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

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“It’s Geri. I’m just calling to see what the news is from Scott? I take it by the sounds I’m hearing that it’s good?”

Juggling a plastic cup full of champagne, the office staff member said, “Yes, Geri! A pile of them made it to the top. We’re still waiting to hear about Scott, but it’s thrilling news so far!”

Geri asked for clarification, straining to understand. “I’m not sure I heard you. Did you say that Scott hadn’t made it yet?”

“As far as we know, but . . . it’s Scott. Call back tomorrow and I’m certain I’ll have more good news for you!” Geri hung up the phone, not quite satisfied.

Back in Seattle, all but a couple of the staff members continued to toast the success of the expedition. The two without champagne glasses were the only climbers in the office. “All I recall,” one of them remembered, “was turning to my colleague and saying, ‘I don’t know why everyone’s celebrating right now. They’re not down yet.’ We just knew it was premature.”

The four-hour drive from San Francisco to Tuolumne Meadows in Yosemite took Geri and her friend through the Sierra National Forest. Hiking the next day in 64-degree weather, she envisioned Scott on top of Everest, his mirrored glasses reflecting neighboring mountains. She knew how he longed for this commercial success to make Mountain Madness more solid financially. Returning to their cabin that evening, Geri reached out and pulled a note off the front door. In scrawled handwriting were instructions for her to call Mountain Madness immediately.