THE CHOSEN · BATTLE WITH A CERBEROSIAN PRINCE
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The Chosen: Battle with a Cerberosian Prince The Summit
When the first day of climbing up to the various base
camps had arrived, all the climbers were rested and ready
to take on the remainder of the preparation climbing. They
had about two weeks of climbing up and climbing back
down the mountain, moving between Base Camp and
Camps 1, 2, and 3.
The climbs were fairly routine. Dorjee was a great sherpa;
his climbing regiments were always designed uniquely for
the group he had in front of him. For an inexperienced
climbing group like this one, with the resources he was
allocated, he took the safe and steady approach. After the
incident with Ana on their way to Base Camp, Dorjee
gave her as much support as possible. He instructed her
sherpa to monitor closely her oxygen intake, giving her as
much as he could, without giving too much for her body
to cope with. He also had to manage TJ and Fang’s eagerness, encouraging them to push themselves, while reminding them of the team dynamic. With all the climbers given
the option to have their sherpas carry their equipment for
them, again Pippa, Tumi, and Ethan did not think twice
in taking that option. All in all, everything was going as
expected for Dorjee.
The days came and went: Base Camp to Camp 1.
Overnight stay. Camp 1 back to Base Camp. Three-night
stay at Base Camp. Base Camp to Camp 2. Two-night stay.
Camp 2 to Base Camp. Four-night stay. Base Camp to
Camp 2. Camp 2 to Camp 3. Back to Base Camp. Three
straight weeks of climbing. When they got back from their
final climbing exercise, from Camp 3, they were exhausted.
Physically, mentally, and emotionally. Dorjee gave them
12 days of recovery before they would attempt the actual
Summit of Everest. They could think of nothing else but
warmth and sleep.
“Hey, you guys have done a great job! I have never come
across a group with as little experience as you guys, who
made it through the acclimatization process the way you
did. You truly handled it like seasoned climbers. Enjoy your
recovery.”
TJ gave a nod in acknowledgement of what Dorjee had
said; that was all he could will his body to do at that point.
Everyone else lay on their backpacks, motionless. With the
wind gradually picking up, they lay outside for as long as
they possibly could before they had to go to their tents.
Many of their body parts felt frozen. Pippa and Tumi
helped Ana to her tent, and lay next to her for a few hours
into the night as they spoke words of encouragement to her.
She cried for most of that time. The boys went to their own
tents and crashed.
As each day passed, and as they edged closer to the day
of departure, they began to come together as a team, somewhat. Helping one another around Base Camp. Taking
a little more interest in each other. Calling each other by
name. The longer they stayed out in the Himalayan mountain peaks, the more everyone else was a stranger, with the
only real familiarity being one other. On the eve of their
departure, TJ gathered everyone together.
“Hey guys. Just wanted to take this opportunity to
apologize for the times I acted like an idiot. In the heat of
the moment, I know I tend to verbalize some unfiltered
thoughts, that may seem insensitive. I’m sorry, and I hope
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