Russell couldn’t believe Mari was able to get something so positive out of this hike, which, in every other way, was an epic fail. But he had to be impressed with the geese, too. While he no longer felt tingly, or like he was going to throw up at any second, the altitude still preyed on him. He felt weak, like he hadn’t slept in days.
Dev used the zoom and got a picture of the geese just in case.
“Come on, guys,” Sage said. “We can’t give up. According to that list on the ancam, we’ve only got one clue left. Then it’ll just be a foot race to the finish line.”
“Shhh.” Eliza hushed them. “What’s that?”
They all listened closely. Russell was glad that it wasn’t howling. Instead, it sounded like a clicking—a tapping.
“It might be hooves, clacking on the cliffs?” Mari suggested. At that point, Russell remembered the horns he had seen the night before, after Jace had herded them toward the village. They had finally reached the other path, the one that led up to the high pass.
“See, it was meant to be,” Eliza insisted. “I knew we’d get photos if we took the high road. We need them to win this thing.” Eliza started up the steep path. She surged ahead of the crew, until, all at once, she seemed to stand straight up, circle her arms, and fall backward.
“It’s a tremor!” Jace yelled, bolting up the path to catch Eliza. The rest of the team crouched down, covering their heads. Russell felt loose debris fall from above, a layer of gravel and dust on the back of his arms and neck. When the worst seemed to be over, he gazed around.
“Thanks,” Eliza murmured to Jace, who was cleaning dirt from his eyes.
“No problem,” Jace answered. “And, so you know, I’m not going to stop you from getting a photo of blue sheep or anything along the way, but I have to advise you, as your guide, that we need to get to the finish line as soon as we can.”
“I’m all for that,” Sage said, sounding unaffected by the fact that the earth had just trembled right under their feet.
“Me too,” Eliza affirmed. But Mari, Dev, and Russell all exchanged glances. While they shared an end goal of finishing the race, it seemed Sage and Eliza were still aiming to win.
Eliza stood and lended Sage a hand as the rest were still shaking clods of earth from their shirts. “Come on, Dev,” Sage said. “Hurry up. Unless you want to loan me the ancam.”
“Yeah, right” was Dev’s answer, and he was soon trailing them up the incline. Russell, Mari, and Jace followed suit.
“There they are,” Eliza announced. The sheep were poised on shallow tiers of rock; the flock staggered up the face of the mountain. Both males and females flaunted impressive thick horns. Their coats, primarily a slate gray, had black markings along the sides and on their legs. Their underbellies were white. The combination of colors made for excellent camouflage. “And in this light, you can even see their blue sheen. We should get extra points for that.”
“I’m not sure that’s how it works,” said Russell.
“I know it’s not,” Dev asserted, flipping through the various shots on the ancam. “But my killer photography skills deserve recognition.”
“I recognize your skills.” Mari patted Dev on the shoulder.
“As do I,” commented Sage, “but I’d recognize them more if you’d just send one in.”
“I’m sending, I’m sending,” Dev insisted.
“And now we’re moving, we’re moving,” Jace added, his tone a mix of humor and command.
After they’d been hiking uphill for about ten minutes, Dev had an announcement. “First, we got thirty points for the baa-baa blue sheep pic, thank you very much. Second, we have our final clue. Here goes.”
How’s this for a balancing act?
Wide padded feet and a tail to match.
In these mountains there’s but one rule:
This steely stalker is the coolest of the cool.
“We all know it, so you can go ahead and submit the answer,” Sage directed.
“Too bad we won’t get a picture,” Eliza added. “We could use the hundred points, but snow leopards are just too stealthy.” No one argued with that.
“Sent and already accepted,” Dev said. “The organizers are on the ball.”
“That’s good, just in case we need them,” Jace answered. “Nice work, everyone, let’s keep it up. Move on.”
Russell heard the urgency in Jace’s voice. Without another word, everyone sped up.
