Another annoying headache woke Michelle up. She’d been dealing with them on and off over the last three days. She sat up in bed, rubbing her temples as light poured through the small window in her cell-like, plywood-clad room. She looked outside. It was a clear day in Yak Kharka, and from the eaves of a nearby stone teahouse, she spied a waving prayer flag banner. What was it John had called it? Dharchok? Yes, that was it.
She pushed her heavy comforter aside and got up, feeling as if she hadn’t slept at all. John had said this would be a common theme the higher they went. High altitude often disrupted sleep. She reached up to the windowsill and dragged her water bottle down. Uncapping it, she took a drink, dispelling the stale, dry taste in her mouth. She wanted a shower, and more import
