Chapter 4 Chapter Sixteen Mountain Wolf

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 avalanches and poured down in one breath, and some moved more slowly than snails—various speeds and weights compressed the snow, frozen it, and crawled out from the valley. This is the glacier. Ice river. The river flows. At a rate of a few centimeters a day—a few meters a 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 get to Robchi, at the end of the lower glacier.

The journey was about twenty kilometers—and 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. .During 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. There was an icefall passing by from 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 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 sparing 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. 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 glacier in this area is almost covered with sand, sand, mud and rocks that have fallen from landslides. Where there are crevasses or faults, white and blue ice can be seen. There are also several icicles standing 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 power 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—— Naradar Rachandra disinfected the wound of Menghan who was shot through the left shoulder, gave him first aid, and let the two men who came with him accompany him down the mountain first. Fukamachi stayed with Naradar Rachandra at Angarin's house. that night— What did I and Naradar Rachandra talk about with Torma? Now in a world that is higher than human life, in the mountains, I always feel that it has happened far away. "If possible, could you please settle this matter gently—?" I should have said that while drinking tea. I don't want to make a big deal out of it. I don't want the police or government officials to intervene during this period, and Hanyu probably doesn't want it either. "Bisalu sap probably wants that too." "I'm also glad you said that. Our matter, I hope to resolve it internally as much as possible." Naradar Rachandra said so. Regarding the incident caused by Meng Han, Doma didn't want to make it big. Naradar Rachandra will handle this internally - That's how things should settle. The three of them also chatted about Hanyu. To the question of where Hanyu is, Doma replied: "Pucardi..." Torma whispered. "He's going to climb Pukady Peak?" Fukamachi asked. Torma nodded. "To get used to 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 peak, we pitched 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 say goodbye in front of Angarin's house. Fukamachi is going to a higher place. Naradar Rachandra is going back to Kathmandu. At the time of parting, Naradar Rachandra 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, a country is the same as an individual..." Naradar Rachandra said so. "If there is something you want, you have to get it yourself." Good Luck... These were the last words spoken by Naradar Rachandra. 