Chapter 406 Turning Point
"I'm leaving now."
Gis touched his grown-up son's face and walked out of the house with a smile.
This year's climbing season has arrived. As the leader of the Sherpa team, Gis has climbed Mount Everest five times since the first climb in the millennium. This is an achievement rarely achieved. Even in the village, everyone regards Gis as a hero.
Behind him, a 13-year-old boy frowned and looked at his father's back with a serious expression. Sometimes they would cry, wondering if their father would come back. The boy lost their uncle last year - he died on Mount Everest.
Then, my father never came back.
A huge avalanche, without any warning, weighed 14,000 tons of snow and ice and collapsed on the main climbing route, leaving people completely helpless. The only people climbing at the moment were the Sherpas.
People were buried in an instant, fell, blood, debris, backpacks and shoes were scattered all over the ground, and their faces were so scarred that they could not be identified, including the boy's father.
It's time to go down the mountain.
The climbing season is canceled, thought Tenzing at Camp 1.
Tenzin, however, was not very happy. The avalanche reminded him once of his father, his mother, and that sunny day that seemed to be covered with gray fog.
It was an extremely bad day, everyone was calling for help and the walkie-talkies were constantly ringing.
13 people died and 3 were missing, all Sherpas. This was the highest number of casualties in one day on Mount Everest. The government announced the cessation of search and rescue before the missing people were found.
Some people are buried forever in the icefall. Those buried in the icefall cannot hold a funeral. In the Sherpa Buddhist belief, this means that they will not be able to reincarnate and their souls will never rest in peace.
Tenzin didn't see his father that day, but he knew he would never see him again.
Nepal's tourism industry earns $360 million a year , but the government only gives each victim's family a compensation of $400, less than a quarter of a novice Sherpa guide's income in a climbing season, and not even enough to hold a decent funeral.
Tenzin's mother led the protest: "We must respect the dead. That road has become a cemetery. Everyone should respect the brave friends who died and keep them in mind. How can we step over their bodies?"
All the Sherpas raised their hands and shouted together: "Respect the dead! Respect the dead..."
The Sherpas, who have been swallowing their anger, want to gain respect and call on Nepali and foreign climbers not to reach the summit this year.
The Sherpas wanted the mountaineering company to speak up, but the boss just said: "...but we have to move forward, otherwise you will have no income to support your family."
It was not until the sixth day after the avalanche that officials, at the association's request, flew to the base camp by helicopter to meet with the Sherpas.
The Sherpas hope that the government will uphold justice and cancel this season's climbing, while the mountaineering companies hope that the government will agree to the Sherpas' demands so that the climbing season can continue.
The authorities have not made a clear statement, nor have they decided to close the mountain, putting the Sherpas in a dilemma.
For decades, the Sherpas have been patient, and this time they decided to roar. Too many friends have died on the mountain, they want to live, and they also have families to take care of. Even if they will pay a price - losing a year's income.
When all Sherpas went on strike, Nepal finally understood what the Sherpas meant to them and what they represented.
All routes have lost maintenance and only the top climbers can climb them. The money of the rich has lost its meaning and they wave their banknotes to express their anger at not being able to climb mountains.
Eventually, the climbing season was canceled, and from then on, remembrance became the default rule every time a disaster occurred.
The sun seemed to be covered by clouds, and everyone was burning pine trees to pray for blessings and ease their fears.
Tenzin stood on the ridge of the field, watching his mother holding his newborn brother with his back to the sunlight outside the window. His mother was not happy about the victory, there were no tears on her face, but her eyes seemed to be lost and motionless.
In the past, villagers lived by growing potatoes and depended on the weather for food. Now, why do people climb mountains?
Looking at his younger brother and his weathered mother, Tenzin, who was thirteen years old but had never been to school, vaguely understood the reason.
The climbing season was cancelled and the Sherpas gained respect, but their lives did not improve much.
His mother is old and his younger brother needs money to go to school, which is not a good thing for Tenzin. But for his own people, it is a matter of dignity and should not be violated.
"What a pity, Bifang might have really had a chance to reach the summit and create history." Attenborough sighed. The cancellation of the climbing season did not matter to him. He was already satisfied to have reached Camp One. He did not have the ability to go any higher.
"Make history? How is that possible? Has anyone climbed to the summit without oxygen?" Tenzin smiled, not really understanding what Attenborough meant.
Although he had no good feelings towards those climbers, Tenzin had a special feeling towards the current team for the first time, not just because Mr. Bifang saved his life.
Also, this mountaineering team is very different, different from any team he has led before.
Mr. Attenborough in front of him, Sir, is obviously a 90-year-old man, but during the climbing process, whenever he sees garbage, he will try his best to take it with him and pick it up. He is very careful, as if he is protecting gems, and he removes the "dirt" on Mount Everest bit by bit. He cares about the beauty of Mount Everest more than these "natives".
Before this, Tenzin had never seen anyone do this. Maybe some people didn't throw away the garbage, and some people picked up the garbage, but it was impossible for them to leave the team for a short distance, use a trekking pole to pick up the plastic bags on the cliff and put them into their pockets.
Mr. Yao Jun is very rich. It was the first time that Tenzin drank hot chicken soup at the base camp. He is also a very nice person. He can speak English and tell jokes. He is very interesting.
Mr. Wang is fat, but very friendly. The way people look at him is completely different from that of other wealthy people. He does not give people the feeling of being superior. It's just that his health is not very good.
Of course, there is also Mr. Bi. Every time he looked up at the mountain, Tenzin seemed to be able to see fiery enthusiasm in his eyes. No matter how tired he was, he would not let porters carry his luggage for him. He would walk at the end when marching, protecting everyone as much as possible. When crossing a crack, he would rush up and walk first to ensure that the aluminum bridge was firm and stable.
Even if he encountered an avalanche, the first thing he did not do was to run for his life alone. When the avalanche was right in front of him, he still had to carry Mr. Attenborough on his back and hold him tightly.
Tenzin was very grateful to Mr. Bifang for saving everyone's lives. If he came again next time, he would be his guide for free.
"Don't you know?" Attenborough was a little surprised, then he seemed to realize something and explained, "Bifang is from China, but no one from China has ever reached the summit without oxygen, never."
Tenzin was stunned. "But he never told me! This is a huge honor!"
"Yes, it is a great honor." Attenborough nodded, "But that's why he doesn't want to publicize it, he just wants to prove it. He doesn't climb mountains for fame or fortune, he doesn't even want to mention it. He longs for the beauty of nature just like me. Bifang is just to prove that the Chinese have this ability. Do you remember what I said before?"
Tenzin silently said: "Adventure does not mean recklessness or loss of control, nor is it simply seeking death in search of excitement, but rather challenging the limits of human beings and doing great things that no one dares to do."
Attenborough smiled and nodded.
“But the climbing season is cancelled !”
"Yes, so I said it's a pity, he could have made history... uh, what's wrong with you?" Attenborough looked at Tenzin who suddenly stood up in surprise.
"No, we can't just give up like this."
Tenzin clenched his fists and suddenly ran down the mountain.
