Chapter 3 Chapter 15 Mother's Jewelry

Fukamachi gritted her teeth and climbed. He gritted his teeth and climbed up. It is the will that bites between the teeth.Climb with a strong will. Every time you take a step forward, the height increases.The current of the Dudh Kosi River, which was crossed not long ago, is already far below. Dudh means milk in Nepali, and Kosi means river, so Dudh Kosi is a river like milk.This is probably because the water melted from the glacier is milky white, so it was given such a name. This morning, Fukamachi set off from Nanqi Market. After climbing for about ten minutes, I climbed onto the saddle and came to a small elementary school.From there, take the road winding on the mountainside, and the milk river flows at the bottom of the deep valley that cuts down on the right.

On the ridge on the opposite side of the valley, there is a whole picture of Danseku Mountain, which only showed its peak before.The abrupt rock peaks are covered with snow. Six, 608 meters. On the left side is the Kantiga Peak which is 6,779 meters. What you can see from the front is the Ama Dabu Blue Mountain.In Nepali, this mountain means mother's jewelry, and it is like a gatepost built at the entrance to the Mount Everest. Six, eighty-five-six meters. The rock wall rolls towards the stratosphere from all directions like waves, and at the top is a snow-covered rock peak, which has the beautiful, round flesh of a woman.

Cross the foothills of that mountain and enter the enchantment of Mount Everest. At one point, the road dropped 250 meters to the bottom of the valley.There they crossed the Milk River and climbed up again.Climb 600 meters vertically in one breath, and the place to climb is Tianboche. Today, Makoto Fukamachi is climbing that slope. The shoulders carry the weight of the backpack. In a forest of many conifers. The last time I climbed this slope, I developed symptoms of altitude sickness. This time, because I spent enough time in Nanqi Market, I got used to it very smoothly. In good physical condition.

Can feel the air become thinner, but not painful.Because there is an endless stream of stronger energy emerging from the body.With every step, power seeps from the cells into the muscles.Deliberately suppress the pace that is too fast. Fukamachi thought, what is this? Something stronger and more powerful than fatigue.I can feel that the endurance of my muscles has improved-but it's not just that. Unlike muscle, more viscous emotion—no, something more primitive than emotion. Something indescribable. Literally, it was like a feeling of hunger and thirst. Walk hungrily. No matter how much water you drink, you can't satisfy your thirst.

An unsatisfied hunger. There is that hunger deep in the body. It exists at the bottom of the body. No matter what you do, you can't satisfy it.As if driven by that hunger, let your body climb up.The purpose seems to be to tire one's body.Almost quickened the pace. Fukamachi restrained her impulse to crawl. Soothe your inner beast while crawling. Make no mistake! Once you mistakenly think that you are in good physical condition and accidentally speed up your pace, there will be a reaction force.Fukamachi knew of several mountaineers who had suffered from altitude sickness because of the disruption of their pace.

As Fukamachi crawled, he stared at his own body. The sweat that came out was thoroughly absorbed by the synthetic fiber underwear, and turned into steam to escape from the clothes. Wear wool sweaters over synthetic underwear.No need to wear a coat.This is enough to keep you warm when your body is moving.If you walk in direct sunlight, you may even feel hot.But in a forest where the sun shines through the leaves, it's fine. Sometimes the view is wide, and you can see the snow-covered Danseku Mountain and Kantiga Peak. These pinnacles belong to a world higher than this forest.And the rock peak of Mount Everest belongs to the higher sky.

There is nothing on the top of Everest.Above there only exists the sky. The top layer of the world called the atmosphere. The end of the earth's ascent toward the sky -- and above that lies the universe. "Why do people climb mountains...?" These words suddenly revived in Fukamachi's mind. On the occasion of parting yesterday, Dawa Tsangpo muttered a word. Oh, did that happen yesterday? It always feels like days have passed. Fukamachi thought to himself that climbing up may be to forget what happened at the bottom of the mountain at the other end of time. No, not like that.

Some things will be gradually forgotten the farther away, but relatively, some things will become clearer.Many things go away and fade away in weariness, but things that do not disappear, things that remain, will appear more clearly. That is-- Is it about Kayoko? Or what about Ryoko? When Ryoko touched her left shoulder, her right shoulder trembled and felt warm. In Naradar Rachandra's car, Ryoko lowered her sobbing body. Why didn't he put his arm around her shoulder? This thought flitted through Fukamachi's mind. Why did Hanyu leave the weak Ryoko in Japan and come to Nepal?

"That was September 1986—" Yesterday, Dawa Tsangpo finally decided to tell about Bisalu sap and spoke to Fukamachi. It is said that in 1986, near mid-September, An Jialin brought a Japanese to Dawa Zangbu's home. Speaking of 1986, in December 1985 of the previous year, the Japanese team challenged the southwest face of Mount Everest. Joji Hanyu and Tsuneo Hase were on that expedition, the expedition that Hanyu caused problems.On the way to attack the southwest wall, Hanyu took the initiative to go down the mountain. Climbing the southwest face failed, but Chang Gu, who challenged the traditional route, reached the summit.

In January 1986, Hanyu returned to Japan, but disappeared from Japan only half a year later. Only Ryoko Kishi knew that Hanyu stayed in Nepal during this period.Because Hanyu sent money from Nepal every month, she knew where Hanyu lived. Although she knew it, the remittance was one-sided, so Ryoko Kishi didn't know where Hanyu was in Nepal. Every time she had a chance, Ryoko Kishi told Hanyu that there was no need to send money anymore, but Hanyu did not stop sending money after he went to Nepal. Fukamachi understood: Letting Ryoko’s brother Kishi die on the mountain—in Hanyu’s heart, it became a scar that would not disappear, and it has been left forever. It probably became a form of atonement for sending money to Ryoko.

