Finding an Old Friend

Bertus, "I don't know. Pretty large stool. And what about the bone splinters. They would indicate something very powerful. That grass is really squashed down hard. I don't think this was any boy. But what it could be, I can't imagine. Anyway, it's starting to get dark. We'd better fix ourselves something to eat and get ready for night."

Jack is quietly thinking: This was done by a Yeti. But he doesn't say anything to the others. He doesn't know how they would react. A lot of people don't believe in Yetis.

That night the boys don't sleep well. They toss and turn, and dream the dreams of boys. Dreams of kissing girls. Dreams of ghosts. Dreams of monsters roaming the woods, leaping over cliffs, crunching up huge bones with powerful jaws.

The men, less impressionable, spend a relatively peaceful night. They arise in the morning refreshed and ready to go. After a good helping of bacon and eggs the boys feel better too, and soon they're all underway again.

Siem, "You know, I'm not sure if it's just the cold air or what, but from time to time I feel a bit giddy. Do any of you find that? Sort of dizzy, with a slight headache?"

Bertus, "It's the altitude. You're not used to it. A lot of people have trouble with it even in Paro, and it's higher, up here. There's less air pressure and less oxygen. The body has to work harder to keep the right amount going to the brain. A lot of the natives think it's because of gases coming out of the ground. Some of them believe it's caused by bad spirits."