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 Mount 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... November 27th—— Fukamachi was waiting for Hanyu. Hanyu should have already left that house. He must be coming here. Fukamachi always felt—the sound of Hanyu's footsteps approaching slowly. Climb over that moraine, cross that glacier, go around that icicle, and approach here. The sound of footsteps was 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 - two or three - would come to the base camp every day. Everyone is 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. The altitude there is slightly higher than base camp, and the view from there is beautiful. So, everyone will go there. Fukamachi himself climbed there during his Spring Expedition. You can have a panoramic view of Everest, Lhotse, and Nubu. It can be clearly seen that the glacier sliding down from the valley, hitting the rocky edge of Pumori Mountain, changed its direction drastically to the south, and flowed 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 should 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. Before that, the trekking fee of 30,000 U.S. dollars for a team became 50,000 U.S. dollars for a team. The maximum number of team members has also been 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. $50,000 for five people. 70,000 US dollars for seven people. It is equivalent to 10,000 US dollars per person. If the exchange rate is one dollar to one hundred yen, ten thousand dollars equals one million yen. Before that, if a team paid 3 million yen, an unlimited number of people could stand on the summit of Mount Everest, but in the future, it will be 7 million yen for seven people—an average of 1 million per person, and the deductible has increased. The British team, which entered Mount Everest in the autumn, applied with five people. As a result, seven people made it to the summit of Mount Everest, an increase of two. 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 results. It is the amount paid for a 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, Fukamachi has no objection to changing the country's only tourism resource, mountain climbing, to a permit system to make money. That is understandable. 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. Kayoko Segawa—— Ryoko Kishi—— A stone with such a name. And, camera. Oh-- I remembered! I forgot to ask. About that camera. I forgot to ask Toma where Hanyu got that camera. No, I asked once. How did Hanyu get this? "On the hill—" Doma replied. 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. "He found 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..." Doma 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. 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.People who want to challenge the summit of Mount Everest may walk in that way after exceeding 8,000 meters above sea level, but they will not walk in that way at this altitude.For hikers, the summit is this base camp - the site at 5,400 meters above sea level.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 is very clear. That's the way a strong mountaineer walks. With the muscle strength of my own legs, I lift my body step by step toward the sky—a body with that ambition. 