Although the remittance is once a month, there are often no remittances in a certain month, and remittances are made every other month for two months. That remittance continued until 1990, when it ended.From 1990 onwards, even Ryoko did not know about Hanyu. "My name is Joji Hanyu." The Japanese man took the initiative to inform the name. "Oh, you're the one—" Dawa Zangpo nodded. Dawa Tsangpo also remembered his name. In December of the previous year, the Japanese mountaineering team entered Mount Everest, and An Jialin participated as the leader of the Sherpa.During the climb, An Jialin had an accident and was rescued by Hanyu. Dawa Tsangpo knew about that, and he had also heard the name of the Japanese who rescued Anjalin.Saying that he knows is actually a language problem, because Dawa Zangbu heard what An Jialin himself said. "I put him in my house—" An Jialin said to Dawa Tsangpo. "On the surface, I want him to work for the mountaineering team as a relative of my Sherpa tribe..." This man wanted to remain anonymous for some reason, so he couldn't work for the Japanese mountaineering team.But if it is a mountaineering team from other countries, he can work as a Sherpa.I want to try to let him enter Mount Everest as a Sherpa hired by the mountaineering team. Angalin said so. As far as language is concerned, Hanyu can fully communicate in English.The conversation between the mountaineering team and the Sherpa is basically in English, so there is no problem in this regard.He speaks Nepali at an everyday level and also a fragment of Sherpa. The Sherpas and the Japanese are of a similar race.Also Mongolian.The appearance is exactly the same, basically indistinguishable. Therefore, Hanyu pretending to be a Sherpa does not seem unnatural. Sherpa people do not need to check when they enter and exit the customs.If problems are about to arise, just give money to customs officials, and there will always be a way to get away with it. It doesn't matter if you are not a Sherpa.As long as you can follow the mountaineering team that entered Mount Everest and do what the Sherpas are doing. "How about it?" Angeline asked. To the Sherpa people in this area, Dawa Zangbu and Anjialin are two towering giant peaks. Although Dawa Tsangpo retreated from the front line, he was well-known and influential among the Sherpa people.If Dawa Zangbu and An Jialin intended to help Hanyu, it is very likely that what they just said was hidden. As for the Japanese and Sherpas working together, as long as the salary is the same as that of the Sherpas, there is no problem. The problem was that Hanyu was concealed from Japan. If it's just hidden from the mountaineering team, it's fine. If there is a possibility of problems, it is concealing the government.To be more specific, it is how to pass the customs. Along the way from Lukla to Everest, commonly known as Everest Avenue, there are several barriers. No matter how much we hide from the mountaineering team that Hanyu is Japanese, if Hanyu passes the customs and undergoes inspection there, the mountaineering team will know that he is not Nepalese. Dawa Tsangpo and Anjalin were friends. Dawa Zangbo understood very well that An Jialin was saved by Hanyu and wanted to repay the feelings of the Japanese. However-- "why?" Dawa Zangbo asked An Jialin. Why does this Japanese want to work as a Sherpa in Khumbu? Why must that be kept a secret? Dawa Tsangpo could not understand this. "Tell me why." Dawa Tsangpo said. At that time, Hanyu Joji stood up and looked at Dawa Zangbo as if he was about to straighten his posture. "Because I want to climb the Southwest Face of Everest alone in winter without oxygen." Hanyu stammered. "Therefore, I want to get used to Mount Everest. I want to know every inch of it in advance. As a Sherpa, I can follow mountaineering teams from various countries and enter Mount Everest several times." At first, Dawa Tsangpo didn't seem to understand the meaning of that sentence immediately, and he wanted to ask something.However, the meaning of that sentence slowly penetrated into his heart bit by bit. oops-- Dawa Zangpo was speechless for a long time when he understood the meaning behind his words. Dawa Tsangpo also set out for Mount Everest several times as a Sherpa.I have set foot on her peak, climbed on the southwest wall, and experienced Mount Everest in winter. He could understand how much weight Hanyu's words carried. but-- How foolish. Yet that whimsical remark possessed a power powerful enough to shake the soul of those who knew its meaning. That is probably the limit behavior that a person belonging to the human species can do alone. Can the human species reach that place? A world record in Olympic competition and a goal for the human species.The runner who breaks the world record in long-distance running or sprinting is the one standing at the pinnacle of the human species. However, Dawa Tsangpo believes that no