant curry.
Boil hot water with a Fukamachi gas stove and make black tea.
A lot of honey has accumulated at the bottom of the mug, and hot black tea is poured into the cup.
Although it is hot, at this altitude, the water will boil at eighty degrees, so the water temperature will not rise more than eighty degrees.
The aroma of black tea and honey diffused in the tent.
Fukamachi and Hanyu sat in front of the stove again.
Sit cross-legged.
Hanyu only put on a red windbreaker in addition to the clothes just now.
Fukamachi held the mug filled with black tea with both hands.
Maybe he didn't want the temperature of the black tea to dissipate a little, subconsciously hoped to absorb all the temperature into his body through his hands, Fukamachi explained this to his actions.
Holding the handle of the mug with his right hand, Hanyu sipped the still hot black tea from time to time.
If you want to ask, only now.
Fukamachi spoke timidly about what happened just now.
Can I ask about the camera?
sure.Hanyu nodded, not looking at Fukamachi.
Hanyu stared at the water vapor rising from the mug in his hand.
Where did you find it?After asking, Fukamachi realized that his tone had become casual.
Hey, hey, Fukamachi, you shouldn't speak in the same tone as Hanyu.Since when did you start to speak in this tone?
God knows why that kind of thing.
Probably because I no longer think of it as work.
That's right.This is not work anymore.
Even if I know clearly that this is not a job, the current me will still stay in this place.
At 8,100 meters on Mount Everest.
Is it this side of Nepal?Or what about Tibet?
Tibet side.
Where is it?
Northeast edge.Hanyu said bluntly.
The expected answer.
Although listening to Dawa.Zangbu had said it, but hearing Hanyu himself say it again, the location was the base camp again, made me feel excited.
There is an emotion that makes the whole body tremble from the heart.
It's Mallory.
In 1924, Mallory took the northeast ridge to summit Mount Everest.
That was last year.I once wanted to start from the side of Tibet, practicing alone to climb Mount Everest Hanyu without oxygen in winter.
At that time, Hanyu smuggled to Tibet, which is the Chinese side.
From Nanqi Market to the north, climbed Langkaba Mountain to Tibet, and entered Mount Everest from there without being checked.
At that time, only An Jialin walked with him to the 5,700 meters.
At that time, Hanyu set foot on the summit of Mount Everest.
Encountered a sudden change of weather on the way down the mountain, and camped behind a rock at 8,100 meters.
At that moment, behind the same rock, Hanyu found a dead body of a white man who seemed to be sitting and sleeping.Hanyu and the corpse sat side by side behind a rock and slept in the open.
Did it ever occur to you that the body could be Mallory or Irving?
Of course, I have thought about it.
Northeast edge.
The altitude is more than 8,000 meters.
The dead body of the white man.
It is unlikely that anyone other than the dead bodies of Mallory or Irving would meet these conditions.
Of course, I also thought about the camera.
Then, Hanyu opened the backpack next to the dead body.Then, I brought the camera back.
What about negatives?Where did the negatives in it go?
Asked by Fukamachi, Hanyu smiled wryly.
Holding the mug in his right hand, he spread his hands slightly and shrugged at Fukamachi.
gone
gone?
Well, the film wasn't loaded in the camera.Hanyu said briskly.
What did you say?
I figured that, whether that body was Mallory or Irwin, the negatives were probably taken out of the camera after the photo was taken and put somewhere else in the same backpack.
That's it
Fukamachi always felt that his shoulders suddenly lost strength.
So this is ah.
The film was not originally loaded in the camera.
This scenario is quite possible.
However, the discovery of this camera alone is enough to leave a big footprint in the history of mountaineering.Depending on the practice, this camera is capable of generating a decent amount.
Why didn't Hanyu do that?
Why keep the camera thing a secret?Can't you use it to raise funds for this solo operation?
How do I explain it?
explain?
Do I want to say that a Japanese crossed the border into Tibet without a passport, climbed to the 8,600-meter Mount Everest without a permit, and found this on the way back?
If I speak out, I will be forcibly deported to Japan.In addition to not being able to go abroad for a while, the permit to enter the Himalayas will also not be issued.
