A Fine Kind of Madness by Laura Waterman & Guy Waterman
Author:Laura Waterman & Guy Waterman
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mountaineers Books
Published: 2000-01-15T00:00:00+00:00
STAIRCASE TO STARLAND
A STORY
by Laura Waterman
Many young climbers are in Garyâs positionâdevoured by such a desire to climb that all else in life is blotted out. In Garyâs case, he is so new to the sport, so unfamiliar with the mores of cliff-side behavior, that he has not found the door that leads to partnerships with other climbers. Thrown on his own, Gary becomes a bewildered witness to disturbing events called up by idols he admires at the cliffs.
âGreat, Gary! You cruised that overhang. You were smokinâ,â Phil says when Gary pulls up onto the belay ledge. Phil hands his younger brother the gear sling, grinning. âGo for it, bro, the last pitch of the summer is your lead.â
Garyâs grinning too. But as he racks the nuts in order, smallest to largest, the way his brother has taught him, he keeps blinking. His eyes are smarting. Tomorrow Phil gets on that airplane for college and the summerâs over. The summer Phil taught Gary to climb, and right now he wants it to last forever. Garyâs glad Phil isnât saying anything. He doesnât trust his voice to answer.
Philâs staring straight ahead at the view of farmland and woodlots checkering the valley. The sun has sunk behind the cliff, filing the sky with translucent light. The backs of Philâs hands holding the rope are pitted and scabbed, one knuckle red and swollen.
Gary examines his own hands as he snaps carabiners onto the gear sling. The backs are like Philâs, just as scuffed by the rock, his fingertips just as callused.
âBuddy,â Phil says, scrutinizing the sky as though he were decoding the future, âIâll be back at Thanksgiving. Thatâs not so long. Now, get your ass up to the top. Hey, wait!â Philâs fingers tighten around his brotherâs forearm like vise grips. âWatch these guys. See? On Billboard? Thatâs Carlo at the crux. Itâs one of his routes.â
âCarlo. Heâs the one always climbing with Wells, right?â
âWells, or more likely Sandi.â
The brothers are silent studying Carlo, whoâs built like a linebacker, his curly black hair luminous in the fading light.
âLook at his shoulders. You wouldnât think a guy that size could climb,â Phil says.
âBut itâs like heâs weightless on the rock.â
âI rubbed noses with Billboard once,â Phil says. âMy arms were spaghetti halfway up it. For me that routeâs two winters in the gym away.â
They hear Carloâs crazy cackle as he sets up the belay.
âYou can hear that guy all over the cliff,â Phil says.
âNow his partnerâs starting up,â Gary says.
âYeah. Wells. The Professor.â
âWhy? Because heâs skinny and wears glasses?â
âMore than that. His whole approach to climbing, as if every pitch is the final exam.â
âBoy, is he smooth,â Gary whistles.
âWells is graceful. But have you seen Sandi climb?â Phil says. âIâve never seen anyone move up rock faster. She looks the way water would look if it could flow uphill. That blond hair blowing in the breeze. Yeah, Wells and Sandi. Everyoneâs favorite climbing couple. You know that route Staircase to Starland?
âThat tops out on the flat slab at the highest point on the cliff?â
âThatâs the one.
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