“According to the map, there’s a path up here on the right,” Dev said. “It’s our best bet.” But as soon as they came to the trail where they could turn off, they heard a call.
“What was that?” Mari wondered.
“Look,” Eliza said, motioning to the sky. “A golden eagle. It was probably just that. A funny squawk.”
But when Russell looked at Mari, she didn’t look convinced. Then they heard the call again. It carried over a high ridge, from the opposite direction of their route.
“It’s a person. No, people,” Mari said. “It sounds like they’re calling for help!”
CREATURE FEATURE
BAR-HEADED GOOSE
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Anser indicus
TYPE: bird
RANGE: populations exist in pockets from Afghanistan and India, over to Myanmar and Tibet, up to Mongolia and Kazakhstan, and more
FOOD: mostly plants such as roots, tubers, shoots, leaves, grains, and nuts; sometimes fish and insects
Named for the two distinct stripes around the back of its head, the bar-headed goose doesn’t look like one of the world’s greatest animal athletes. But looks can be deceiving. This species of goose is not all that large, yet it has wings that are especially long and wide, which help it fly at speeds of 50 miles (80 km) per hour. Furthermore, it is the highest-flying bird. During migration, it reaches heights of over 20,000 feet (7,000 meters).
At the top of the mountain peaks, there is about one-third as much oxygen as at sea level, and it is beyond freezing. The bar-headed goose has many adaptations that help it fly so high. They have special hemoglobin, the substance in blood that captures and carries oxygen around the body. Their hemoglobin is more effective, securing more oxygen from every breath. In addition, their blood vessels carry the oxygen-rich blood deeper into the muscles, giving the geese more energy to flap without getting tired.
“It’s coming from over the ridge,” Jace said. “And that’s a climb, not a hike. It’d be dangerous, even without yesterday’s rain …” Jace’s voice trailed off.
“Are we really sure we can help?” Eliza said. “I mean, it’ll take valuable time.”
“I just tried to contact the race organizers,” Dev said. “But I can’t get a signal.”
Jace grabbed his own ancam and punched several buttons. “No luck here, either,” he said.
They heard a faint cry again. The air swirled around, whipping over jagged cliffs. It was difficult to tell how far away the voices were, but it was obvious someone was in trouble.
“Well, I didn’t carry all this gear for nothing,” Russell said, slinging his pack against the ground. He loosened the bungee cord that released the ropes, then pulled the harnesses from the pocket. “Six in all,” he said as he divvied up the equipment. Jace helped, holding the harnesses open so each teammate could step in.
“I should probably go first,” Jace said. “Just to find the best path and secure the anchors.”
Everyone tightened their harnesses and attached carabiners. All the teams had had a climbing tutorial before leaving the base camp, but Russell hadn’t thought they’d actually do real climbing.
Jace thrust the first anchor into the wall of rock with a clank and a thud. “Once we’re up over this ridge, the ground should even out a bit. Keep a good distance between you,” he instructed, “to be safe.”
Russell tilted his head back and tried to focus on the top of the craggy incline. He watched as Jace grasped a ledge and pulled himself up. He’d be next. Then Dev, Mari, and Eliza, with Sage at the back
.
Russell had done the climbing wall back at the rec center, but it was nothing like this. Here, he had to find his own holds. He had to stretch his arms and legs wide to locate secure grips. His fingertips started to burn as he clung to a crevice, trying to find a place for his foot.
“Ready or not, here I come,” Dev said when Russell wasn’t even halfway up.
Russell was not ready, but he knew they had to hurry. “Come on,” he murmured. The next stage was easier, with closer handholds and crevices. Soon he was at the top. Jace tugged him onto a ledge, his jacket scraping the jagged edge.
Up a few long steps was a hillside, still crusted with snow in places. Here the incline was less severe. There was a path that led to the top of the hill and then appeared to wind its way down the other side. While Russell waited for the rest of the team, he heard it again. The call. This time, it was clearly a cry for help. And this time, he recognized the voice.
