Chapter 19, The Conqueror Summary

Rudi gets to rest for an hour in the tent and gets some food and tea. They have to be off the mountain by nightfall, so they depart soon. The group abandons the tents and starts downhill: Rudi, Winter, Saxo and then Franz. Most of the time, Franz has to bear Saxo's full weight as he lowers the semi-conscious man. The needle itself is actually the easiest part; they just lower down the ropes. Rudi is exhausted, and he remembers half climbing until he feels the rope bite into him and knows he has slipped. He doesn't look or think. Voices tell him what to do, and he obeys. Rudi remembers the Fortress: the slabs, the cleft and then finally the narrow ledge. He falls, and a hand takes hold of him. He recognizes Teo's voice. It gets dark...