I can't say until this thing is over.before this is done
is this okay?
what do you mean?
After that, can I write a report about this camera in a certain magazine?
As you please.
Hanyu Joji's name will also appear.
That kind of thing doesn't matter anymore.
Even if you fail this time, as long as you keep the camera secret, you still have a chance.
there is none left.Hanyu said.
How do you know that kind of thing?
I, since 1986, spent about eight years challenging Mount Everest here.Really alone.Not even a sponsor.The same is true from the Tibetan side, but I failed several times.Even if there are sponsors, no matter how much oxygen is used, even if several people act together, it is not so easy to capture the southwest face of Mount Everest in the cold winter
There is only one or two chances in a lifetime to conquer the southwest face of Mount Everest in the cold winter alone without oxygen.
Hanyu had already used up one of them.
December 1989
At that time, Hanyu challenged the southwest wall alone in the cold winter, but failed.
I listen to Dawa.Zangbu said, you failed in 1989, right?
Um
I studied all kinds of possibilities, made all kinds of preparations, only set my life goal on it, and sacrificed everything. If I didn't live for several years just for that thing, I probably wouldn't be able to complete it.
Needless to say, the skills, physical strength, and mountaineering experience required.You have to be well acclimatised, in perfect physical condition, and know the geography, weather, and everything around Everest
And the final condition is whether the power that human beings cannot control is on the side of human beings.
More specifically, how much the weather was on his side
All of these elements are missing, and it is possible to successfully climb the southwest face of Mount Everest without oxygen in winter.If this opportunity is missed, there may be no chance again Fukamachi is very clear, Hanyu thinks so.
Do you think Mallory stepped on the summit?Fukamachi changed the subject and asked Hanyu.
I don't know.
When O'Dell saw Mallory and Irving last, they were at the 8,600-meter second step, right?
Mallory's body was at 8,100 meters.In other words, Mallory went down the hill to get there.As long as the second step is overcome, the peak is in sight.It's not a particularly difficult place there.Mallory and Irving set foot on the summit, and Irwin had an accident at 8,380 meters on the way back and left his ice stick there.Is it possible that Mallory then tried to descend alone to the Sixth Battalion, but exhausted himself halfway?
At that time, the height of the Sixth Battalion was 8,156 meters.Mallory's body descended well below the 6th Battalion's altitude at 8,100 meters, which was most likely lost, and 56 meters was well within the error range of the altimeter.
I figured Mallory and Irving would have enough strength to get back to the Sixth Battalion if they turned back from the second step.In other words, they couldn't come back because they went to the peak.If the body of the person who walked from 8,600 meters to the summit was sleeping in the open at 8,100 meters, it should be on the way back after reaching the summit, right?
I don't know.Hanyu said in a strong tone.
It doesn't matter at all whether the guy who can't come back has set foot on the peak.Anyway, even if I thought about it, there was no answer.If you want to find a hundred reasons for saying that you have reached the top of the mountain, you can also find a hundred reasons for saying that you have not stepped on the top of the mountain.Dead is trash.
Hanyu's tone was very excited.However, halfway through his speech, he suddenly stopped.
What happened to him?
Fukamachi glanced at Hanyu.
Hanyu's body was trembling.
As if being shaken by a powerful force, Hanyu's whole body trembled.
Only then did Fukamachi realize, could it be Hanyu's excitement that made his body tremble?
However, this is not the case.
Hanyu's teeth collided with each other and clicked.Hanyu turned pale.His eyes widened pale.
Hanyu was trembling with fear.
He looked like he was clenching his teeth trying to silence the chatter.However, no matter how hard he clenched his teeth, the teeth continued to click.
Hanyu kept clenching his teeth as if trying to forcefully suppress the trembling with strong willpower.
Oh shit!Oh shit!
From between Hanyu's clenched teeth, a moan-like sound came out.
It was a grim sight.
Damn!
The black tea in the mug has gone cold.
Hanyu put down the mug and hit his knees with the fists of both hands.
Even when the trembling finally subsided, Fukamachi couldn't speak to Hanyu.
After breathing heavily repeatedly for a while, Hanyu looked at Fukamachi.
