The hosts bantered with each other through the commercial break, amusing the live studio audience. And then they were back.
“Harrison Conrad has been called the world’s greatest alpine climber,” said Corinne Roberts, the only host Kenzie recognized. “He’s part of an elite group of climbers who have conquered all fourteen of the world’s eight-thousand-meter peaks, including Mount Everest, which he has summited twice.
“But a year and a half ago, a tragic accident killed his climbing team and almost ended his life. He’s here today to share his story for the first time with a national audience. Please welcome Harrison Conrad.”
The audience applauded, and Kenzie clapped with them, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering with renewed vigor.
Conrad walked out onto the set wearing a fleece jacket with the Extreme Exposure logo, a forced smile on his face. He acknowledged the studio audience with a wave and sat beside Ms. Roberts.
Kenzie found it hard to breathe while Ms. Roberts asked question after question. What drew you into climbing? What qualities does it take to be a world-class mountaineer? Aren’t you afraid when you’re up there? What happened on Everest?
Harrison stayed outwardly calm and professional, his gaze seeking Kenzie out as he repeated the story he’d told Wendy. Being on belay while Luka Stenger crossed the ladder. Bruce joking about death. Stepping onto the ladder himself. The crack. The rumble. Falling. Coming back to consciousness hanging over an abyss, not knowing where he was. Climbing with injuries. Trying to dig out his friends with ice tools. The climb down to Base Camp. Fifteen months of at the monastery.
Kenzie stood, moved to where he could see her more clearly—still off the set and out of sight of the studio audience. If it helped him to know she was here, then she would do all she could to support him.
Ms. Roberts listened, offering a sympathetic word or two. “Now, I have to ask you what people at home are probably wondering. Why risk your life over and over again just to conquer a mountain?”
“That’s just it—we’re not trying to conquer the mountains. When I climb, I’m trying to conquer myself, my human weakness. You fight the cold, exhaustion, pain, hunger, even despair. There are times you want to give up, go back to your tent, sleep, but you can’t. If I overcome myself, I’ve done what I set out to do.”
“So it’s not man versus mountain,” Ms. Roberts said. “It’s man versus himself.”
“Exactly.”
“This morning backstage, you asked me not to call you a hero. You told me you don’t like it when people use that word to describe what you do. Why is that?”
Harrison’s gaze shot to Kenzie’s, and she could see he was furious. Kenzie couldn’t blame him. By phrasing her question like that, Ms. Roberts was pretending to respect his boundaries while still forcing him onto a topic he’d hoped to avoid.
Kenzie wanted to smack her.
Still, Harrison kept his cool. “The word ‘hero’ should be used to describe the men and women who risk their lives in the service of others. I have friends who are heroes—firefighters, EMTs, law enforcement, combat veterans. They don’t run into burning buildings just to see whether they can. They do it to save lives.”
“I know the women in the audience want to hear the answer to this question: Is there someone special in your life?”
Harrison’s gaze met Kenzie’s again. “My private life is private.”
And the interview was over.
Chapter 20
Conrad was soangry he could barely speak. He walked in silence with Kenzie toward the exit to meet their driver, ignoring the cheers and comments of people they passed along the way.
“Well done, Conrad.”
“I don’t care what you say. You’re my hero.”
“Great interview.”
Outside, a light rain fell, the sky overcast, a cold wind blowing through the urban canyons. He opened the rear driver’s side door for Kenzie, shut it behind her, and then walked around to the rear passenger door and climbed in beside her.
“I’m sorry.” She looked up at him through blue eyes filled with worry. “She was out of line.”
“She gave me her word.” He leaned forward, spoke to their driver. “The Conrad New York, please.”
He stared out the window unseeing, his gaze sliding over the blurred mass of humanity that made its way down wet sidewalks, crossed streets, dodged cars, cabs, and buses, street noises barely penetrating his thoughts.
Kenzie’s small, cold fingers grasped his—a lifeline.
Was he really so broken, so damned weak that he needed her like this?