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 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. "Dorma has been taken care of by you..." Hanyu said briefly. This sentence became Hanyu's greeting. Hanyu parted his ragged black lips, revealing his white teeth.The tongue that moves inside the teeth is bright pink. The blackness of other parts of the skin highlights the whiteness of the teeth and the color of the oral mucosa. "I want to thank you. It's good to have you 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 was not I who saved them. It was 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 has become 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 and asked with a surprised face: "Give me this?" "yes." Fukamachi opened the package. From it emerged an old camera. 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 written as a report... Thinking of this, Fukamachi realized that what was reported had been weathered in his heart. I am interested in cameras. I'm 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 matter is over, do as you please." "After it's over?" "After 'Mountain Climbing' is over." Hanyu said the word "mountain climbing" in a precise tone. Fukamachi knew that Hanyu’s “climbing” refers to the first person to climb the southwest face of Mount Everest without oxygen in winter.Hanyu briefly described that event as "mountain climbing". "Whether you write a report or publish a photo, it's your freedom." "But--" When Fukamachi was about to say something, Hanyu interrupted him: "I'll talk about it later. Angarin has to go back from here immediately. Because there is no grass for the 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. Although it is a base camp——it is much simpler than the base camp of ordinary mountaineering teams. There are three tents in total. A large tent for eight people. And two dome-type 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, 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. He said he was going down the mountain to Ge Laxue, where he returned the yaks, and then went up the mountain to here 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 you went up the mountain once, turned back when you found the weather was bad, and started to attack the summit again after you relieved your 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 the "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. "See you tomorrow, then—" When An Jialin went down the mountain, he left a brief sentence like this. 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 had sunk into the other side of Nobu Peak. 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.Perhaps it was because he didn't want the temperature of the black tea to dissipate a little, and tried to absorb all the temperature into his body through his hands, and did so subconsciously.Fukamachi explained his actions in this way. 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. "About what happened just now..." Fukamachi spoke timidly. "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 from Mount Everest." "The Nepal side? Or the Tibet side?" "The Tibetan side." "Where is it?" "Northeast edge." Hanyu said bluntly. The expected answer. Although Dawa Tsangpo had said it before, hearing Hanyu himself say again that the location was the base camp again made me feel aroused.