Larry took another step toward her, smiling reassuringly, and he reached out for her
with his two hands, and at that moment a loud voice said, “For Chrissakes, we got bigger
mountains than this in Denver!”
Larry swung around in shock, his face white. A group of tourists led by a Greek
guide emerged from the far path around the other face of the mountain. The guide stopped
as he saw Catherine and Larry.
“Good morning,” he said in surprise. “You must have climbed the east slope.”
“Yes,” Larry said tightly.
The guide shook his head. “They’re crazy. They should have told you that that is the
dangerous way. The other slope is much easier.”
“I’ll remember that next time,” Larry said. His voice was hoarse.
The excitement that Catherine had noticed seemed to have gone out of him, as though
a switch had been suddenly turned off.
“Let’s get the hell out of here,” Larry said.
“But—we just got here. Is anything wrong?”
“No,” he snapped. “I just hate mob scenes.”
They took the easy path back, and on the way down Larry did not speak at all. It was
as though he was filled with an icy rage and Catherine could not imagine why. She was
sure she had not said or done anything to offend him. It had been when the other people
appeared that his manner had changed so abruptly. Suddenly Catherine thought she
guessed the reason for his mood, and smiled. He had wanted to make love to her in the
cloud! That was why he had started moving toward her with his arms outstretched. And
his plans had been spoiled by the group of tourists. She almost laughed aloud with joy.
She watched Larry as he strode down the trail ahead of her, and she was infused with a
feeling of warmth. I’ll make it up to him when we get back to the hotel, she promised
herself.
But when they returned to their bungalow, and Catherine put her arms around him
and started to kiss him, Larry told her that he was tired.
At three o’clock in the morning Catherine lay in bed, too excited to sleep. It had been
a long day and a frightening one. She thought of the mountain path and the shaky bridge
and the climb up the face of the rock. And finally she fell asleep.
The following morning Larry went to talk to the reception clerk.
“Those caves you mentioned the other day,” Larry began.
“Ah, yes,” the clerk replied. “The Caves of Perama. Very colorful. Very interesting.
You must not miss them.”
“I guess I’ll have to see them,” Larry said lightly. “I don’t care for caves much, but
my wife heard about them and she’s been after me to take her there. She loves that kind of