by Mark Green
“Nice to meet you guys. I’m trying to place your accent and am going to go with New Zealand. Am I right or have I just insulted your heritage?” KT2 asked, looking over in Susan’s general direction.
And that’s how it went. Dinner wasn’t a problem, not for us at least. I could see one or two people trying to get to grips with KT2’s blindness. But only because they found the lack of eye contact difficult to get used to. Most wondered how a blind girl could ever consider walking the Inca Trail and I suspect they were both humbled and amazed at her achievement.
It was a polite and relaxed atmosphere. The soup bowls were gathered up and big industrial size serving plates arrived, filled with a delicious smelling stew with rice and vegetables. We’d obviously mentioned my allergy to the trekking company, who’d assured us there wouldn’t be any nuts in the dishes, but even so KT2 tried my food first. It must have seemed quite an odd process to watch — me serving out food for both of us and then waiting until KT2 tasted it. Unfortunately our peaceful little ritual was soon interrupted.
Mikey, as he liked to be known, was your standard loud-mouthed yank. He was sitting at the far end of the table with his Dutch girlfriend, Anna, who he’d hooked up with while travelling. Anna gave the impression that whatever they had was a temporary thing.
“Hey Angel dust, what happened to your eyes?” said Mikey from the other end of the table. I caught a look from Anna. She rolled her eyes apologetically for her partner. Mikey’s question was loud enough for everyone to stop their polite exchanges and listen in, their curiosity aroused. Unfortunately, and I don’t say this about many people, I took an instant dislike to the guy. Maybe he was just trying to make conversation and his direct, brash approach just rubbed me up the wrong way. Perhaps I should have accepted it was just ‘his way’. But no. The guy was an idiot, simple as that.
The silence around the table had been going for a few seconds by now. I must have had a pretty angry expression on my face, because I caught an apologetic glance from Bob. Mikey meanwhile was polishing off the rest of his dinner and seemed completely oblivious. I could feel myself getting more angry, but I felt KT2’s calming hand on my knee.
“I lost my sight a few years ago, fighting dragons in Glencoe with my spiritual brother, Connor McCloud, of the McCloud clan.”
What on earth could he say to that? Nothing remotely interesting or witty, that was for sure.
“Huh?”
Silence, it seems can be a very powerful tool, if used to your advantage. KT2 picked up her fork and scrapped it across her plate to mop up the last of her dinner, then passed her plate down the table where Bob collected them into a stack. Mikey was staring at KT2, trying to decide what to say next. She’d turned the tables back on him — why waste her time responding to his insensitive questioning? Nice one!
“Dragon? That’s dumb ass bullshit…” he finally said, unable to decide if the conversation was over or whether he was being ignored. KT2 quickly cut him off.
“Dragons. Plural. I slaughtered them both in an epic battle. Their fiery breath scorched my face, burnt my eyes out. But what was taken from me, was replaced tenfold with other much more interesting senses. My telepathic skills were reactivated after years of inactivity. That means I have to tell you, as a fellow Inca traveller, the next thing you’re about to say won’t endear you to the group, so it’s probably best to keep your nightly masturbation ritual to yourself.”
There were a few slack jaws around the table, go KT2! Bob was fighting hard to stop giggling. He made a please excuse me type gesture as he collected the pile of plates, then ducked out under the tent flaps and was heard stifling a laugh as he walked away.
Mikey looked like he was playing back KT2’s words in his head to see if there was anything he could respond to, but he couldn’t. So he just sat there looking vacant. I was mentally preparing myself in case he got nasty, but Bozzer quickly defused the situation by clapping Mikey on the back.
“I guess that’s you told mate! Give us a grin, tomorrow’s another day,” he said in his broad Aussie accent.
Mikey eventually shrugged his shoulders, allowing a murmur of conversation to resume around the table. Bob arrived shortly after that with dessert, by which time the group were back to their getting to know each other conversations.
