First Glimpse

[1] The first time Lila stirred, she opened one eye and squinted toward the window. Dark shadows hung in the corners of the room. She rolled over and tried to will herself back to sleep.

[2] When sleep won, it was only for a fleeting moment. A creak from the lonely house, the howl of the cold, harsh wind, or the pang of her nervousness woke her again and again. Each time sleep gave way, she fought the urge to look at the clock; each time, she lost and was, instead, greeted by the slow passing of a few more agonizing minutes.

[3] Lila knew her fate. Before the first light of morning, she was supposed to meet the anxious group and tell them that they must find a new Sherpa to lead their expedition. But how could she? This was the last trek of the season, and her family needed the money, now more than ever since the accident.

[4] Most of her neighbors eked out a meager living. Some grew potatoes; others sold jewelry to tourists. But Lila was from a family of Sherpas. Her father was famous for his treks to the summit, and when he could no longer make the journey, Pemba, her brother, led the way. Glory seekers returned again and again to the confidence and safety her family offered.

[5] Lila's fear was not for her brother's safety. She knew that Pemba would survive his injuries, thanks to a compassionate pilot who had quickly transported him to the hospital in Kathmandu. Instead, Lila's struggle was economic.

[6] Through her fitful sleep, Lila weighed the consequences. She knew of only one female Sherpa to claim the summit, but that woman never returned home. A wicked storm blew in as their team descended, and Pasang Lhamu Sherpa lost her life on the mountain.

[7] Now, faced with her family's need, the danger of Mt. Everest seemed insignificant. Lhamu Sherpa was the first woman to claim the mountain. Lila Sherpa would be the second, only no one could know her true identity. She had hiked as far as the second base camp, helping her brother fix the ropes and ladders. She always gave the mountain the respect it demanded, and, in turn, the mountain cared for her. For years she had heard the stories of the mountain and envisioned each movement of the skilled Sherpa. She knew that she could do this. For her family, she must do this.

[8] Lila dismissed sleep. First, she prepared her body. Disguised like her brother and bundled in warm protective clothes, strangers would never suspect. Then, she prepared her spirit. She prayed to the god of the mountain to guide her. Finally, she prepared her pack, and then she waited.

[9] After a restless night in a guest lodge without heat or electricity, the hikers met at the starting point, anxious to begin their hike. Lila understood the task that stretched before her. She must demonstrate confidence and keep their misplaced trust.

[10] By the time her family returned home from the hospital, Lila's team would be approaching Camp III. By then, her family could do nothing. It would be too late to call her home. They would keep their silence. They would worry, but then they would find the peace that she found. They would know that what she did, she did this for all of them. They would love her. They would forgive her, and they would never let her do this again.

[11] As the trip wore on, Lila grappled with her fears, her fatigue, her lack of knowledge, but she found comfort and assurance when she remembered the strength of her family. She found new confidence as she reached each higher ridgeline, and she found peace as she honored the mountain for the protection that it provided.

[12] The tenth day of the trek was summit day. On schedule, the tired team conquered the mountain. Lila was already there, drinking in her success. The sun was high in the sky as Lila looked out over her new world. Her round latte face, stung by the wind and the frost, flooded with emotion.

[13] The team trusted their Sherpa with their lives; they followed with unquestioning faith. Now, even in the exhilaration of their own success, they could not help but notice the intensity of their Sherpa's reaction.

[14] Peter Eckhard, one of the German hikers, whispered, “Our Sherpa is so moved. He reaches the summit as if this is his first glimpse of its greatness. I am somehow surprised! Does this awe ever slip away?”



Which event BEST explains why Lila is the protagonist in the story?


A. She takes on a daring challenge for the sake of her family.
B. She tells the hiking group they will have to find a new Sherpa.
C. She supports her brother as he recovers from an accident.
D. She hikes with her brother and helps him fix ropes and ladders.