matter how hard-working and talented people are, it is still impossible to climb the southwest face of Mount Everest without oxygen in winter alone with hard work and talent. To achieve that goal, the doer must be blessed by Heaven. Weather was a big factor in the success of that operation. It is, literally, entering into the realm of God, entrusting oneself to God's will. Is this Japanese a man blessed by heaven? Dawa Zangpo looked at Hanyu with that look. I don't know if this man can do that. However, on qualifications— I know where this man walked. Actual performance, physical strength, technique, willpower——In terms of these conditions, this man is probably qualified to challenge that matter. At first glance, he may even seem wimpy.Although he speaks in a low volume and in a low voice, but contrary to his facial expression, he is a tough guy who is not afraid of anything. The expression of a man who has made up his mind on what to do. Although he went through thousands of twists and turns, he finally knew exactly what he should risk his life for—with that determined expression on his face. "Why keep that a secret?" "Because it's troublesome." Hanyu replied. "What's the trouble?" "I can not say." Hanyu gritted his teeth. The Japanese, as Sherpas, followed the mountaineering team into the mountain. "why?" Many people will probably ask that on the spot. Probably everyone who met Hanyu would ask that question. Hanyu couldn't explain to them one by one. He attempted to climb the southwest face of Mount Everest alone without oxygen in winter. If you say it, it will definitely become a topic in the mountaineering world. After it becomes a topic, there will probably be people who claim to have tried to do it before, and there will be people who want to actually try to do it. "I don't want to be beaten by other people." Hanyu said: I want to be the first to do that. If you ask if you have ever thought about that in your heart, as long as you are a mountaineer, you should have thought about it once.However, dreaming and persevering and taking action are two very different things. Or, among those people, there might be someone like Hanyu who wants to try to do that. If those people beat Hanyu in technique and physical strength, then that's fine.However, there are probably people who are better at raising money than Hanyu.Hanyu has no money.He didn't want that money to sway who was the first person in the world to complete that attempt. Hanyu is one of the most famous climbers in the world. The fact that he went down the mountain alone on Mount Everest also became a topic for a while.Dawa Tsangpo knew that too. Except for the Himalayas, no matter which mountain in the world it is, it is probably impossible for Hanyu to participate in any kind of expedition as a team member again. Fukamachi thought. There are two possible situations. One is that Hanyu paid his own money to become a sponsor of the expedition to the Himalayas, and became a team member himself. It is also a way to try to climb to the summit on a small scale with two or three people who are willing to listen to the willful Hanyu, but Hanyu probably will not do that.No, he can't do that.Even if it's just one or two people, no one wants to be Hanyu's rope friends.Even if there was, it wouldn't be possible if he didn't have the same level of skill and stamina as Hanyu.Even if there is such a person, according to Hanyu's bad temper, it is very likely to reject the other party.Maybe Kishi was the only man who could become that kind of rope friend, but Kishi died. Another situation is to act alone. Alone, do everything by yourself.Arrange the scheduled itinerary alone, and make preparations for the summit alone. Hanyu is suitable for this. Even doing this, however, requires some level of support. There may be many difficulties. However, Hanyu chose to go it alone. If Hanyu's idea is widely known in the mountaineering world, it will also reach the ears of people involved in mountaineering in Japan. In this way— That man would probably know about that too. Fukamachi thought. That man is Hase Tsuneo. If Hase knew about that, he might have done it before Hanyu. Chang Gu would have many companies as his sponsors. Fukamachi knows. The "others" that Hanyu said did not refer to an unspecified person in a certain place. At that time, the face of Hase Tsuneo, the only man, must have appeared in Hanyu's mind. "I already knew." Dawa Zangbo said to Fukamachi. "This Japanese man dropped everything and came here for one thing." Ryoko Kishi was probably included in all of that. Compared with the sense of responsibility of letting Kishi die on the mountain, Hanyu is more reluctant to bear Ryoko, so he continues to send money to her every month. As a result, Dawa Zangbu did not acquiesce, but in a more positive form, agreed that Angarin would take care of Hanyu, a Japanese. An Jialin and Dawa Zangbu communicated with relevant