I’d been unable to stop grinning since KT2’s verbal play fight. I leaned in towards her.
“It’s going to be handbags at dawn…” I whispered.
She grinned wickedly.
“I bet he was furious,” she said in a low voice.
“Yup. But he was unable to think exactly why he should be, or what he could do about it — you being a famous dragon slayer and all.”
“One of my many hidden talents, amigo.”
* *
KT2
I lay in our tent that night and grinned for a long time before I allowed myself to fall asleep. I wanted to savour and immerse myself in the moment. I was here, in Peru, seven thousand miles from my safe existence at home, a blind girl walking the Inca Trail and loving it.
My fight and passion for squeezing everything I could out of life hadn’t deserted me, despite losing my sight. Today I’d felt the most exhilarating sensations I’d had for a long, long time.
I thought back to when I’d found out I was losing my sight and mentally kicked myself for not doing stuff like this while I could still see something, anything of the colours and rugged scenery we were walking through… But back then I was struggling with other issues.
After a moment or two reflecting, I sniggered at how I’d knocked Mikey down a peg or two.
“You’re still thinking about dinner,” mumbled Jonny from the depths of his sleeping bag.
“Good guess. Did you have your head in your hands, embarrassed at me making a scene?”
“A little. But Connor McCloud, from the film Highlander, now that’s inspired. Christopher Lambert would have been proud.”
We both giggled, careful to keep our voices low due to the closeness of the other tents and our fellow trekkers trying to sleep.
“Even immortals masturbate,” said KT2.
“Probably quite a lot over several lifetimes!”
We both stifled our laughter. I bit my sleeping bag to try and suppress the noise. By the time we calmed ourselves down and stopped giggling, my face was aching from smiling and laughing so much.
Eighteen
Me
It’s strange looking back to think there was no physical contact between us, but in every other way our relationship was going really well. I woke up the next morning facing KT2, who was snoring lightly from the depths of her sleeping bag. I crawled to the tent entrance, unzipped it enough to poke my head out and drank in the cold morning air. Wisps of cloud lingered in the valley, shrouding the campsite in a mysterious blanket that the early morning sun was just starting to break through.
I smiled at the sight of Bob in shorts, tee shirt and hiking boots accompanied by a porter carrying a tray. They were doing the rounds at each tent and handing out steaming cups of coca tea — now that was room service in style!
I watched Bob and the steaming teapot slowly advance towards us as bleary-eyed trekkers accepted the tea and exchanged a few words with Bob. True to form he was grinning from ear to ear.
I retreated back into the tent and let KT2 know that tea was on its way. She mumbled and rolled over, then sat up in her sleeping bag, stretching. There was something different about her this morning, I decided, a light dancing in her eyes, an enhanced energy. I wondered if I was being rude or voyeuristic, studying her features.
“What’s it like out there?” she asked.
“Come and see for yourself,” I said instinctively, then cringed, kicking myself.
“Breathe in the morning air KT2 and I’ll describe it to you,” I said quickly. She shuffled her sleeping bag towards me, feeling her way to the door by running her hand lightly over my back and shoulders. I unzipped the flap some more to let her put her head out.
“Morning handsome,” she said, blowing a plume of vapour into the air.
“Morning gorgeous.”
She turned to me and smiled, a slightly awkward what happens next expression on her face.
“How much of me can you see, at this distance?” I said, more to break the moment than out of curiosity. A smile twitched across her lips and she wriggled towards me until our noses were an inch apart.
“I can see you need a shave Jonny, but you have a nice smile, so I’ll forgive you. Oh dear, that’s not good.”
“What?”
“Looks like you’re heading for a really bad hair day.”
She started to snigger, so I reached out of the sleeping bag and tickled her in the side, making her screech and roll away, laughing.
“She’s right mate…” said Bozzer from the tent to my right. I turned to glance over at his grinning face as he accepted two cups from Bob.
“You wanna get a new wig.”
I pulled a face, then dug KT2 in the ribs again, trying to ‘shush’ her giggling.
