The Ethiopian Intercept: A Ross Brannan Thriller (The Secret Cold War Book 2) by R G Ainslee

Author:R G Ainslee [Ainslee, R G]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-06-08T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 17 ~ The Mountain

Thursday, 16 February: Meteorological Station - Mount Kenya

Plans for a late start crashed as boisterous early risers rattled, scraped, thumped, and cursed in their haste to get ready. The smell of coffee brewing was the last straw. We gave up and joined them. A friendly German climber offered a couple of cups to go with our lurp breakfast of escalloped potatoes and yucky ham.

We packed our gear and prepared to move out. The park ranger approached and asked for our permit. We registered and inquired about the embassy youth group.

"The Americans left late yesterday morning for Mackinder's Camp. Today they should be well up the mountain and tonight are booked for the Glacier Hut."

"We'll catch up with them at the glacier."

"You are very ambitious. We recommend people stay at Mackinder's Camp for a night before climbing to the glacier. You are aware of altitude sickness are you not? It can kill you, if you go too fast."

"Yes, we’re aware and plan to take it easy."

We thanked the ranger, shouldered our packs, stuffed excess gear in the Peugeot, and started up the mountain. Twenty yards along the trail, King asked, "What he said about altitude sickness, can it really kill you?"

"Yeah, we'll need to pace ourselves. Just be sure to drink plenty water. If you get a bad headache and can't continue, stop, rest a while, and go back down if necessary."

"You done this before?"

"Lots of times." Didn't tell him, the last time happened to be six years ago, in the Himalayas, or I was susceptible to altitude sickness if I pushed too hard.

Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa had several environmental zones, including forest and alpine. The Met Station trailhead, our starting point, was located 10,000 feet in altitude and zero degrees' latitude on the Equator. The glacier lay more than a mile higher at almost 16,000.

* * *

A half hour later, at our first rest stop, we paused and took a drink. Several climbers trudged ahead on the well-worn track. One couple shuffled by, moving downhill, suffering, returning to the Met Station.

At the top of a rise, the view back down the trail presented a spectacular vista. A party of three climbers overtook us. In the distance, a vehicle drove up to the Met Station and parked. Curiosity got the best of me. The lens in King's 7 X 50 M15 field glasses came into focus and revealed a black Land Rover. Three men exited the vehicle.

A silent alarm went off. Handed the binoculars back to the sergeant, and said, "Take a gander at the black vehicle."

He viewed the scene for a few seconds. "Bet it's a rental."

"Think so?"

"You got reason to worry? Think they're some of your boys?"

"Not sure. Maybe I’m just being paranoid."

King stuffed the binos back in his pack. "Like they say, just ‘cause you’re paranoid, don’t mean they ain’t out to get you."

The wider track turned into a path. A few hundred yards later, the forest ended. An open area known as the vertical bog spread before us.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.