Made you laugh.Hanyu said.
Fukamachi wanted to say: That's not the case.
However, that sentence could not be uttered.
You can say in Japan that Hanyu, who is not afraid of anything, is actually trembling with fear.
Fukamachi had nothing to say, just remained silent.
After a long silence, Fukamachi asked Hanyu:
You said earlier that you met Tsuneo Hase in Kathmandu, right?
yes.
1990?
Maybe.
Does he know that Joji Hanyu is in Nepal?
have no idea.Meeting is a coincidence.
At that time, did you chat?
When that guy saw me, he saw right through that I was still on the front line.Hanyu said with red eyes.
That was really a coincidence.
When walking on the new road in Kathmandu, Hase spoke to him: Aren’t you Mr. Hanyu?
Hanyu immediately recognized whose voice it was.
However, he wanted to pretend he didn't hear it and walk straight ahead.However, Zhang Gu didn't allow him to do that.
Hase chased after Hanyu who wanted to ignore his own existence.
Mr. Hanyu, this is Hase.
He spoke to Hanyu.
Hanyu had no choice but to walk into a nearby restaurant.
Hase said he came to Nepal for a job shooting a TV commercial.He talked more than usual.
So you are in Nepal?It would surprise everyone if they knew this.
Don't say it!Hanyu said so.
Hase asks him why.
沒為什麼
聊著聊著，長谷忽然對他說：
羽生先生，你還站在第一線吧？你想要做什麼吧？
長谷一眼就看穿了羽生。
羽生沒有回答。
長谷看他沒有回答，巧妙地得到了結論。
羽生先生企圖在尼泊爾做什麼，而且不想被任何人知道的那件事，是爬聖母峰吧？
長谷提起了自己登頂，而羽生無功而返的那支日本隊的事。
事到如今，你不可能走傳統路線吧。如果羽生先生留在這個國家，想做什麼的話，那就是爬聖母峰，走還沒有人走過的困難路線。In this way
是冬天的西南壁吧？
長谷說。
而且是單獨無氧
他連這個都猜中了。
猜中之後，長谷低吟。
難不成
明明自己猜中了，卻還那麼說。
這段期間，羽生什麼也沒說，一切都是長谷在自己腦海中想到的。
長谷異於常人之處在於，他會把想到的事付諸實現。
他在隔年挑戰K2，然後死了。
但是，長谷為何對於見到羽生一事選擇保持沉默呢？
結果，長谷死了，而我還活著
got windy.
不知不覺間，風不停地搖晃帳篷。