“No time for that, challenging day ahead,” said Bob, as he knelt by our tent and passed me a cup of coca tea.
Does he ever stop smiling? I wondered as I accepted the tin cup. I placed the tea on the ground, guiding KT2’s fingers into the handle. We both thanked Bob and the porter and lay there enjoying the slightly bitter but not unpleasant taste.
“Lots of steps today Angel, we’ll be your eyes sometimes, okay?” said Bob, nodding to me before he moved onto the next tent.
“He’s quite inspiring isn’t he,” said KT2, as I watched Bob pouring tea outside the next tent.
“Yes. I like his enthusiasm, it’s infectious.”
“Tough day today, city boy. Are you up to it?” she said, turning to face me, our noses close once more.
“Normally, no. But my personal trainer has prepared me well.”
I watched a smile developing across her lips.
“Although she can be quite demanding. Actually I think she might be a closet dominatrix.”
We both giggled as we sipped our tea.
“You talking handcuffs, PVC and thigh high boots, mate?” said Bozzer, climbing out of his tent and stretching, kicking his sleeping bag back inside.
“And I thought you Brits had no sense of adventure.”
“Oy, watch who you’re insulting mister. No shagging if you keep that up,” shouted Madge from within the depths of their tent. I grinned at Bozzer, who winked at me as he finished rolling his cigarette and lit it.
“I was talking about Jonny.”
Bozzer slapped his palms down onto his thighs.
“Legs, get ready for hell…” he said, then took a deep drag on the cigarette.
* *
KT2
We’d probably been going for three or four hours and the conversation between us was starting to dry up. It’s inevitable when you spend so much time with the same person, but this seemed different somehow. It was companionable silence rather than being awkward. We still had to communicate with the necessary instructions for our “buddy” walking system of course, particularly if there was any sort of incline on the slippery stone steps. But these comments were practical observations rather than conversation.
Jonny would occasionally mention the different eco-systems as we passed from rugged, sparse mountain passes, into thick lush forest. There were mini waterfalls surrounded by pink and orange heathers, together with lush tropical vegetation. Often I could sense the change of mini-climate coming, the slightly oxide raining smell was a dead giveaway for cloud forest jungle, while colder damp air was an indication of high, barren mountain passes. During the silences I started to wonder what was going on in Jonny’s head. What did he think about this arrangement — us, here? Was he still thinking about Kate Thornly the first?
* *
Me
I suppose our fellow trekkers were curious about our ‘unusual’ relationship. Perhaps people just assumed we were together. At any rate their curiosity meant that we started to become a popular couple to walk with and chat to. Especially after KT2’s put down of Mikey, who avoided us like the plague. We found ourselves bonding with the group and I was learning a difficult lesson. I’d never viewed anyone with a disability as ‘normal’ until this adventure. It’s fair to say I was gradually being taken down a peg or two, as only KT2 could.
“Hey you guys, nearly at the top,” said a voice behind us.
I turned and smiled at a girl of around thirty or so, tall and gangly and red-faced from the climb up Dead Woman’s Pass. At over four thousand metres, this was the highest point on the trek. Following her was an equally tall guy in his early twenties. They introduced themselves as Matt and Samantha from Southampton; a brother and sister who were doing part of their travels together before going their separate ways to meet friends.
“I gave you a silent cheer last night, after your brilliant Highlander put down,” said Samantha.
“Cheers. It was an entertaining evening,” said KT2. She turned to smile at them, but gripped my hand tightly as she momentarily lost her balance.
“You okay?”
“Yup, I’m good.”
We all walked on for a little while, allowing KT2 to get into a rhythm.
“We were saying how much we admire you Angel… is it scary?” Matt asked.
I glanced over at KT2, wondering how she would answer.
“It can be, but I’m not scared of heights anymore — that’s one of the early lessons you learn.”
“No reference point, so once your body has made the adjustment, you don’t worry?” said Matt.