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 practice climbing Mount Everest alone without oxygen in winter from the side of Tibet..." Hanyu began to speak eloquently. At that time, Hanyu was smuggled into Tibet—that 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. "Where are the 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. "It's gone..." "Missing?" "Well, the film wasn't loaded in the camera." Hanyu said briskly. "What did you say--?" "I think, whether that body was Mallory or Irving, it's likely that after the photo was taken, the negative was taken out of the camera 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 negative was not originally loaded in the camera—a very likely scenario. 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 matter of this camera a secret? Can't you use it to raise funds for this solo operation?" "How do I explain that?" "Explanation?" "Do I want to say that there is a Japanese who 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 granted." "—" "Until this is over, I can't say. Until this is done—" "is this okay?" "what do you mean?" "After this, 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 hide the camera, you still have a chance." "there is none left." Hanyu said. "How do you know about that?" "I, from 1986, it took about eight years to challenge Mount Everest here. I was really alone. I didn't even have a sponsor. It was the same from the Tibetan side, but I failed several times. Even if there are sponsors, no matter how much oxygen is used, no matter how many people act together, it is not so easy to capture the southwest face of Mount Everest in the cold winter—" "—" "Shooting the southwest face of Mount Everest alone in the cold winter without oxygen—the chance to do this is only once or twice in a lifetime—" 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 heard from Dawa Tsangpo that you failed in 1989, right?" "Ok--" Studying various possibilities, making various preparations, only setting one's own life goals on it, sacrificing everything else, if you don't live for several years just for that thing, you probably can't complete it. Needless to say, technology, physical strength, and mountaineering experience.Smooth and full acclimatization, perfect physical condition, familiarity with the geography, weather and everything around Mount Everest - and the last condition is whether the forces beyond human control are on the side of human beings. If it is specific, it is how much the weather was on his side at that time—— 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, I'm afraid there will 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 last saw Mallory and Irving, they were at the 8,600-meter second step, right?" "—" "Mallory's body was at 8,100 meters. In other words, Mallory went down there. Just get over the second step and the summit is in sight. It's not a particularly difficult place. Mallory On the way back, Irving encountered an accident at the 8,380 meters and left his ice stick there. Later, Mallory wanted to go down the mountain alone to the 6th Battalion, but Exhausted on the way—is that even possible?" "—" "The height of the Sixth Battalion was 8,156 meters at that time. Mallory's body was at 8,100 meters—Mallory descended to a level far below that of the Sixth Battalion. It is very likely that he got lost. , and fifty-six meters is well within the margin