Chapter XVI The Retreat Summary and Analysis

All the climbers are now assembled at Camp II, which has taken on the air of a hospital with Oudot treating everyone. Herzog is now numb to above his elbows and ankles and asks Oudot frankly if he thinks he will be able to save his limbs. He expects he will probably lose both hands and feet, but Oudot replies that he thinks he can save something. He tells Herzog he will return with some injections he thinks will restore circulation.

Lachenal's hands are fine, but his toes and heels are frostbitten. Rebuffat has only some small patches of frostbite on his toes, and is temporarily snow blind. Terray is also temporarily blind but otherwise in good shape. Couzy is uninjured, but weak.

Ichac and Schatz assist Oudot in the extremely painful series of injections...