聽得見風發出類似笛子的聲音，在遙遠的天空呼嘯而過。
黃昏將至。
不久帳篷中完全變暗了，高空的寒氣從空中降下來，刺骨地包圍帳篷。
如今，馬克杯涼透了。
微暗中，只有羽生的眼睛在發亮。
你知道莫里斯．威爾森嗎？羽生以低沉的嗓音問深町。
深町花不到兩秒鐘，就想起了那是誰。
Morris.威爾森
那個名字和馬洛里一樣，輝煌地記在聖母峰攀登史上。
然而，其光芒中帶了點不祥的邪氣。
那個名字出現在聖母峰攀登史上，是在馬洛里的事件之後，也就是十年後的一九三四年。
前英國陸軍上尉
這個男人恐怕可以說是人類史上第一個嘗試單獨登頂聖母峰的人。
他認為，應該砸下重金，讓遠征隊的隊員踏上聖母峰頂，把這作為一項國家的事業。
他認為，應該由懷著神聖心情的人，第一個踏上神聖的聖母峰頂。
他為了登頂聖母峰所做的訓練是，印度的瑜伽。他試圖以瑜伽的呼吸法，克服高山症這個最大的難關。
具體而言，莫里斯．威爾森嘗試的登山方式如下：
他搭家用輕型飛機，從英國來到印度。
他想搭那架輕型飛機，從大吉嶺起飛，盡可能著陸在聖母峰山麓較高的地點，再從那裡徒步邁向聖母峰頂。
然而事情未果。
政府當局知道莫里斯．威爾森的計畫，下令他中止計畫，也斷絕了所有援助。
Morris.威爾森並接到警告，不得搭飛機飛越西藏或尼泊爾的國境。
但是，莫里斯．威爾森並不死心。他為了踏上聖母峰頂，擬定了下一個計畫。
他賣掉輕型飛機，從一九三三年到一九三四年三月，他以那筆錢在大吉嶺為遠征聖母峰而做準備。
Morris.威爾森從大吉嶺出發，是在一九三四年的三月下旬。他帶著三名雪巴人及一頭迷你馬出發。他自己喬裝成雪巴人。在四月十八日，到達基地營所在的絨布寺。
接著，莫里斯．威爾森抵達了位於海拔六千四百公尺的第三營。
然而，雪巴人和挑夫們拒絕從那裡登山到北稜。所有人都認為，莫里斯．威爾森的行為是有勇無謀。
最後，雪巴人和挑夫們回去了，威爾森獨自一人從六千四百公尺的地方，數度嘗試登頂聖母峰，但是都以失敗告終。
關於這項單獨一人的挑戰，記錄在他自己留下來的日記中。
結果，莫里斯．威爾森因為過度疲累和寒冷，死在那裡，被人發現時，他身上裹著看似皮草大衣的衣服，以趴在地上的姿勢埋在雪中。
據說，他稍微擡起臀部，從雪中露出半張臉，像是在瞪著聖母峰的方向。
滿天風雪打在他臉上。
頭髮、眉毛都因白色的細雪而結凍，一具看不出表情，連眼睛是否睜開都無法辨識的屍體。
據說，威爾森在多次攻頂中爬到的最高點，頂多不超過七千公尺。
屍體在第三營上去一點的地方，於一九三五年被人發現。
即使如今，他的墳墓仍在接近第三營的雪中。
如果風勢強勁，雪就會被吹走，而露出墳墓；如果風勢不強，就又埋進雪中而看不見那種死法、那種墳墓。
我看到了威爾森的墳墓羽生以不帶感情的低沉嗓音說。
他說，那是在去年從西藏進入聖母峰時的事。
在四周空曠的雪中。
However
那傢伙仍然在墳墓中瞪著聖母峰
羽生說他那麼認為。
帳篷內部變得暗到幾乎已經看不見彼此的臉。
黑暗中，只有羽生嘰嘰咕咕的聲音，宛如生鏽的刀刃般，傳進深町的耳中。
風劇烈地撼動帳篷，感覺在頭頂上的某個地方，正在天搖地動，山勢起伏。
高亢的笑聲乘著風，從天的一端竄至另一端。
總覺得有誰正在嘲笑這些爬到這麼高的地方來，卻依然攀附在地面上的人。
Morris.威爾森
他是個異想天開的人嗎？
或者，他是紙上談兵的夢想家呢？
Fukamachi didn't know.
只曉得一件事。
他做夢，並葬身於那場夢中。
那傢伙就是我。羽生說道。
他的眼睛，在已經看不清臉部輪廓的陰暗帳篷中發光。
5
點燃燭火。
把一根大蠟燭立在罐裝牛肉的罐頭上，於是一道熊熊火焰微微搖曳，綻放光芒。
深町和羽生隔著那道燭焰對坐。
將偏硬的飯添到塑膠盤上，再把速食咖哩淋到飯上。
日本製的真空包裝醬菜。
番茄和蘋果各一顆。
深町和羽生默不作聲地靜靜吃飯。
帳篷內只有不時響起湯匙碰到盤子的聲音，以及咀嚼口中食物的聲音。
深町把PU（聚氨基甲酸乙酯）的厚墊鋪在帳篷地上，盤腿坐在上面。
羽生也一樣。
深町吃兩碗。
羽生吃三碗。
