Life of Bāo - Chapter 27
June 30, 2023
In the last chapter, Bāo, Master Zhao, Yan, and Juān met Syaoran (pronounced Show-Ran), a mountain climbing guide. They desperately need his skills on Mount Hua. But we are getting ahead of the story - first, they need to practice. Syaoran, with his faithful companions observing, is happy to teach them. Welcome to Chapter 17. Enjoy.
Chapter 27
June 30, 2023
As Syaoran proposed, they met by a mountain bluff near Song Shan Mountain, not far from Luoyang, to practice. The bluff bordered a dry river bed. The distance from the bluff top to the sandy ground below was seventy-five feet, an excellent height for practice. Bāo, Yan, Juān, and Master Zhao stood at the gravel parking area at the top of the bluff. A white van pulled in, trailing black smoke and a grey-white cloud.
Bāo questioned Master Zhao, “The monastery library attendant assured you he has confidence in the guide's skills?”
Master Zhao smiled, “Yes, he informed me that Syaoran has much climbing experience and that he would trust him like a brother.”
Syaoran stopped the van quickly, which caused it to slide across the gravel. A slight breeze cleared the cloud of dust enveloping the car. The spaniel began to bark, and the beagle howled. They heard Syaoran yell, “Quiet! I knew bringing both of you along was a bad idea.” When Syaoran opened the door, the spaniel jumped from the passenger seat over Syaoran’s lap and out the door, causing a paper bag and a plastic Coca-Cola bottle to fall onto the gravel. The spaniel, true to form, ran in circles. Syaoran stepped out of the van and opened the side panel door, where a large Beagle sat motionless. “I suppose I'm going to have to help you down.” He picked up the beagle, placed him on the ground, and scolded, “No more potato chips and beer after dinner.”
Bāo turned to Master Zhao and quipped, “Like a brother, right?”
Syaoran did not even acknowledge them as he opened the back of the van, removed two poles, and attached them to the corners of a large piece of grey canvas with hooks. The opposite end of the canvas was attached to the inside of the van roof. He removed a hammer from a steel bucket and pounded each pole into the ground 4 feet from the van and each other, which created a lean-to shelter, providing shade. Then, he removed two bowls and a gallon of water from a box. He shouted, “Water!” and the spaniel came immediately. The beagle rambled over with the speed of a turtle.
Yan commented, “He loves those dogs.”
Syaoran barked, “Well, what are you waiting for? Come over and get your gear.” He opened the other side panel of the van and said, “Remove the tarp first and spread it on the ground. Then take all the equipment out and place it on the tarp.” They began to unload the van and place the equipment on the tarp as instructed. Once everything was unloaded, Syaoran barked like a drill sergeant, “I'm going to teach you the names of all these items. Remember them. You must grab the right equipment on the mountain at the right time. Got it?” Nobody answered.“It will be easier if you all just say yes, sir.”
Like army recruits, they all sounded off, “Yes, sir.”
Syaoran pointed at the canvas and said, “Starting from the top right, two bundles of Ginee Static Climbing Rope, helmets, harnesses, crampons, belay –which is a rappelling device, locking and non-locking carabiners, headlamps, ascenders, pullies, climbing tape, slings, and mountain climbing shoes. I had to guess your sizes.”
They spent the rest of the morning and part of the afternoon familiarizing themselves with the equipment. The only break Syaoran gave them was 15 minutes for a protein bar and water. They were all rappelling down quite well. They almost made it through the day without incident. Bāo was on his last rappel when his hand slipped from the rope about five feet from the bottom. He landed on his side with a thud. Bāo expected Syaoran to yell, but he didn’t. He calmly helped Bāo and, after he checked to see if he was okay, said, “And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why you always tie in your safety line. Tomorrow, a fall like that will not be five feet but five thousand feet, enough time to say a proper prayer on the way down. Don't worry. You will pass out before you hit the bottom.”