7
Sarah swept her gaze over the steep trail meandering down into the lush green valley beyond the Sagarmatha gatehouse. Since they left Phadking, the trail had been fairly level and an easy walk beside the Dudh Kosi River. But the sparkling glacier-fed tributary had lost itself in the trees over the last hour, leaving the travelers behind. Straight ahead of her was a vast panoramic view of the conifer forest that stretched its dark green fingers up onto the shoulders of the gleaming snow-covered spikes. The raw power of the land spreading before her pierced her heart. Truly, God dwells within this land, she thought.
She closed her eyes, basking in the warmth of the noonday sun and breathed in God’s resinous fragrance that wafted about her. Although she was not the devout Catholic her mot