吃了那麼多的量，還繼續啃番茄和蘋果。
羽生連蘋果的皮和芯都吃。不吃的只有籽和蘋果的蒂。用牙齒把皮一咬再咬，然後吞下去。
涼颼颼的寒氣，觸碰穿著厚襪子的腳尖。
風勢進一步增強，空氣反覆粗重的呼吸。不時像是被人從外面揍一拳似地，帳篷一邊的布大幅凹進內側。
外側的外帳被風推擠，連內側帳篷本身的布也一起推進來。
當時，蠟燭的火焰緩緩地大幅搖晃。
用餐完畢，又泡了熱紅茶。
水分攝取再多也不會過量。因為空氣稀薄，所以體內的水分會不斷被空氣奪走。
基本上，平均一人一天該攝取的水量，至少是四公升。為了將血液中的水分濃度維持在接近標準值，必須喝那麼多的水。
把大量蜂蜜加入八十度的紅茶中，用雙手捧著裝了紅茶的萬用鍋，慢慢地喝。
彷彿有好幾頭巨獸在天上到處亂跑，感覺得到風在帳篷上面的高空上下起伏。
風在這個山區產生，那陣風會吹向何方呢？
攀越羅嶺，遠渡至西藏的原野嗎？
或者下吹至印度的平原，變成富含濕氣的空氣，讓牛或水牛呼吸呢？
還是就這樣消失在半空中呢？
即使是現在這一瞬間，說不定散發出藍色微光、巨大的印度教眾神，也靜靜地從天而降，溼婆神降下來站在聖母峰珠穆朗瑪峰頂，梵天降下來站在洛子峰頂，毗濕奴神降下來站在普摩力山頂，呼吸著對流層零下六十度的氣流，以祂們身高數千尺的身體手足舞蹈。
說不定是祂們飛舞時擺動的手腳產生風，那些風如今在天空吵嚷不休。
深町的腦海中湧現這種幻想。
祂們大概在呼喚羽生過來吧。
come over!
bring it on
恐怕羽生丈二接下來想做的事，就是闖進眾神棲身、屬於天的領域。
羽生要從地面，一腳踏進祂們的世界。
深町不曉得在眼前啜飲紅茶的羽生，心裡在想什麼。
羽生看起來像和深町一樣，側耳傾聽著宛如山谷轟鳴的風聲，也像是沒有察覺到那種聲音，以那雙目光黯淡的眼睛，靜靜俯看著自己的內心深處。
深町在沉默中聽著風聲，心想：說不定現在，那一刻終於來了。
非問羽生不可。
請他准許自己帶著相機，與他同行。
Hello.Whatever I want to do, it has nothing to do with you.It doesn't matter at all.Don't interfere with what other people want to do!You listen to me.你如果專心做你的事，就沒有閒工夫管別人的事了！
深町想起了羽生在加德滿都對自己說過的話。
羽生說的沒錯。
羽生丈二這個男人在十多歲時與登山邂逅，從此一頭栽進了登山的世界。
就世俗的看法而言，他或許是因為爬山而糟蹋了身體。誤入歧途，走上了登山這條路。
無法和社會保持關係的人，藉由登山和社會產生交集。
就世俗的價值觀而言，羽生或許是誤入歧途，走上了登山這條路，但他至今肯定是透過登山，獲得了救贖。
即使是登山，羽生也是隻身前往。
即使誤入歧途，羽生仍執迷不悟地在登山這條路上，繼續往下走。
然而，無論發生什麼事，無論在登山過程中嘗到任何痛苦，為了消除那種痛苦，他也只能求助於登山。
羽生只有登山。
深町調查過羽生，所以明白這一點。
他只有登山。
oh
我懂他的心情，深町如此心想。
我肯定也有過那種時期。
一頭栽進登山的世界，一心認定只有登山的時期。
身手敏捷地登山。
只能求助於登山。
咬緊牙根地登山。
學生時期可以這樣。然而，畢業出了社會，身邊就會發出你要登山到什麼時候的聲音。
登山和工作何者重要？老大不小了，想法成熟一點！如果要去登山，就先找份工作，等到假日再去爬不就得了嗎？
Not like that.
Not like that.
工作賺錢，假日爬山。
我想爬的山不是那種山。
不是那種山。
我不太會說，我想爬的是哪種山，但總之，不是那種山。
我想爬的是，令人心驚膽跳的那種山。
像在燃燒生命的那種、爬上去下來之後，體力絲毫不剩的那種、把自己的全副精力投注其中的那種。
打個比方，就像是畫家使出吃奶的力氣，把顏料塗在畫布上的那種，與此相當甚至略勝一籌的感覺
what is that?
do not know.