personnel in Guanfang in private and introduced Hanyu to them. The Nanqi Market was also closed, and the people there had originally communicated with Dawa Zangbu and An Jialin.They are friends.But you can't hide them. The condition they offered was that as long as there was no problem with the passport. Foreigners cannot stay in Nepal with a tourist visa for a long time. Must leave the country once every four months.Therefore, Hanyu travels from Nepal to India every four months.Having said that, it is only to go to the border of Nepal and India, and go through the exit and re-entry procedures there. Anyone can do it if they give some kind of currency to the officials in charge.As long as Hanyu is not staying in Nepal illegally, he can pass the customs like Sherpas. Customs clearance in this country was originally just a show, and it was not particularly strictly inspected.Even foreigners, there are many people who can pass through customs directly without undergoing inspection. In 1974, the French team took advantage of this, pretending to be hiking, and set foot on the untouched peak in the Khumbu area - the 6-542-meter Tawi Cone Peak. Later, the government authorities found out about this and fined the French team 6,000 rupees, and announced that the team leader would not be allowed to enter the country for five years, and mountaineering and hiking for seven years.Other members announced that they would not be allowed to enter the country for four years, and mountaineering and hiking for five years. What's interesting about this country is that, despite what's happening, customs inspections aren't as strict as they used to be, and they're just as lax as they were before. In any case, Hanyu did not break the law and could live in Angarin's house. The Guanfang people and the Sherpa people knew that Hanyu was Japanese. Only Angarin and Dawa Zangbu knew that Hanyu's goal was to become the first person to summit the southwest face of Mount Everest alone in winter without oxygen. Regarding the first climb to the southwestern face of Mount Everest alone without oxygen in winter for the first time, formal permission from the government must be obtained.The application must be submitted two years ago, and the Everest can only be challenged after obtaining permission. Prepare for one to two years, and carry out the plan recklessly in the third year—in December 1989, Hanyu should have launched that mountaineering operation. "In 1987, he applied for that mountaineering project in Kathmandu. But, he was not granted permission." Dawa Tsangpo said. "why?" "Because that climbing plan is too dangerous." It is said that Hanyu and the government authorities had a heated debate. Government officials said - if something unexpected happens, it will become a country-to-country problem. The officials also asked Hanyu: Do you belong to the Japan Mountaineering Association?Hoping to get in touch with them to discuss licensing issues for this matter— Hanyu couldn't fight any further. If the Japanese mountaineering association is involved, Hanyu's plan will probably come to naught in the end. That being the case—— The next thing Hanyu thought about was to contact the approved mountaineering team and climb in the form of joint mountaineering. In fact, that is often the case. For example, it is hoped that in a certain winter, the mountaineering team will be sent to a certain giant peak in the Himalayas.However, at that time of year, several climbing teams had already booked in.During the same period in the Himalayas, there is an upper limit on the number of teams that can enter the mountain.Teams that exceed the upper limit cannot enter the same mountain. Therefore, many teams who applied later contacted the teams that had been approved to ask whether they could enter the mountain in the form of a joint mountaineering of two teams.There are not a few teams that have realized their desire to enter the mountain in this way. Because that's good for both parties. The team that applies first will be halved by joining another team.Sometimes there is even a condition that the team that applies later pays the full amount. From the perspective of the late applicant, even if the amount is high, the best thing is to be able to enter the mountain and reach the top within the predetermined period. So the two teams joined forces in this way, each climbing the mountain on a route that suits its own goals. However, in Hanyu's case, he was alone. Even with solo travelers paying half of the entry fee, the next part is not ideal. In the case of taking the same route, a solo person who enters the mountain a little later than the group will climb the mountain after all the clearing work has been completed. And the group seemed to be clearing the way for the lone actor. Moreover, if you climb to the top, all the benefits will be taken by the lone actor. A soloist is not something other climbers are