When he came back, Messner found Rambo watching over Krakauer.
Krak’s eyes were open, but he wasn’t moving and Rambo sat there silently next to him, looking on with glossy, teary eyes. He was holding his head up like a baby.
Krakauer was trying to say something, but his voice was fading and neither Messner nor Rambo would ever forgot the words that followed.
They would remember them for the rest of their lives.
“Easy, Johnny,” Krakauer said in a whisper, near death.