Читать книгу Edge of the Map. The Mountain Life of Christine Boskoff онлайн

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A sharp pain rocketed through her hand, radiating up her arm. Sensing that the axes were holding firm, she peered down and saw her husband’s face—a look of horror as he lay flat against ice. His fall had been stopped. Silently, Keith made his way back to her, relying on his crampons and pulling only gently on the rope as he heard his wife’s cries and saw it wrapped around her hand.

“Keith, are you okay?”

“I’m okay. Don’t move. I’m coming to you. Don’t move your hand.”

Her left hand gripped the ice axe, her right hand was limp against the handle of her second axe, bones crushed underneath skin. “I think I broke my hand, Keith. Dammit.”

“You broke your hand but you saved your husband,” he said. “You saved my life, you ridiculous woman!”

The chill of the snow was no match for adrenaline. Chris and Keith held each other, breathing heavily. Her hand was battered, but her confidence high. She’d weathered her first big test. Keith leaned over and kissed her. She smiled, then winced.

“That’s enough for today,” he insisted. “Let’s go fix that hand.”