Chapter 51 50

May 15, 1924 Rongbuk Monastery, 16,700 feet Tibet, Rongbuk Valley * The expedition was repulsed by bad weather on the mountain and forced to retreat to the Rongbuk Valley below.So they came to seek the blessing of the saint.They brought gold brocade and a watch as presents.The real gift was the concrete carried by yaks, which had been delivered two weeks earlier. They passed a large stone pagoda, the gold paint of which was blown away by the wind; the group walked quietly under a large group of prayer flags flapping in the wind, approaching the low, white-painted space of the temple. Emaciated, they stood in the open courtyard: British, Gurkhas, Sherpas, Bodhiyas.Mountaineers, sergeants, porters, grooms, mule drivers, cooks, a cobbler.Seventy people.Clutching in their grimy palms were the two donated rupee coins which had been distributed an hour earlier from the expedition's oaken safe.

A monk led the Englishman and interpreter up a narrow staircase.From nowhere came the endless sound of horns.The low notes played incessantly: as soon as one person ran out of breath, the other picked it up.The climbers' boots slipped on the stone steps.Cymbals will be played at regular intervals.At first the Englishmen could see nothing in the darkness, then a few rays of light filtered through the windows and shone on the worn steps. Some of their horns were made of human thighbones.They also had drums made of skulls with human skin as their heads, Knoll said. Ashley looked out the window and saw a man blowing a horn vigorously on the platform below.

It looks like it's brass.He whispered in a hoarse throat. They entered a small dining room, lit only by a few butter lamps.In the darkness, they vaguely saw a low table with small dishes on it.The Englishman sat stiffly on a cushion on the floor. what is itMills asked: I can't see. Macaroni and spices.Colonel said: What else? The British ate with lacquered chopsticks, and monks refilled empty bowls.The colonel looked at Ashley's bowl, then shook his head. A bowl and a half.Colonel said: You will cause a commotion.The abbot Lama has been dressed and ready for two full days. How many bowls did you eat?

Three bowls.The colonel said: I'm screwed. Ashley put the chopsticks on the bowl.He had no feeling in his right leg, so he moved his body with great effort to adjust his posture. What does a lama look like? Very special guy.Noel said: It is said that it is the reincarnation of God.He had been in the hermit's cell in the valley for thirteen years. Mills raised his chopsticks up to the light.The red lacquer had chipped marks at the ends, and the wood was dented and discolored. dent marks.Mills grunted. Maybe it's older than you.Knoll said. Noel is eating his seventh bowl.He grinned and continued eating.

The British entered a small space in single file.The ceiling was low; there was the smoldering scent of juniper from some urn.Monks sit on benches beneath large bronze portraits, some playing drums and others blowing horns.Two monks are pulling a piece of silk taut to cover something behind.The translator put his face on the ground reverently.The Englishman stood still, clutching the brim of his hat.No one spoke. The monk slowly lowered the silk.A figure appears, posing in the pose of a Buddha statue, fully clothed in brightly colored silk robes, with an expression that seems to be gazing into the distance.The horn buzzed.The face was golden yellow, without any expression, and quite beautiful.The lama was aware of the presence of the British, but did not respond to them.No one spoke.

The silk rose, and the figure was covered again.The trumpets also stopped.The English looked at each other, then bowed stiffly, not knowing whom they were saluting.They then lined up to leave. Now all are at the feast.The porters drank highland barley wine and buttered tea, and ate many bowls of noodles.Although the British hated the tea and said the ghee had a rancid smell, they drank it in large swigs in front of the monks. Although his body felt bone-chillingly cold, Ashley began to sweat.He bid farewell to everyone, walked through the maze of passages and small rooms, and finally stepped through the front door into bright sunlight.A groom is leaning against the outer wall to guard the mules, waving a yak whip in the wind.He stuck out his tongue as a greeting.

Ashley sat on a half-turned wall, his stomach churning.A few minutes later, Somawell walked briskly out of the temple with his hands in his pockets and his scarf flapping violently in the wind. Did you feel sick after eating something? Ashley looked up at Somawell. The tea was disgusting.I don't mind macaroni, but the smell of rancid ghee makes me nauseous.God knows how I could down a whole glass. Somawell nodded.Maybe you should spit it out. Ashley unfastened her scarf and walked to a pile of dusty stones a few yards away.He bent down, spit the tea onto the stone, and came back to sit on the wall.

Damn.Ashley said: Do you have a handkerchief?My last one broke Somawell handed out a handkerchief, and Ashley wiped his mouth with it. We should have given them handkerchiefs.Ashley said: more useful than brocade. Somawell put his hand on Ashley's shoulder. Let me see.Your face is broken. Everyone is the same. This is what the doctor ordered.Please make me happy. Ashley reluctantly raised his face to Somawell.His skin was broken and scabbed, ranging from pink to red to white. Have you shown Hingston? No. What a naughty boy.how do you feel? Ashley started coughing.Perfect. What are you rubbing?