“It’s Dallas,” Russell said, chills pricking at his skin. “It’s Team Nine.” Russell fumbled to unhook his harness from the others and began to scramble up the nearest path toward the voice.
“Wait, Russell!” Jace called out, but Russell couldn’t wait. He was going to do whatever he could to help his old friend. He ran down the path to the cusp of a hill and skidded to a stop. Below, he could see three figures in orange coats. Even though they were far away—just orange-and-tan specks—Russell could tell Dallas was not one of them. Where were the other members of Team Nine? And Javier? And why were those three staring down the cliff?
Then Russell realized what had happened, and he knew he couldn’t do anything by himself. He needed his team.
* * *
It wasn’t as hard to convince them as he had thought. Even though they were in a race, everyone agreed they had to help. After all, they could have been the ones caught in a rockslide. Russell tried not to think of how serious things could be.
“We’re coming,” Russell called. “Hold tight.” Then Team Ten began their descent, rappeling down the cliff just above where the three members of Team Nine were gathered. With Jace as the anchor up top, they lowered themselves, their legs in front of them, walking backward down the mountain. “One step at a time,” Jace said.
Even Mari, who was afraid of heights, trusted the harness as she lowered herself with easy, regular steps.
When Team Ten finally arrived, it was Sage and Eliza who went over to talk to the three members of Team Nine who were on the path. “Let me look,” Jace said to the others. He went to the ledge and knelt down and peered over the side. “Javier, are you down there?”
“Jace, is that you?” Javier called up. Their former guide’s voice was familiar but fraught. “Thank goodness. I’m not sure how much longer these rocks are going to hold.”
Russell eased toward the edge and surveyed the situation. A swallow caught in his throat when he saw Dallas and another kid both crouched over, loose rubble under their hands and knees. The bits of ruptured rock looked like they could slide down the mountain at any moment. Javier was standing with one foot on a large boulder and the other propped on the cliff wall.
“Russell, can you guys get the ropes and a couple harnesses?” Jace prompted. “We’re going to get them up.” Russell did not respond for a moment. He couldn’t take his eyes off Dallas, hunched over. Slowly, Dallas lifted his head.
Russell pressed his lips together and nodded at his friend. “Yeah,” he said. “We’re going to get you up.” Dallas and Russell’s eyes locked. It was hard for Russell to look away.
Jace lowered the harnesses and the rope to Dallas first. Russell held his breath as Dallas shifted all his weight to his knees and began to pull on the harness and thread the climbing rope. A chunk of loose ground collapsed, tumbling downward. Russell watched the dirt as it skidded, until it dropped into the thin air.
“Ready,” Dallas called. His knot looked secure.
“Keep your arms down. It’ll give me more leverage,” Jace directed. Russell stood behind him, holding the rope. The rest of Team Ten grabbed the remaining rope as an anchor.
As soon as Dallas’s hands and elbows appeared on the crusty ledge, Russell rushed forward and dragged him onto firm ground. Russell only had a moment to hug his friend before they were scrambling to get him out of the harness so they could send it down to his teammates.
“Thanks, man,” Dallas said, his voice breaking. “I knew I could count on you.”
Dallas returned to his other teammates and waited. Russell had hardly noticed them, and now was not the time for introductions. There were still two people stranded below.
The mood started to change when the remaining racer, a redhead named Allison, was brought up safely. She was scraped and grimy but flush with relief. Then the rest of Team Ten concentrated on getting Javier back on solid ground. Everyone was surprised when the members of Team Nine weren’t there to greet their guide.
“Where’s the rest of your team?” Eliza’s tone was full of disgust as Dev and Dallas appeared up from behind a big boulder.
“What do you mean?” Dallas asked, looking around.
“Your teammates took off,” Sage said. Dallas looked as surprised as the rest of them.
“That’s crazy,” Javier insisted, pressing his hands to his face. “I mean, Allison was two loose pebbles from plummeting four thousand feet.”
