15
At the front of the plane is Russ Morello, your lead guide.
He’s an ex-marine who looks like he has the muscle power to
climb Everest three times before breakfast. Across the aisle is
his wife, Susan. She’s an experienced guide, too, and the team
doctor, which is why everyone just calls her Doc.
That’s your team—these are the six people you’ll
hopefully be standing with on the top of the world. But first,
you have to land!
Russ turns around to look at everyone and says, “The
adventure starts here, folks! Hang on! ”
The plane plummets toward Lukla, bouncing and
shaking the whole time. Then—SCREECH!—the landing
gear skids onto the airstrip. You grit your teeth as the plane
screams down the runway and, finally, just before the short
landing strip ends, jerks to a stop.
Jake lets out a Texas whoop. Julia pumps a fist in the
air. And Garrett opens his mouth . . . and throws up all over
his feet.
The stench fills the cabin.
“I warned you about that extra omelet at breakfast,”
Doc says, tossing a towel back to Garrett so he can clean
himself up.
“Ah, Doc,” Garrett laughs. “It’s no big deal. After all,
chunder happens!”
