The Lion of Khum Jung

Chapter 1-1

1

Present Day, April 3, 2013—Kathmandu International Airport, Nepal

Sarah glanced at Greg, sitting next to her reading his mountaineering magazine. He hadn’t said a dozen words to her since leaving Hong Kong. At length, she thought about the heated exchange they’d had just before boarding the plane. She had tried to see it his way and had agreed reluctantly to stay in Kathmandu while he was on the mountain, but in the long run, she just couldn’t do it. Why couldn’t he understand how she felt? She bit her lip as her gaze drifted to the window overlooking the darkened hills passing below.

The airliner banked left and started its descent to Kathmandu International Airport. As it did, she wondered what it was that drew men to risk their lives on such nonsense. Did they have some sort of death wish? Her husband had said it was the challenge of testing himself to find out what he was made of. Well, he found out all right. It had cost him his life. And more than that, it had left her alone to raise a son who deserved a father.

She took a deep breath, unable to endure her son’s silence another minute. “I’m sorry. Are you going to be mad at me forever?”

“I’m not mad,” he said, but his tone was brittle and sharp.

Sarah felt her body tighten. “Then what? You’ve been prickly since we left Hong Kong,” she said, eyeing him pointedly.

Greg set his magazine down and looked up. “I just can’t understand why you called Kincaid. We agreed you’d stay in Kathmandu!” he shot back, raising his voice.

“I know, but I can’t do it,” Sarah said, glancing at a man staring back at them.

Greg gritted his teeth and lowered his voice. “You’re gonna cost me my shot at this, you know,” he replied, holding her with a chilly gaze.

Sarah stared back into her son’s piercing blue eyes. “I don’t see how my being there is going to cost you your one shot.”

“You’ll be a distraction I don’t need. Why can’t you understand that?”

“A distraction? I’m coming to support you,” Sarah said, though in truth she would rather discourage him and be done with this whole insane odyssey.

“Support me from Kathmandu then,” Greg replied. “I’m sure Kincaid will r****d your money.”

“Money has nothing to do with it and you know it,” Sarah said. “I’ve lost too much to this damned mountain, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to sit in some hotel room waiting to—”

“Nothing’s going to happen,” Greg interjected. “Look, mountaineering has come a long way since Dad’s accident.”

“You sound just like your father,” Sarah volleyed back louder than she intended.

Greg stiffened his jaw. “Is that so?”

“Yes.” She paused, looking for a verbal weapon to arrest him with. But she knew there was no weapon capable of piercing his Teflon resolve to go forward with the climb. Finally, she sighed and lowered her voice. “This isn’t just any mountain. This mountain kills people.”

“It does if you don’t know what you’re doing,” Greg said. “It’s why I’ve been training for over a year.”

“You can’t train for the weather.”

“It was a freak storm that killed Dad,” Greg countered emphatically. “They have better equipment now. Hell, they can predict a dusting of snow three days out with ninety-five percent accuracy.”

“Right, but it’s that five percent that scares the hell out of me,” Sarah said, looking away toward the cabin window.

Greg was quiet for a long time. Finally, he said, “You worry too much. Kincaid’s the best. He’s never lost anyone on the mountain. The guy doesn’t take chances.”

“Worry too much?” Sarah fired back. It was a standard comment Steven had used more than once with her. She didn’t like being patronized then, and she didn’t like it now, especially coming from her son. “Excuse me if I care about what happens to you!”

Greg pressed his lips together and softened his furrowed brow. “I’m sorry. I know you care.”

“Then why are you fighting me on this? The least you can do is accept my decision. I haven’t asked for much,” Sarah said pointedly. When Greg looked away, she shook her head. How could she get through to him? Part of it had to do with his fragile male ego. At length, she cleared her throat. “I won’t embarrass you.”

She heard him laugh. “I’m not worried about that. I worry about you getting sick, and like I keep telling you, I don’t need that kind of distraction.” He was quiet a moment, then said, “I know you want to be there, but this is personal to me. I need . . . to do this . . . alone.”

“I understand that,” Sarah answered, turning back to him. “But—”

“No, you don’t,” Greg said. He tightened his jaw. “If you did, you wouldn’t have booked yourself with the expedition without talking to me first. That was wrong and you know it.”

The reply stung and Sarah felt her throat tighten. Why couldn’t he understand how his quest to conquer the monster was killing her? She bit her lip. “Yes, I know. I’m sorry. That was wrong.”

“Yes, it was,” Greg answered.

Sarah was quiet a long time. Finally, she said, “I did it because I love you.”

“If you love me then stay in Kathmandu,” Greg muttered.

Sarah studied his imploring expression, loving him so much she could barely breathe. But staying in Kathmandu was not an option. She turned toward the window, unable to bear his forthcoming frown, and said, “I’m sorry, I can’t.”