到頭來，自己並不曉得那究竟是什麼。
我無法過那種生活。
我知道，自己在追求那種生活的半路上失敗了。
然而，羽生丈二在這裡。
如今，這個男人仍在那個令人心驚膽跳的地方。
只有在岩壁上，與死神面對面的那一瞬間，才能遇見存在自己心中的情感。與世界合而為一的感覺。不，那只是言語上那麼想。實際的那種感覺，無法用任何言語形容。
攀爬岩壁時，一點也不會想把那種感覺化為言語。然而，當時肯定有那種感覺，而且自己體驗到了。然而，事後卻無法言喻。
雖然無法言喻，但攀登者的靈魂肯定有了那種神聖的體驗。
當時，自己以什麼為目標呢？
從岩壁擡頭仰望，看不見山頂。只看得見藍天。
自己想邁向那片藍天嗎？比山頂更高的地方。
sky
當時，我們八成想邁向不存在這世上的地方。
However
許多登山者卻脫離了那種事。
有了家庭、上了年紀、體力衰退之後，就會把用來前往那種地方的票，從口袋裡拿出來丟棄。
當然，深町不覺得他們有錯。
他們是對的。
如果爬高難度的山，遲早會沒命。
However
What are you living for?
深町想起了羽生想爬鬼岩時，對井上說過的話。
人活著不是為了長壽。
羽生吐出火一般的那句話，深深刺進了深町的胸膛。
那，你是為了什麼而活呢？
井上問道。
山。
山是指什麼？
山是山。山就是山。
所以我問你，山是指什麼？
爬山。
既然如此，安全地爬山就好了。
我不是為了安全而爬山。
安全是必要的。
被井上這麼一說，羽生不耐煩地扭動身體，露出泫然欲泣的表情。
你聽好了，井上。死是結果。活著的時間長短，那只是結果。我去爬山，不是為了生死，或者活得長短那種結果。
我不明白你說的話。
給我明白。
I don't know.
Fool.
你才是笨蛋。死在山上，這樣你幸福嗎？
你聽好了，一個人是否幸福，都只是結果。活到最後的結果。跟幸與不幸無關。我登山不是為了尋求那種結果。井上，如果不爬山的話，我是垃圾，是比垃圾還不如的人渣。我完全不曉得我該怎麼活，但是我知道身為登山者的羽生丈二該怎麼活。
what do you know?
你聽好了，登山者是因為登山，所以才叫做登山者。因此，身為登山者的羽生丈二要登山。無論發生什麼事都無所謂。幸福的時候要登山。不幸的時候也要登山。就算有女人，或者女人跑掉，只要登山，我就是身為登山者的羽生丈二。不登山的羽生丈二只是垃圾。
這種莫名其妙的對話說到最後，井上在羽生的熱情促使之下，下定決心去爬鬼岩。
和當時說服井上時一樣的火焰仍存在羽生體內。深町不曉得那是像炭火般冒著煙燃燒，還是燒得火熱熾烈，總之它存在。
如今，羽生抱著那股熱情，身在這裡。
經過漫長的時間與距離，羽生如今終於抵達了這個地方。
那段期間內，發生了許許多多的事。
深町知道那些事。
在大喬拉斯峰上遇難。
第一次爬喜瑪拉雅山，挑戰聖母峰的西南壁，在半路上棄權。
和一名女人分離。
她恐怕是唯一一個站在女人的立場，了解羽生的女人。
來到尼泊爾，跟雪巴人過著同樣的生活，還和雪巴人的女兒生了孩子。
除此之外，大概還有深町不知道的事吧。
不，那種事情應該占絕大多數。
而歷盡滄桑之後，如今，羽生在這裡。
羽生終於到了替自己的登山者生涯，做最後總結算的時刻，外人突然跑出來干涉好嗎？
深町無法說出自己心裡準備好的話。
but
假如羽生現在在這裡，自己現在也在這裡。
假如羽生有各種隱情，自己也有隱情。
不能就這樣默默地回去。
回去之後，自己大概會後悔這件事一輩子。無法改變