thankful for. From Hanyu's standpoint, I had to tell the team that I wanted to "climb to the summit alone in winter without oxygen". And not before deciding to go, but more than two years ago—— If you say this idea and your name, it will probably spread throughout Japan in a blink of an eye. "As a result, Bisalu sap didn't do that." Dawa Tsangpo said. "You mean, he gave up?" "how is this possible." Dawa Zangbo shook his head. "Bisalu sap implemented the plan according to the scheduled itinerary." "Did he go climbing?" "Secretly." "when?" "December, 1989." "What about permission?" "He didn't get permission. Bisalu sap set out with Angarin without permission, and Bisalu sap climbed alone from the base camp above—" "He succeeded?" "No." "He failed?" "Bisalu sap climbed to 8,000 meters and turned back from there. He exhausted his time and energy at the icefall. Because the icefall was very unstable that year. The weather changed suddenly at 8,000 meters. Bisalu sap in Sleeping there for two days, then turning back—” It is said that Hanyu collapsed as soon as he returned to the base camp. Angarin saw that, and his daughter Doma, who came to see the situation, took turns carrying Hanyu down the mountain. Dawa Tsangpo said: Only the Angarin father and daughter and I know about that. In 1990, Hanyu once again planned a comeback. That year, Hanyu met Tsuneo Hase in Kathmandu. However, Dawa Zangbo doesn't seem to know that Hanyu and Hase Tsuneo met. In 1991, Hanyu crossed the Langkaba Mountain several times and entered Tibet to investigate Mount Everest on the Tibetan side of Mount Everest. Mount Langkhapa is a ridge of the Himalama Mountains located on the border between Tibet and Nepal. The Sherpa people climbed that mountain, sold the Buddhist utensils bought in Kathmandu to Tibet, and bought carpets with the money.Those rugs fetch a good price in Kathmandu. On the way, there is only a simple pass, and the mountains on the border are deserted, a desolate world of snow and glaciers. Sherpas can pass through customs almost without inspection. Hanyu climbed this mountain at an altitude of nearly 6,000 meters, traveling between Tibet and Nepal. In the summer of 1992, Hanyu entered Mount Everest from the Tibet side, and stepped on the summit without oxygen. He is not alone.At this time, Angarin walked with him to an altitude of 5,700 meters. In any case, Hanyu's goal is to climb the southwest face of Mount Everest alone without oxygen in winter. At that time, the Everest trip was to confirm what would happen to one's mind and body when you acted at the height of Mount Everest without oxygen. "At that time, Bisalu sap got that camera." "Mallory's camera?" "yes." "What's the situation?" "It seems to be in the area of ​​8,100 meters. Bisalu sap said that he found a white body there." "Eight thousand one hundred." According to Yoshinori Hasegawa, that was the height at which Wang Hongbao said he saw the dead body of a white man. It is said that the white man was lying behind a large rock, and when he touched his clothes, his clothes broke into pieces. Wang Hongbao was involved in an avalanche and died before he gave the detailed location. About that incident, it became a mystery. Most people think: Could the white corpse that Wang Hongbao saw and told Hasegawa Yoshinori be Mallory's corpse? Has Hanyu also arrived at the scene? "Bisalu sap brought the camera back from the backpack on the corpse." Dawa Tsangpo said. "Why didn't he report that to any authority—?" "Because he entered Tibet without a permit. If he told how he got the camera, he would be forcibly deported to Japan. He probably didn't want it to be like that." "The film—the film that was originally installed in the camera, where did it go?" "Didn't you hear what he said about it?" "No." "Since this is the case, I don't want to talk too much here. You'd better meet him and ask him in detail." Dawa Tsangpo didn't say much, and Fukamachi knew that meant that Hanyu wanted to keep the matter of the camera a secret. If a camera appeared in the world and the media reported it, even if Hanyu didn't want to, his name would be on the media page. In this way, Hanyu's illegal entry into Tibet to climb Mount Everest will be known.In this case, Hanyu would have to give up his original goal—climbing the southwest face alone without oxygen in winter. "Probably in May of this year. At the same time as your team, the British team entered Sagarmatha. In fact, Bisalu sap was also in that team." At that time, a porter went down the mountain halfway due to physical discomfort. When the porter went down the mountain, he stayed in the courtyard of Angalin's house in De Boche.It is said that at that time, he stole Mallory's camera and Buddhist objects from Angalin's home. Angalin and Bisalu sap knew about this and went down the mountain to Kathmandu to find the camera and the porter.The porter was Rick Tam, who sold the camera to