of error of the altimeter." "—" "I think that if Mallory and Irwin turn back from the second step, they should have enough energy to go back to the sixth camp. That is to say, they can't come back because they went to the summit. If they go from 8,600 The body of the person who was walking towards the summit at 8000m was sleeping in the open at 8,100m, so it must be on the way back after reaching the summit—?” "I don't know." Hanyu said in a strong tone. "Whether the guy who can't come back has set foot on the peak is not important at all. Anyway, even if he thinks about it, there is no answer. If you want to find a hundred reasons for the saying that you set foot on the peak, you can also explain why you did not set foot on the peak. Find a hundred reasons for saying it." Hanyu's tone was excited. "Dead is trash." Hanyu said excitedly. In the middle of 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 think, 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 face was pale and his eyes widened. Hanyu was trembling with fear. He looked like he was clenching his teeth in an attempt to silence the chattering.However, no matter how hard he clenched his teeth, the teeth continued to click. Hanyu kept clenching his teeth as if he wanted 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. "Asshole!" The black tea in the mug has gone cold.Hanyu put down the mug and hit his knees with the fists of both hands. 即使颤抖终于平息下来，深町还是无法对羽生说话。 羽生反复粗重地呼吸好一阵子之后，看着深町。 "I made you laugh." 羽生说。 深町想说：没那回事。然而，那句话却说不出口。 “你可以在日本说，那个天不怕地不怕的羽生，居然害怕得颤抖。” 深町无话可说。 只是沉默。 一阵漫长的沉默之后，深町问羽生： “你之前说，你在加德满都见到了长谷常雄，对吧——？” "yes." “一九九〇年？” "Maybe so." “他知道羽生丈二在尼泊尔吗？” “不知道。遇见是巧合。” “当时，你们聊了吗？” “那家伙看到我，一眼就看穿了我还站在第一线。” 羽生红着眼睛说。 他说，那真的是巧合。 走在加德满都的新路时，长谷向他搭话： “你不是羽生先生吗？” 羽生马上就认出了那是谁的声音。 然而，他想要假装没听见，直接往前走。但是，长谷不许他那么做。 长谷追上了想要无视于自己存在的羽生。 “羽生先生，我是长谷啊。” 他向羽生搭话。 羽生在不得已之下，只好走进了附近的餐厅。 长谷说他因为拍摄电视广告的工作，而来到尼泊尔。他的话比平常还多。 “原来你在尼泊尔啊？要是知道这件事，大家都会大吃一惊。” "Don't say it!" 羽生如此说道。 长谷问他为什么。 “没为什么——” 聊着聊着，长谷忽然对他说： “羽生先生，你还站在第一线吧？ “你想要做什么吧？” 长谷一眼就看穿了羽生。 羽生没有回答。 长谷看他没有回答，巧妙地得到了结论。 “羽生先生企图在尼泊尔做什么，而且不想被任何人知道的那件事，是爬圣母峰吧——？” 长谷提起了自己登顶，而羽生无功而返的那支日本队的事。 “事到如今，你不可能走传统路线吧。如果羽生先生留在这个国家，想做什么的话，那就是爬圣母峰，走还没有人走过的困难路线。这么一来……” 是冬天的西南壁吧——？ 长谷说。 而且是单独无氧—— 他连这个都猜中了。 猜中之后，长谷低吟。 Could it be possible—— 明明自己猜中了，却还那么说。 这段期间，羽生什么也没说。 一切都是长谷在自己脑海中想到的。 长谷异于常人之处在于，他会把想到的事付诸实现。 他在隔年挑战K2，然后死了。 但是，长谷为何对于见到羽生一事选择保持沉默呢？ “结果，长谷死了，而我还活着——” got windy. 不知不觉间，风不停地摇晃帐篷。 听得见风发出类似笛子的声音，在遥远的天空呼啸而过。 黄昏将至。 帐篷中完全变暗。 高空的寒气从空中降下来，刺骨地包围帐篷。 如今，马克杯凉透了。 微暗中，只有羽生的眼睛在发亮。 “你知道莫里斯·威尔森吗？” 羽生以低沉的嗓音问深町。 深町花不到两秒钟，就想起了那是谁。 莫里斯·威尔森—— 那个名字和马洛里一样，辉煌地记在圣母峰攀登史上。然而，其光芒中带了点不祥的邪气。 那个名字出现在圣母峰攀登史上，是在马洛里的事件之后，也就是十年后的一九三四年。 前英国陆军上尉—— 这个男人恐怕可以说是人类史上第一个尝试单独登顶圣母峰的人。 他认为，应该砸下重金，让远征队的队员踏上圣母峰顶，把这作为一项国家的事业。他认为，应该由怀着神圣心情的人，第一个踏上神圣的圣母峰顶。 他为了登顶圣母峰所做的训练是，印度的瑜伽。他试图以瑜伽的呼吸法，克服高山症这个最大的难关。 具体而言，莫里斯·威尔森尝试的登山方式如下： 他搭家用轻型飞机，从英国来到印度。 他想搭那架轻型飞机，从大吉岭起飞，尽可能着陆在圣母峰山麓较高的地点，再从那里徒步迈向圣母峰顶。 然而未果。 政府当局知道莫里斯·威尔森的计划，下令中止，也断绝了所有援助。 莫里斯·威尔森并接到警告，不得搭飞机飞越西藏或尼泊尔的国境。 但是，莫里斯·威尔森并不死心。他为了踏上圣母峰顶，拟定了下一项计划。 他卖掉轻型飞机，以那笔钱从一九三三年到一九三四年三月，在大吉岭为远征圣母峰而做准备。 莫里斯·威尔森从大吉岭出发，是在一九三四年的三月下旬。 带着三名雪巴人及一头迷你马出发。他自己乔装成雪巴人。 四月十八日，到达基地营所在的绒布寺。 接着，莫里斯·威尔森抵达了位于海拔六千四百公尺的第三营。 然而，雪巴人和挑夫们拒绝从那里登山到北棱。所有人都认为，莫里斯·威尔森的行为是有勇无谋。 雪巴人和挑夫们回去，威尔森独自一人从六千四百公尺的地方，数度尝试登顶圣母峰，但是都以失败告终。 关于这项单独一人的挑战，记录在他自己留下来的日记中。 结果，莫里斯·威尔森因为过度疲累和寒冷，死在那里。 