"I can"t go any further!" Christine"s voice suddenly quavered above me. "I can"t."
I looked up as a fortuitous breath of wind rent open the mist. Christine clung to one of the pitons, with her left foot balanced on another. The mist was still too thick for me to see beyond her. "You"re nearly there," I encouraged. "Only a few more steps and we"ll be at the top."
"I can"t!" Christine was frozen in fear. When she looked down, I saw her eyes were wide and her mouth gaping in terror. "I want to let go!"
"I can see the summit!" Kate"s voice boomed down to us. "Not far now, girls!"
"There, you see?" I tried to urge Christine on. "You"ve not far to go."
"What"s happening down there?" Charlie shouted. "The rope"s taut. I can"t get any further up."
"Christine"s got the jitters," I called up.
