The following morning, the team gathered on the patio and went out on their acclimatization hike. It was another bright day and the air was cool and crisp with an earthy smell to it. As they went up into the foothills behind the teahouse, Sarah thought about her growing interest in Frank and she wondered if he felt it, too. She eyed him up ahead as he led the team single file up the grassy hill, remembering their conversation yesterday. For a man who didn’t believe in God, he portrayed a hell of a peaceful presence, except she knew there was something more lurking underneath his easygoing persona, and that gave her cause to be wary.
At length, the team came to a promontory that looked out over the Dengboche valley below. As Sarah found a seat within the rocky outcropping, she pulled out a
