Sleepless Mountain (13)

Moreover, the group's speed just now was so fast that even veteran mountaineers like myself and Mita weren't confident we could catch up. It didn't seem like the first climbing team, mixed with scholars and researchers. And it was even less likely to be someone who had been stranded on the mountain for ten days, possessing such stamina and spirit. "Perhaps it was a distant climbing party, whose reflection was coincidentally projected in front of us by the light?" Mita echoed Chen Ming's sentiment, trying to find a reasonable explanation for the figures they had just seen. But I believe all four team members present knew very well in their hearts that the figures they saw were not an illusion. Something had genuinely passed by us. After lunch, the afternoon journey was considerably easier. On the way to C2, we walked along the mountain ridge. At this altitude, we didn't need oxygen tanks yet. The order of the team remained the same: Chen Ming at the front, Wang following behind, then myself, with Mita bringing up the rear. Around 3 PM, I saw another strange phenomenon. I noticed something on the mountain ridge between the main peak and the side peak in the distance. So, I took out my binoculars from my backpack to confirm what it was. To my surprise, I saw what appeared to be five figures. Standing in a line, with their backs to us. So I thought, Ah, they must have successfully reached the summit. That's great. But a chill immediately ran down my spine. No, who exactly is up there? If the first team was safe, why hadn't they contacted base camp for over ten days? And if they had the energy to summit, shouldn't they have requested help from below first?