Manikumar's shop through Naradar Rachandra's connection. "So, now the camera is back with Bisalu sap?" "Yes. It should be placed at Angarin's house." "You said, is his home in Deboche?" Deboche is located about 20 minutes down from Tianboche. It is a small Sherpa village. "Yes. Maybe Torma took that camera and went down the mountain to Kathmandu." "The house in Patan?" "That's right. Angarin and Bisalu sap rented a house in Patan. Torma and the child might be there." "Dorma and Bisalu sap married?" Fukamachi asked. "No. Not as far as I know." "real?" "But they live together as a couple." "The children are of torma and Bisalu sap?" "Yes. It's two years old—" "Why did the two of them become that kind of relationship?" "Because in December 1989, when Bisalu sap failed on Mount Everest, Torma was always by Bisalu sap's side to take care of him. The two probably formed that kind of relationship naturally." "Do you know that Bisalu sap has a woman in Japan who has been dating for many years?" "I've heard of it. Bisalu sap seems to send her money often. Sometimes it's less than 500 yen in yen—" right. In this way, it overlaps with the time when the remittance to Ryoko Kishi was stopped. Could it be that Hanyu wants to cut off his attachment to Kishi Ryoko because of the relationship with Angarin's daughter? Can't pedal two boats at once— It's too cleanliness. "Bisalu sap said he will never go back to Japan?" "I don't know. I don't know then. I just know one thing, that he'll probably stay here until he conquers the southwestern wall of Sagarmatha, anyway." "Really." "This winter, Bisalu sap is finally going to take action." "Climb the southwest wall?" "Yes. For this matter, Bisalu sap went to Tibet this autumn." "Tibet?" Speaking of which, did Manikumah say that too? "for what?" "In order to adapt to the altitude. In order to adapt to the altitude of 8,000 meters in advance, Bisalu sap climbed Cho Oyu alone from the Tibet side without oxygen." Dawa Tsangpo said nonchalantly. This is simply nonsense. Fukamachi carefully pondered the excitement in his heart. This is really messed up. To climb Mount Everest without oxygen, to adapt to the height in advance, and to climb Cho Oyu alone without oxygen? Even so, it is still a mountaineering operation beyond ordinary people. As far as the 8,000-meter peak is concerned, Cho Oyu is really not that high.At an altitude of 8,201 meters, her peak is only about 200 meters higher than 8,000 meters. Moreover, from the side of Nepal through Langkaba Mountain, it will be easier to cross the mountains to Tibet, and then approach from the north.However, although easy, it is still an 8,000-meter peak.It's just easier than Everest or other 8,000-meter peaks. Could it be that Hanyu just climbed to the top of Cho Oyu just to get used to the height? If he had climbed Cho Oyu in October, Hanyu would have reached a near-perfect state both physically and mentally. After returning from Cho Oyu, before my body completely forgot the feeling of the height of 8,000 meters, I stayed in Kathmandu for nearly a month to recuperate and check my body carefully. Then, I finally entered Khumbu, and before mid-November, I slowly climbed 6,000 meters to 7,000 meters and other relatively easy mountains. And in the middle and late November, when you enter the base camp of Mount Everest, you can't expect anything further. If those things are fully practiced, will Hanyu climb the southwest wall? Has the man Joji Hanyu achieved that dream-like ascent to the top? As if instigated by this intense excitement, Fukamachi left Dawa Tsangpo's house. And now, Fukamachi is about to arrive at Tempoche. After climbing a long slope, Fukamachi stood at Tenboche. As he stood there, he saw it. Everest. In Nepal it is called Sagarmatha. In Tibet it is called Mount Everest. Saw her peak from the front. Calculated in a straight line, about twenty-three kilometers. Ama Dabu blue mountain is located on the right hand side, opposite to the huge rock ridge connecting the 7-meter and 861-meter peaks of Nubu Peak and the 8-meter and 516-meter peaks of Lhotse Peak. blue sky. Wood grain emerges from the narrow wooden staircase. Every time Fukamachi stepped up, there was a creaking sound. On the second floor, a young monk stood in front of him. "Namaste." Fukamachi nodded in greeting, and the other party responded in a low voice: "Namaste." The room is not spacious. In Japanese terms, it is about eight tatami (about four ping) rooms.In that room, there are tables and stoves, and there are cabinets by the wall, on which there are utensils in daily life such as plates and pots. There was a small table with steam coming from teacups placed on the table.The scent of butter tea dissolves into the air of the room.And there was a smell in the room that was stronger and more fragrant than that. The monk seemed to know Fukamachi's purpose, and he raised his right hand to point to the inner direction. There's