被人发现时，他身上裹着看似皮草大衣的衣服，以趴在地上的姿势埋在雪中。 据说，他稍微抬起臀部，从雪中露出半张脸，像是在瞪着圣母峰的方向。 满天风雪打在他脸上。 头发、眉毛都因白色的细雪而结冻，一具看不出表情，连眼睛是否睁开都无法辨识的尸体。 据说，威尔森在多次攻顶中爬到的最高点，顶多不超过七千公尺。 尸体在第三营上去一点的地方，于一九三五年被人发现。 即使如今，他的坟墓仍在接近第三营的雪中。 如果风势强劲，雪就会被吹走，而露出坟墓；如果风势不强，就又埋进雪中而看不见——那种死法、那种坟墓。 “我看到了威尔森的坟墓……” 羽生以不带感情的低沉嗓音说。 他说，那是在去年从西藏进入圣母峰时的事。 在四周空旷的雪中。 However-- “那家伙仍然在坟墓中瞪着圣母峰……” 羽生说他那么认为。 帐篷内部变得暗到几乎已经看不见彼此的脸。 黑暗中，只有羽生叽叽咕咕的声音，宛如生锈的刀刃般，传进深町的耳中。 风剧烈地撼动帐篷。 感觉在头顶上的某个地方，正在天摇地动，山势起伏。 高亢的笑声乘着风，从天的一端窜至另一端。 总觉得有谁正在嘲笑这些爬到这么高的地方来却依然攀附在地面上的人。 莫里斯·威尔森—— 他是个异想天开的人吗？ 或者，他是纸上谈兵的梦想家呢？ 深町不晓得。 只晓得一件事。 他做梦，并葬身于那场梦中。 “那家伙就是我。” 羽生说道。 他的眼睛，在已经看不清脸部轮廓的阴暗帐篷中发光。 点燃烛火。 把一根大蜡烛立在罐装牛肉的罐头上。 于是，一道熊熊火焰微微摇曳，绽放光芒。深町和羽生隔着那道烛焰对坐。 将偏硬的饭添到塑胶盘上，再把速食咖哩淋到饭上。日本制的真空包装酱菜。番茄和苹果各一颗。 深町和羽生默不作声地静静吃饭。 帐篷内只有不时响起汤匙碰到盘子的声音，以及咀嚼口中食物的声音。 深町把PU（聚氨基甲酸乙酯）的厚垫铺在帐篷地上，盘腿坐在上面。 羽生也一样。 深町吃两碗。 羽生吃三碗。 吃了那么多的量，还继续啃番茄和苹果。羽生连苹果的皮和芯都吃。不吃的只有籽和苹果的蒂。 用牙齿把皮一咬再咬，然后吞下去。 凉飕飕的寒气，触碰穿着厚袜子的脚尖。 风势进一步增强，空气反复粗重的呼吸。不时像是被人从外面揍一拳似地，帐篷一边的布大幅凹进内侧。外侧的外帐被风推挤，连内侧帐篷本身的布也一起推进来。 当时，蜡烛的火焰缓缓地大幅摇晃。 用餐完毕，又泡了热红茶。 水分摄取再多也不会过量。因为空气稀薄，所以体内的水分会不断被空气夺走。 基本上，一天该摄取的水量，平均一人至少是四公升。为了将血液中的水分浓度维持在接近标准值，必须喝那么多的水。 把大量蜂蜜加入八十度的红茶中。 用双手捧着装了红茶的万用锅，慢慢地喝。 仿佛有好几头巨兽在天上到处乱跑，感觉得到风在帐篷上面的高空上下起伏。 风在这个山区产生，那阵风会吹向何方呢？ 攀越罗岭，远渡至西藏的原野吗？或者下吹至印度的平原，变成富含湿气的空气，让牛或水牛呼吸呢？ 还是就这样消失在半空中呢？ 即使是现在这一瞬间，说不定散发出蓝色微光、巨大的印度教众神，也静静地从天而降，湿婆神降下来站在圣母峰——珠穆朗玛峰顶，梵天降下来站在洛子峰顶，毗湿奴神降下来站在普摩力山顶，呼吸着对流层零下六十度的气流，以祂们身高数千尺的身体手足舞蹈。 说不定是祂们飞舞时摆动的手脚产生风，那些风如今在天空吵嚷不休。 深町的脑海中涌现这种幻想。 祂们大概在呼唤羽生过来吧。 come over! 来吧—— 恐怕羽生丈二接下来想做的事，就是闯进众神栖身、属于天的领域。羽生要从地面，一脚踏进祂们的世界。 深町不晓得在眼前啜饮红茶的羽生，心里在想什么。 羽生看起来像和深町一样，侧耳倾听着宛如山谷轰鸣的风声，也像是没有察觉到那种声音，以那双目光黯淡的眼睛，静静俯看着自己的内心深处。 深町在沉默中听着风声，心想：说不定现在，那一刻终于来了。 非问羽生不可。 请他准许自己带着相机，与他同行。 Hey.不管我想做什么事，那都与你无关。It doesn't matter at all.你别从旁干涉别人想做的事！你给我听好了。你如果专心做你的事，就没有闲工夫管别人的事了……！ 深町想起了羽生在加德满都对自己说过的话。 羽生说的没错。 羽生丈二这个男人在十多岁时与登山邂逅，从此一头栽进了登山的世界。就世俗的看法而言，他或许是因为爬山而糟蹋了身体。误入歧途，走上了登山这条路。 无法和社会保持关系的人，藉由登山和社会产生交集。 就世俗的价值观而言，羽生或许是误入歧途，走上了登山这条路，但他至今肯定是透过登山，获得了救赎。 即使是登山，羽生也是只身前往。即使误入歧途，羽生仍执迷不悟地在登山这条路上，继续往下走。然而，无论发生什么事，无论在登山过程中尝到任何痛苦，为了消除那种痛苦，他也只能求助于登山。 羽生只有登山。 深町调查过羽生，所以明白这一点。 他只有登山。 Oh-- 我懂他的心情。 Fukamachi thought so. 我肯定也有过那种时期。 一头栽进登山的世界，一心认定只有登山的时期。 身手敏捷地登山。只能求助于登山。咬紧牙根地登山。 学生时期可以这样。然而，毕业出了社会，身边就会发出“你要登山到什么时候”的声音。登山和工作何者重要？老大不小了，想法成熟一点！如果要去登山，就先找份工作，等到假日再去爬不就得了吗——？ Not like that. Not like that. 工作赚钱，假日爬山。 我想爬的山不是那种山。不是那种山。我不太会说，我想爬的是哪种山，但总之，不是那种山。我想爬的是，令人心惊胆跳的那种山。 像在燃烧生命的那种、爬上去下来之后，体力丝毫不剩的那种、把自己的全副精力投注其中的那种，比方说，就像是画家使出吃奶的力气，把颜料涂在画布上的那种，与其对等，或者略胜一筹的感觉…… what is that? do not know. 到头来，自己并不晓得那究竟是什么。 我无法过那种生活。 我知道，自己在追求那种生活的半路上失败了。 然而，羽生丈二在这里。 如今，这个男人仍在那个令人心惊胆跳的地方。只有在岩壁上，与死神面对面的那一瞬间，才能遇见存在自己心中的情感。与世界合而为一的感觉。不，那只是言语上那么想。实际的那种感觉，无法用任何言语形容。攀爬岩壁时，一点也不会想把那种感觉化为言语。然而，当时肯定有那种感觉，而且自己体验到了。然而，事后却无法言喻。虽然无法言喻，但攀登者的灵魂肯定有了那种神圣的体验。 当时，自己以什么为目标呢？ 从岩壁抬头仰望，看不见山顶。只看得见蓝天。自己想迈向那片蓝天吗？比山顶更高的地方。 天—— 当时，我们八成想迈向不存在这世上的地方。 However-- 许多登山者却脱离了那种事。 有了家庭、上了年纪、体力衰退之后，就会把用来前往那种地方的票，从口袋里拿出来丢弃。当然，深町不觉得他们有错。They are right. 如果爬高难度的山，迟早会没命。 However-- 你是为了什么而活？ 深町想起了羽生想爬鬼岩时，对井上说过的话。 人活着不是为了长寿。 羽生像是吐出火的那句话，一刀刺进了深町的胸膛。 那，你是为了什么而活呢？ 井上问道。 Mountain. 山是指什么？ 山是山。山就是山。 所以我问你，山是指什么？ 爬山。 既然如此，安全地爬山就好了。 我不是为了安全而爬山。 安全是必要的。 被井上这么一说，羽生不耐烦地扭动身体，露出泫然欲泣的表情。 你听好了，井上。死是结果。活着的时间长短，那只是结果。我去爬山，不是为了生死，或者活得长短那种结果。 我不明白你说的话。 给我明白。 I do not understand. Fool. 你才是笨蛋。死在山上，这样你幸福吗？ 你听好了，一个人是否幸福，都只是结果。活到最后的结果。跟幸与不幸无关。我登山不是为了寻求那种结果。井上，如果不爬山的话，我是垃圾，是比垃圾还不如的人渣。我完全不晓得我该怎么活，但是我知道身为登山者的羽生丈二该怎么活。 what do