For some reason I felt he was being a little too intrusive.
“Aye. But the initial adjustment takes a long time…”
“How long?”
Now I was officially getting jealous. But the struggle I was having had more to do with the undefined nature of our relationship, than Matt’s advances.
Argh!!
Why was I taunting myself like this? Was this just a petty, selfish feeling of I don’t want you, but no one else is going to have you? Or was I still hung up on Kate Thornly the 1st? I couldn’t answer my own questions, let alone stop Matt asking his!
“Must have been tough, to come to terms with…”
I’d had enough. I led KT2 over to the side of the path and stopped.
“Water break, we’ll catch you guys up.”
“I’m happy to wait,” said Matt, smiling. Probably in an unthreatening way, but I was way past being able to make such distinctions.
“You’re okay, please go on.”
“No really, I’m happy to wait, I’m enjoying the conversation…”
I was just about to lose it, but fortunately his sister caught the look of anger in my eye.
“That means a private moment, Matthew. Come on,” she said, glancing at me in a sorry, I know what he can be like kind of way.
I watched Matt being walked on, his sister hooked on his arm, in much the same way that KT2 and I walked together. He glanced back over his shoulder, prompting me to look away. I shrugged the day pack off and rummaged inside for the bottle of water. I caught the strange smile on KT2’s lips, ignored it and took a deep drink.
I placed the bottle into her hand and gently wrapped her fingers around it. A hundred metres or so back down the trail the next trekkers from our group were slowly making their way towards us.
I watched KT2 take a long drink, waiting to take the bottle once she’d finished.
“Thanks. It’s all getting a bit heated,” she said.
Was that a chuckle in her voice? I studied her features, but couldn’t tell.
“Are we there yet?”
I grinned at her ability to lighten the potential atmosphere between us. Correction. My mood.
“Probably halfway,” I said.
“Then we’d better get going. That’s Mikey catching us up and I might have to take a crack at him if he tries to overtake us.”
> I frowned and glanced back down the path, realising she was right.
“How the bloody hell did you know that?” I said, astounded.
“That, Superman, is for me to know and you to scratch your head over.”
I slung the pack over my shoulders and linked my arm through hers. The bloody woman had some sort of radar!
I started laughing as we walked on, shaking my head.
“You’re a constant surprise KT2.”
“That Jonny, is because I have superpowers too.”
Nineteen
KT2
It was a relief to snuggle into the dining shelter later that evening for a welcome hot meal. Whilst today hadn’t been as physically demanding, we’d been walking for twelve hours and were a pretty weary bunch. But gradually the chatter rose as everyone started eating and energy levels were replenished.
There was an underlying excitement at reaching our goal the next morning. Bob explained we’d be at the Sun Gate at dawn to watch the legendary lost city of Machu Picchu appear through the mist…
“Well, friends, this is it, we are nearly at our journey’s end.”
Bob’s voice held everyone’s attention.
“We have journeyed together for three days, from kilometre eighty two, through the highest point at forty two hundred meters, which you will remember as Dead Woman’s Pass, onwards to Runkurakay at thirty eight hundred meters, then the last big climb to the third pass, Phuyupatamarca. After forty three kilometres underfoot, we have stayed positive and finally rest here at Winay Wayna, the last campsite before the sacred lost city of Machu Picchu. Friends, tomorrow we rise at four am. We have breakfast and will be on our way by four thirty to get to the entrance to Machu Picchu by five thirty. Once we have our tickets we have an hour and a half walk to the Sun Gate, where, through the early morning light, Machu Picchu will reveal herself. Tomorrow will be a very special, unforgettable day. I look forward to completing our journey together.”
There was complete silence around the table. I imagine Bob must have glanced around the sixteen faces hanging on his every word and felt a sense of pride. He had something we did not; knowledge and a deep spiritual connection to this very special place. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Then there was a jolt in my stomach as I felt a familiar hand gently squeeze my shoulder.