a door there, and that door is open. a small door. Fukamachi came to the opened door, stopped there, and glanced inside. There is a small room. Probably less than a ping and a half. a window. A bed. On the bed sat an old monk. He closed his eyes. That's the remains. After passing away, five days have passed. Not long ago, Fukamachi learned that a senior monk in the Tenboche Monastery passed away a few days ago. Fukamachi arrived at Tenboche, took the luggage from the porter who was walking ahead, and set up the tent. Because I bought all kinds of food at Nanqi Market, I increased my luggage and rented a yak.The porter piled the luggage on the two yaks, arrived at Tianboche first, and said to Fukamachi who was setting up the tent: "Five days ago, the eminent monk in this monastery seemed to have passed away." Fukamachi also stayed in Tempoche when he challenged Mount Everest in spring.At that time, everyone went to the monastery together, donated a small sum of money, and asked the old monk to do the exorcism for everyone. Standing in front of the sitting monk, put your palms together and bow your head, and the monk will lightly touch his forehead with his hand holding the five-cobalt pestle.This is a Tibetan ceremony called laying on of hands, which the Sherpas call "Chakuwan". However, Fumachi has always interpreted it as a Japanese prayer for disaster relief. He remembered the monk with his wrinkled face and his unusually small face. Fukamachi thought, it must be the monk at that time. Although it can't be called fate, Fukamachi felt inexplicably that life is impermanent, but that feeling was not strong enough to be called sadness. Fukamachi believes that it is most appropriate to call it emotion. "It seems that there are a large crowd of people coming from all over to pay homage." The porter said. Fukamachi talks to the porter in broken Nepali. "Visit?" Fukamachi asked. "Yes. When a high-ranking lama dies, everyone will come to worship him." The porter said so. "Can the Japanese also worship?" "Can." Hearing what the porter said, Fukamachi decided to try to come face to face with the monk's body. Half of it is based on curiosity. Fukamachi went to the monastery and asked the monks he met: "Where is the room of the deceased lama?" It was the monk who told Fukamachi that he was in this room on the second floor. Seeing the body, Fukamachi nodded inwardly: Oh, it really is that monk. The small face with regular features is very familiar. The head looks even more shrunken than it was then.Not only the head, but the whole body seems to have shrunk.If you don't look at the face, it even feels like the corpse of a child. The skin on the cheeks was like dry bark.The head has short hair, the eyes are closed, and the neck is slightly curved. It looked like someone asked him something, turned his head in a puzzled gesture, and just passed away. There are several pieces of white cloth called hada on the shoulders, neck and body. The monk sat on the bed, half leaning against the wall, and passed away with a tray on his lap.On the tray were several oranges, as well as banknotes and change.The change is not only placed on the tray, but also placed on the monk's body and the khata wrapped around his body. In addition, it is scattered on the bed and on the ground. How old is he? It feels like eighty years old, but Nepalese look and feel older than Japanese people, so maybe unexpectedly young, in their seventies. Fukamachi took out a few dollar bills from his pocket and placed them on the old monk's body. Close your eyes and put your palms together. Fukamachi didn't know what scriptures to recite, nor did he know the etiquette at this time.I did the same thing I did in Japan. Pray silently. Inside the closed eyelids, Kayoko's face floated out. A nostalgic face. Where and what is she doing now? Fukamachi told several mutual friends in advance that he was going to Nepal, and perhaps this matter also reached the ears of Kayoko. Then Ryoko's face appeared. That face at the airport in Kathmandu when we said goodbye—— open one's eyes. The figure of the old monk came into view again. The orange-red sunset near dusk came in through the window and stayed on the old monk's lap. He probably hasn't left here until now.Born in this village, entered this temple, practiced in this temple, and became a monk of this temple just like that. From running errands to chanting scriptures every day—doing these things over and over again every day. 起码去过加德满都吧，但许多僧侣大概都在这间寺庙中，耗费掉自己一生的岁月。 于是在这里终其一生。 眺望喜玛拉雅山的雪峰之地。 荒凉的风景。 稀薄的空气。 雪与冰。 天空。 深町认识的都市喧嚣、三教九流。 这里没有那种事物。 没有电影、杂志、居酒屋。 那么，这里有什么呢？ 一无所有…… 原来也有这种人生—— 自己的一生又是如何呢？ 深町一面在心里这么想，一面向后转身。 年轻僧侣看着自己。 “师父圆寂的时候，是什么模样呢？” 深町以尼泊尔语问道。 “和平常一样。” 年轻僧侣回答。 "Same?" “师父和平常一样，在做早晨的冥想，然后就那样——” “就那样是指，在冥想中？” “是的。因为师父的冥想时间比平常长，所以我出声叫他，但他没有回应。我试着碰师父的身体，他已经——” “圆寂了吗？” "yes." “地点是？” "There." "There?" “师父是在你现在看到的地方，以你现在看到的姿势往生的。” 那名僧侣说道。 深町再度看了老僧侣的遗体一眼。 表情安详。 