“You should probably go after them,” Jace said to Javier. “Team Ten, we have to clean up.”
“Seriously?” Eliza mumbled, but she got to work. Russell started to pick up the carabiners and extra harnesses, and tried to figure out what had happened. Where had Dev and Dallas gone? And why would Team Nine have just taken off?
The girls helped gather the gear. Sage stuffed the long climbing rope in her backpack. When they were done, Russell looked up and realized that Dallas was gone. He and Javier had left without saying good-bye.
“Your buddy said he’d see you at the finish line,” Dev told him.
“Oh, he did, did he?” Russell heaved his hiking bag onto his back.
“He did,” Dev told Russell. Then he shifted his gaze to the team as a whole. “So, everyone was okay. That’s good, right?”
“Yeah,” the teammates mumbled, uncertain what Dev was getting at. “What’s not so good is that we still have no ancam signal. And now we have no map.”
Jace grabbed his ancam and jabbed at all the buttons. “So not good,” he said.
“Well, I’ve got the real map, the paper one,” Russell said, unzipping the inside pocket on his jacket.
“Thank goodness!” Sage exalted as Russell unfolded the map. The team quickly huddled around him to study it.
“What if we go that way?” Dev asked. “It looks like we’ll hit a more direct trail. And hopefully a safer one.”
“Are you sure? Because Team Nine went the other way,” Eliza pointed out.
“It does look shorter,” Mari admitted, “but maybe the terrain is rougher.”
“I think we can take it,” Sage said. “Let’s try Dev’s route.”
“Um, it’s not my route. It has to be our route. We should all agree.” The others all nodded with apprehensive murmurs.
“We’ll make it work,” Eliza asserted.
“Let’s finish this race,” said Sage, sounding more determined than ever. She slapped Eliza on the back and took off at a quick clip.
CREATURE FEATURE
SNOW LEOPARD
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Panthera uncia
TYPE: mammal
RANGE: high mountains of Central Asia
FOOD: blue sheep, ibex, marmots, hares, and game birds; occasionally livestock
The snow leopard has adapted to its chilly mountain home. This cat’s short front legs and small ears make its body more compact, so it loses less heat. The snow leopard’s hair is long and thick. It molts, or sheds, twice a year, with its winter coat growing longer and thicker, up to twice the length of its summer coat. Compared to other cats, the openings in its nose—
or nasal cavities—are thinner, which warms cold mountain air more quickly as it travels to the snow leopard’s lungs.
Its hind legs are long and powerful, to boost its body in athletic leaps. The snow leopard can bound six times its body length as it chases prey on the rugged cliffs. With large padded paws, it has incredibly sure footing. Its tail, which more than doubles the cat’s length, provides balance … and acts as a cozy barrier from the bitter cold.
Like a drill sergeant, Sage had them moving at breakneck speed. They wound around peaks, going up trying inclines, until the trail opened up into a wide valley. It wasn’t the best time for conversation, but that didn’t stop Eliza from asking Dev for ancam updates every five minutes.
But the ancam still wasn’t getting a signal. They stopped a couple times to consult the paper map and confirm they were on track. The closer they got to the finish line, the harder Sage pushed them.
No one bothered to talk about how they had helped Team Nine escape a deadly situation, and then Team Nine had deserted them.
Russell wondered what had happened. Did Team Nine really want to win that badly? And why hadn’t Dallas gone with them? From previous experience, Russell knew that Dallas was willing to take risks to win. But his old friend had stuck around … at least for a while. Long enough to chat with Dev—and wait for Javier.
“I see it! I see it!” Eliza cried and clapped at the same time. “The Wild Life balloon is over there!” High in the sky, a single large balloon marked the end of their journey. Festive banners with cloth triangles were strung between the staff tents and up a tall pole. After three days of hiking up and down mountains, it was hard to believe they were almost finished. “Keep your eyes out for a last-minute red panda. We could use the points!”
Mountain Mission Page 4