Glacier sunscreen.But it fades in the sun. Use Sechehaye.That brand is more durable.Does your face oil at night? Yes, sir. Sommerwell straightened up.very good.Keep painting.Also, avoid the sun if you can. Ashley wrapped the scarf around his neck.Somerwell squinted at him. Your voice has gotten worse. It was not going well. What about the cough? Not too bad. But it sounds scary. Ashley wiped his face again, and then neatly folded the handkerchief into a square. No worse than you. I have a bad cough.Somerwell said: But you had a condition before.Didn't your throat hurt? That, Ashley said: it's time for war.It's mountaineering holiday now.

You may have frostbitten the lining of your throat, which could block you and suffocate you.Be sure to tell Hingston if the cough gets worse.And the Colonel.It's not just for you. Somawell stroked his beard thoughtfully. You push yourself too hard, Worthingham.As strong as you are, no one else is that strong.It's none of my business, but you can't do things for lazy people forever just to impress the Colonel, or try to beat Price in every way.The weather has been bad this season, and what's worse is that we can't predict it.On Everest, sometimes you just have to look back.You and Price are great climbing buddies, but I'm worried about what you might want to do together

It doesn't matter.Ashley retorted.Even if the Colonel put me on one of the summit teams, it wouldn't be with Hugh. He will let you go.I believe you have earned the Colonel's confidence.You know, even though he thinks you're crazy, he also knows you're strong and passionate.I bet the first team will be the Colonel and me with oxygen, and the second team will be you and Price without oxygen.Our team is highly capable, but you two are irresistible spears.Do you know what an impenetrable shield is? Somawell shook his head selfishly. I don't like this weird weather, he continued: it's worse than bad luck.Although we should have finished yesterday, no one wants to back down to England, failing a third time.And no one wants to come here anymore.The colonel worried about the news coverage, and what the people on the committee might say.Everyone expects us to succeed, but they don't understand anything at all.Price wanted to climb that mountain so he could go on the speaking tour and, among other things, he had to reach the summit before Everest destroyed him.So they need that peak.But I don't see why you would risk it in the same way.do you understand me? certainly. No doubt you will do your duty and all that.Somerville added.I'm just saying, don't let Hugh take you beyond what you can handle.Mount Everest has always been here, she has been here for millions of years.This year may not be the right time.God, it might be impossible to climb her. Ashley looked at Somawell.He held out his soiled handkerchief. Want your handkerchief back? Somerwell grinned.Clever.keep it. The Englishman sat on a bench watching a group of writhing dancers.Ashley's eyes followed the large masks of the dancers with their teeth bared, watching solemnly but fascinated, completely ignorant of the meaning of the ceremony.Knoll was operating his movie camera; Sommerwell recorded the percussion heard in a book of staff paper bought in England.After the performance, Ashley and Price helped Noel pack his camera equipment into boxes.Noel put his hands on Ashley's and Price's shoulders respectively. I have to show you something. Noel called in an interpreter for the expedition, and they followed an elderly lama through a series of wind-exposed corridors.The lama stopped by the inner wall of a dark passage, and gestured.Noel knelt beside him. New.It appeared after the last expedition. The lama spoke to the British in a serious tone.Ashley squatted in front of the mural and saw the large triangular cone representing Mount Everest, and plumes of cloud and ice flowed from the tip of the pyramid.A white man is down at the foot of the peak, impaled by something.Demons, barking dogs, lions, madmen all surrounded that form.Ashley looked at the translator. What is he saying? The interpreter clutches his dusty hat.He hesitated to translate, his voice almost overshadowed by the eager lama. The holy lama said that you have violated the Goddess Mountain.The mountain will destroy you. Lama continued.The interpreter looked down at his hat. The holy lama said that mountain is very strong.If she wanted to, she could kill someone. Ashley looked back at the mural.The lion is the same color as snow.The lama was waving at the fallen European with a strong tone. continue.Ashley said. That mountain has forced you to retreat before.She will force you to retreat again.That mountain can open its sides and devour humans.There's nothing you can do against her. Price shook his head.They said the same thing last time. Ashley looked at Lama.He has only a few teeth left in his mouth.His shoulders and arms were skinny, his skin blackened by the smoke of burning yak dung.He also looked at Ashley fearlessly. The holy lama asks you one thing.He said how can you suffer for this meaningless thing, and let others suffer together. Noel nodded to the interpreter.Tell him we are on a pilgrimage.We come to the highest mountain in the world just to get closer to heaven.We want to get as close to heaven as possible in this life. Noel grinned and stood up. Tell the Lama that I will fast and not eat ghee until we reach the summit.This is my sacrifice for the pilgrimage. After the translation is communicated.No one spoke.The lama suddenly bowed his head and smiled, showing one tooth.He continued down the aisle, followed by Noel and the interpreter. Price and Ashley stayed by the mural, and Price knelt on the ground.He struck a match on the rough wall and lit the flames on the summit of the mountain. really weird.Price said: "The painting is upside down. Ashley nodded, then stood up. Colonel probably wants us to go back. Price's match moves along the painted ridge. Didn't you see it?There are footprints on the ridge.But in the wrong direction. you're right.Ashley said: Let's go. Price flicked out the match and dropped it on the ground.He followed Ashley through the dim passage. This is not meaningless.Price whispered.