真的只能说是在冥想中圆寂的。 深町上次从雪巴人口中听到，这间寺庙在好几年前发生过火灾。 当时，许多寺里的宝物和唐卡（佛画）被带出寺庙，其中大多在加德满都被卖掉，没回到寺庙。僧侣本身谎称它们因为火灾付之一炬，其实是把它们拿去卖钱了—— 那固然是谣言。 然而，那种谣言听起来太具有真实性，令人觉得是大概真有其事吧。 这位僧侣大概也做了那种事吧。 但即使做了，这个国家的人民也早已司空见惯。僧侣把佛画和佛像卖掉换钱——纵然听到那种行为，也不会带给听者任何负面的观感。 “现在每天也有好几个人来参拜——” 年轻僧侣说道。 Just at this time-- 楼梯发出吱嘎声，一名雪巴族的女人牵着一个两、三岁的小孩，进入房间。 从她手上拿着白布——哈达来看，她似乎是为了参拜老僧侣的遗体而来。 她以深町听不见的雪巴语，和僧侣简短交谈，站在小房间的门前。 她没有和深町一样进入小房间。 那间小房间似乎已经开始当作祭坛本身来用——是神圣的空间。 深町和女人擦肩而过，一度朝楼梯迈开脚步，但走到一半停了下来。 那个女人的脸似曾相识。 深町在僧院外眺望高山。 圣母峰、洛子峰、努布峰——三座岩峰在北方。世上没有几个地方，能够同时将喜玛拉雅山两座邻近的八千公尺高峰尽收眼底。 夕阳已经西斜。 太阳迟早会没入西方的山后。 大概还能待在阳光下两小时左右吧。 深町用全身感受阳光的温度，时而转身，让阳光照射另一面。 过没多久，刚才的雪巴族女人牵着孩子的手走出来。 深町深吸一口气，朝女人举步前进。 站在女人身旁对她说： “Namaste．” 女人仿佛没听见似地想往前走。 “Namaste，朵玛。” 深町把心一横，呼喊女人的名字。 女人这才死心地停下脚步。 她以黑色的眼珠子盯着深町。 愤怒、不安、畏怯在她的眼中交相晃动。 “我早就认为你认出我了。” the woman said. “你也从一开始就认出我了？” 深町问道。 “嗯，在喇嘛的房间看见你时，我马上就认出你是谁了。” “那么，你刚才为什么想要闷不吭声地离去呢？” “因为，我不想再和你们扯上关系了。” “可是，你已经和我们扯上关系了。” “那是你们单方面地纠缠不清。你从日本找女人来，介入了我们的生活——” 朵玛用力握紧孩子的手，把孩子拉向自己。 她说的没错。 强硬的口吻，令深町不禁心生忌惮。 深町忽然意识到，朵玛的视线注视着自己的脖子一带—— 深町把右手抬到脖子附近，用指尖拎着它。 凉子留下来的那条土耳其石项链。 "this one?" 深町握着它说。 "That is?" “在帕坦遇到的那个日本女人寄放在这里的。这是Bisalu sap送给她的，她要我还给他——” “还给他？” “因为她说，这八成是贵重的物品……” “那是家母的遗物。” “令堂？” “我母亲。家母去世时，家父把那给了他……” 朵玛的语调变得比一开始更柔和。 “他问家父，可以把家父送给他的那个，寄给人在日本的朋友吗？” 女人吗？ 据说，安伽林当时这么问羽生。 yes-- 羽生如此回答。 ——心爱的女人吗？ --yes. ——寄给她吧。 据说，两人之间有过这样的对话。 “那是我和他之间的关系变成这样之前的事。” "That's it." “当我知道那个女人追着Bisalu sap来到尼泊尔时，我心里动摇了，心想，他会不会跟那个女人一起回日本呢——？” "—" “我很害怕事情会变成那样。” “可是，Bisalu sap选择了留在这里……” 朵玛将视线落在脚边，轻轻摇了摇头。 “可是，我不知道……” 她忽然开口说了日语。 “日语吗……？” 深町也下意识地以日语说。 “是的。我长期和他在一起。想要知道更多他的国家的事……” 朵玛说，她跟羽生学了日语。 或者，她是否想到说不定会跟羽生一起回日本呢？ 这么想时，深町明白了她为何突然改说日语。 因为她不想让开始牙牙学语的孩子听到他们的谈话内容。 孩子会敏感地了解到，自己的母亲在说什么。 “那个人呢？” “那个人？” “和你一起来的女人。” “她不久前从加德满都搭机回日本了。” "Yes." 朵玛点点头。 交谈以来，深町觉得自己这才触碰到朵玛女人家的一面。 深町切身感觉到，虽然文化风俗不同，但西藏人与日本人拥有相同的心理结构，本是理所当然。不，不止是日本人或西藏人这种层次。无论是哪一国人，人的内心都会做出相同的反应。 深町能够充分理解朵玛的不安与内心的动摇。 朵玛身穿灰黑色的藏袍，类似日本的和服。衣襟左上右下，拉拢前襟，为了当作置物袋，而将腹部之处拉松，系上腰带。上面再搭一件类似围裙的横纹邦典。 虽然衣服因泥土和灰尘而脏了，但却不像别的村姑一样灰头土脸，头发也梳理得一丝不苟。 “我原本以为他在加德满都……” 深町说道。 “羽生先生，有困难的时候，我和他，一路携手走了过来。” “他要去爬Sagarmatha，对吧？” 深町问道。 朵玛没有回答这个问题。 “我知道，他，是为了爬山，而留在这里的。并不是因为有我……” 朵玛一脸哀伤地说。 对于这件事，深町没办法用任何言语安慰她。 深町询问别件事。 “Bisalu sap现在在家吗？” “你知道家的事……？” “知道。我在南奇听达瓦·奘布说了。” “他……” “我想见Bisalu sap，我想见羽生——” “他，现在，不在家。” “他在哪里呢——？” "—" 朵玛又噤口了。 深町看了紧握朵玛的手的孩子一眼，以尼泊尔语问他： "What's your name?" "Nimma." 回答的是朵玛。 “男孩？” "yes." 朵玛的脸上首度露出笑容。 一笑起来，看上去忽然变得年轻了。 她的年纪应该是三十二岁。 五官算是端正。 纯就外观而言，顶多只有服装和发型不同于日本人。 “我可以问你问题吗？” 朵玛问道。 再度变成尼泊尔语的对话。 “你尽管问——” 深町微笑道。 如果对方有事情想问自己，深町打算全部回答。 “那个人在日本，是个怎么样的人呢——？” 刹那间，深町以为“那个人”是指凉子，但旋即会意过来，朵玛指的不是凉子，而是羽生。 “这该怎么说呢——” 深町支吾其词。 他不曾在日本和羽生直接说过话。他是从许多人的口述、印刷而成的出版品，以及记录中，认识羽生的。 即使说出羽生在鬼岩的记录，她又能理解多少呢？ "how is it?" 朵玛的表情变得比一开始更柔和许多，问道。 随后她像是想起什么似地说： “我还没准备晚餐，今晚，要不要去我家用餐呢？” “方便吗？” “如果你不嫌弃马铃薯、奶油和茶的话，我家倒是有很多。” "Then bother you." “你可以边吃饭边告诉我他在日本的事吗？” "certainly." 深町稍微提高音量，点了点头。 一间不算太大的房子。 从天波切的僧院往下走二十五分钟左右的地方，是一片平地。这片平地沿着河川扩展，形成森林。虽说是平地，也有几处高低起伏，道路在高低起伏间穿梭绵延。 左手边是映佳河。从道路看不见河，但近在咫尺，不时会听见水声。 安伽林的家就位于道路与河川之间，开拓森林而成的平地上。 岔出道路，走在树林间，没想到房子就出现在那里。 墙壁是以石头堆叠、涂上灰泥的石墙。灰泥剥落了三分之一以上，露出墙里的石头。 阳光已经照不到这个谷底，但四周尚且明亮。 深町告诉挑夫，今晚说不定不回去，便下山来到这里。 把现金、相机、护照，以及水壶、睡袋、简单的盥洗用具、干粮等塞进小型登山背包，背在背上。 朵玛边走，边断断续续地诉说孩子的事，和父亲安伽林的事。 但是几乎没有提到羽生。 朵玛也说，迟早想让孩子去上学，接受完整的教育。 她也问了深町，有没有可能让孩子学日语，进入日本的学校就读。 深町仔细地回答各式各样的问题。 比起见面时，朵玛对深町敞开心扉了许多。 关键在于深町挂在脖子上、原本戴在安伽林妻子颈上的那条土耳其项链。对朵玛而言，是母亲的遗物。 朵玛看见它之后，深町才得以与她像这样交谈。 达瓦·奘布也是如此。 那位老雪巴人也是看见这条项链，才敞开心胸的。 看人怎么想，这或许是一颗幸运之石。 深町和朵玛母子一起站在房子前面。 朵玛打开一楼的门，邀请深町进屋。 "Please come in." 屋内阴暗，有庞然大物的影子在动来动去。 是牛——牦牛。 以及两头山羊。 在这一带，这是一般雪巴人的房子构造。一楼是牛羊猪舍，二楼是人的住处。 “你们不在这间房子的时候，家畜怎么办呢？” “拜托附近的亲戚，或者请谁来这间房子顾家。” 朵玛抱着孩子，先行上了二楼。 深町跟在她身后。 二楼—— 比达瓦·奘布的家小上两、三圈的房间。 window. 一口灶。 两张床。 一张桌子。 以及壁橱。壁橱上并排着各式各样的东西——铜锅、塑胶罐、油灯灯罩、饼干盒、放糌粑的容器。 几本日语的书—— 说到会令人想到有日本人住在这里的事物，就只有那些书。 这里啊—— 深町心想。 羽生丈二在这里生活吗？ 一种奇特的心情，充满深町的胸臆。那种心情类似怀念，又像是终于抵达目的地的安心感。 微暗的房间。 霎时，有一种对不起羽生的心情向深町袭来。 羽生大概不喜欢自己不在的时候，被其他日本人看见自己生活的这个地方。深町心想，他肯定非常讨厌这样。 自己现在等于是瞒着羽生，偷看了他的秘密。 当深町心中抱持这种伤感时，朵玛忽然小声地说： "strangeness……" "strangeness?" 深町问道。 "yes." 朵玛一脸不安地环顾四周，说： “床的位置移动了。放在橱子上的东西移位了，桌子摆的地方好像也有点不一样。” 这时，响起了孩子的尖叫。 深町和朵玛同时把脸转向那声尖叫传来的方向。 二楼内侧——那里摆着尼泊尔风的柜子。 一个男人从柜子后面走了出来。 男人的左手里抱着朵玛和羽生的儿子——尼玛，右手拿着刀子，刀尖抵在尼玛的喉咙上。尼玛在男人的手臂里高声尖叫，哭了出来。 “Garnosu Sab（不好意思，先生）……” 那个男人说。 这是那个男人第二次这样对深町说。上一次，是在加德满都通往因陀罗广场的路中间。 蒙汉站在那里。 “蒙汉，你……” 深町为之语塞。 “你要问，为什么我会在这里吗？” 蒙汉把嘴唇扭曲成讨人厌的形状，面露僵硬的笑。 “听说你要我去印度，浪费两、三年的时间再回来？” 蒙汉像在问自己似地说。 “休想！我才不干。谁要去那种鬼地方，又没有好工作，只能当乞丐……” “放开尼玛！” 朵玛打断蒙汉的话说。 “要我放开他也行。如果你们照我的话做。” “照你的话做？” 深町问道。 “我想要那台相机。” “相机——” “少给老子装傻！就是你一度在马尼库玛的店里买的那台相机。” 柯达公司的“BEST POCKET AUTOGRAPHIC KODAK SPECIAL”。 这次事件的起源就是那台相机。 “我搜遍了帕坦的那间房子，都没有找到。我想，既然如此，绝对在这间房子，所以跑来了。正好没人在家，所以我原本打算花时间慢慢搜，没想到搜到一半，你们就回来了。而且，居然连先生你也一起回来——” 说着说着，或许是嘴唇干了，蒙汉用舌头舔了舔嘴唇。 "Where?" “你得到相机，要做什么？” “卖啊。去印度卖给外国人。卖给英国人。不然的话，卖给日本人也行。如果先生肯跟我高价收购的话，卖给你也无所谓。我要用那笔钱在印度悠闲度日一阵子，这招如何？” “还不赖。如果是用你自己的钱的话。” “呿——” 蒙汉对地板吐口水。 “快点，把相机拿出来。事到如今，我反而应该认为，等你们回来会比较容易找到相机。” “喂！你知道这里是什么地方吧？” "Where?" “就算你往内陆逃，也会被圣母峰挡住去路。就算你得到相机，又能逃到哪里去？能逃的路只有一条。你逃走之后，只要我们以无线电跟卢卡拉的警方联络，你一定会在半路上被逮捕。” “你真蠢……” 蒙汉哧哧笑道。 “我不就是为了逃跑，才抓住这孩子的吗？” "What did you say!" “要是你们那么做，这孩子可是会先没命唷！” “你这家伙……” “先把相机拿出来！不拿出来的话，这孩子现在就会没命！” 蒙汉更用力地把刀子抵在孩子的喉咙上。 “有吧？” "Have." 回答的