Love in the Thin Air
Two days later, Dan and Amber were getting ready for their hike to the higher camp and their hunt for the snow leopard. It would be a three-to-five-day excursion and a completely new experience.
Amber was checking on things at Blue Serene—approving construction decisions and ensuring her business locations had all the supplies they needed. She was working with a small smile on her face. Dan was half-checking his recording equipment and half-watching her.
"You seem okay with distance work now."
Amber shrugged and looked up with a smile. "This is your life and I want to be a part of it. We will get back to Carson City eventually and I have to trust my employees."
Dan nodded with a smile. "How are the docks and lake teahouse going?"
Amber smiled brightly. "Extremely well. The architect and engineer refined the design and it is going to be beautiful."
She looked back to her laptop and Dan took the chance to pull out the silver pendant with the petal of the Edelweiss. He had chosen a delicate 18-inch chain so it could hang long on Amber's neck. He looked to Amber. "To commemorate our trip and bring us luck on the hunt, I had this made for you."
Amber looked up curiously. It took her a moment to understand what she was seeing. She gasped and stood in silence. Nervousness washed over Dan. "I know you wanted to preserve the Edelweiss intact but I th—"
She shook her head. "No. I mean yes I do, but I had been thinking about this pendant just last night and how I had wished I had gotten it too. I was just so excited about the resin block I didn't think my options through. I am just a bit shocked." She blushed. "And rambling."
"I adore your rambling." Dan put the new piece on her neck and she looked at it in reverence. He saw when she first saw the inscription. Her body froze, then there was a pause. She looked up to him with a smile and they kissed. They kissed and forgot about the world for a moment. In that moment there was only the truth of their love for each other.
They met up with their guide, a naturalist named Tenzing that worked for the resort, later that morning and they began their six-hour trek up to the resort's hunt base camp. As they left the resort grounds, Dan checked the backup batteries within their gear-heaters once more, sent his larger drone up, and started a Live.
As they left the Gray Zone near the resort and entered the higher areas, the world seemed to change. There was little to no foliage, just jagged slate, shale, and permafrost. They stopped every 15 minutes or so for hot rejuvenating drinks and oxygen boosts. As they trekked further up, the clinking of their trekking poles was the only sound they heard. The air itself changed, beginning to taste metallic and thin.
Then, quite suddenly, they rounded a bend and saw four glowing geodesic domes sitting upon a vast cliff edge like odd bubbles against the cold jagged background. Dan flew the drone around the camp and then focused the camera on his face.
"We are now here at the high altitude base camp. Thanks for joining us. I won't be able to take you on a live with us to find the elusive snow leopard, but we will have footage for you as usual." He paused to catch his breath. "Let me get into one of these geodesic domes and get me some oxygen. Okay fam! Until our next excursion!" The live ended and Dan brought the drone down.
As they entered the camp, a young sherpa greeted them with warm towels that smelled of honey and vanilla. Amber lowered her mask and pressed the towel to her face. They were led into the largest dome, positioned in the center of the camp. Inside was a lavish room of yak fur rugs, a wood-burning stove, and a medical-grade concentrator.
Amber quietly sat down on the bed covered in warm blankets and a soft downy duvet. Dan came to her with a nasal cannula and gently placed it over her nose. She looked to him with concern and he smiled. "You first. Don't worry, I set up one for myself. I've never been this high up, but I did get pretty high in Lima."
Amber relaxed and breathed deeply. There was a soft knock at the tent and they were served Tiger's Blood tea and Yak-Pemmican. Amber slowly sipped the brew of mountain fungus, ginger, and wild honey. The ginger alone was strong enough to clear nasal passages. Her breath felt rejuvenated as the strong drink hit her sinuses and opened her lungs.
She looked to Dan. "Do you like the Cordyceps?"
Dan shrugged. "I have never met a fungus I didn't like." He looked to the energy bars. "These have goji berries. I am starting to really enjoy them." He passed her one and took a bite himself.
Later that day, after they rested, Tenzing came to them for a briefing. He unrolled a topographical map and began to explain the Leopard's Highway. Tenzing's finger ran along a jagged line on the map. "This is the ridge where our leopard was spotted two days ago. We should start here and out along her known trails."
Amber leaned in and looked at the trail. Dan did as well, his Solos recording every minute detail. Tenzing looked at them and warned sternly. "These leopards are very skittish. We will need absolute silence." He looked at Dan's equipment.
Dan shook his head. "Don't worry, I planned ahead. I have a second drone that can go higher and is quieter. I didn't use her today because I didn't want to risk overworking her." Tenzing nodded in understanding.
"Get some rest. We leave just before dawn."
Amber snuggled closer to Dan. She curled into him like she wanted to steal his warmth. He pulled the heated duvet around them both, and before they knew it, they had fallen asleep under the glow of a warm raging fire - and in an oxygen rich environment.