Everest: The Summit of the Gods (エヴェレスト 神々の山嶺)

Towering the Himalayas,

its vertex is sacred and inviolable.

The highest peak in the world.

8848 meters above sea level.

But also the closest place to the gods.

June 8, 1924

8740 meters above sea level

Two British were standing:

George Mallory

and Andrew Irvine.

Seeing the peak close at hand.

But at 12:50 on the same day

both disappeared without a trace.

The first time Mount Everest was conquered

was on May 29, 1953.

The climbers were Edmund Hillary and the Sherpa Norgay.

But when were Mallory and Irvine killed?

It still hasn't been ruled out that it wasn't after successfully reaching the summit.

After all, Mallory and Owen may have topped it.

Everest - The Summit of the Gods

Nepal, 1993

Funajima!

Funajima!

We can't go back now.

I need to take at least the amount of pictures required for a collection.

Thank you.

The collection won't be published.

- How can you... - We're going to the airport.

No problem.

The luggage is already gone.

Mr. Kudo.

Mr. Kudo!

Can't we discuss it?

Fukamachi, please, think of my situation.

In order to participate in this expedition

I had to borrow money everywhere

just to come up with a photo collection.

Have you thought about the two dead people?!

In the event of an accident you keep pressing the shutter.

That's my job.

Please consider the feelings of the victims' families.

Mr. Kudo.

Mr. Kudo!

You have been an expedition partner. You should understand.

Mr. Kudo...

Hashish?

I don't need it.

- Hashish? Good quality. - No.

Do you want to change some money? Please change some money.

I'll give you the high rate. Please.

Please change some money. I'll give you a very high rate.

Please change some money. Please.

Please.

Namaste.

Namaste.

Your camera, how much does it cost?

Two hundred dollars.

The lens is cracked.

That's why two hundred dollars.

Otherwise it would be more than five hundred dollars.

Too expensive.

One hundred and eighty?

One hundred and fifty!

Vest Pocket Kodak Model B.

In 1924 Mallory took the camera up the mountain.

Is it really the same?

That's right.

Fukamachi, do you think Mallory was killed

after topping the Everest?

I don't know.

If he climbed to the top successfully

there should be a commemorative photo.

If you find the negatives

the history of Mount Everest will be subverted.

This would be world-class news!

Provided that the camera is Mallory's.

Not impossible.

You have no reason not to buy it.

Thank you.

One hundred and fifty dollars.

Tell me...

how did you got this camera?

I'm sorry, I can not tell you.

If I tell you more much, I will be lose my business.

Tell me.

I am willing to pay.

I think I miscalculated.

Miscalculated?

I should't have sold it to you for one hundred and fifty.

It seems this camera

is more valuable than I imagined.

Is this the store that sells stolen goods?

I don't understand what you're talking about.

"Poisonous Snake"?

He told me everyting.

Are you sure you didn't misunderstand him?

Stealing the Buddha from a Sherpa may have a retribution.

You might be hit in the head by a rock.

Or fall off a cliff.

You are vicious!

Those were stolen goods!

Wait for me for a moment.

Where is the camera?

The camera in your hand, hand it over immediately.

It is ours.

Thank you.

Can I talk to you about the camera?

The camera?

I'm asking about your camera.

Strange...

You...

Aren't you Joji Habu?

You are Joji Habu!

Vest Pocket Kodak cameras were overproduced.

Can you prove it was Mallory's?

Then stop bothering me.

It's not only that.

The camera's owner is Joji Habu.

Habu?

I encountered Habu in Nepal.

Was it really Habu?

Hasn't he died in the mountains yet?

Look.

Definitely, it was him.

Joji Habu.

His look is ferocious.

Our next story.

The Himalayan Expedition of the Japanese Mountaineering Association.

The target rises 8091 meters above sea level. The Annapurna.

Haneda Airport, today

Mr. Hase, you are about to travel to the Himalaya.

How do you feel?

I am very excited right now.

I will work hard

to live up to the expectations.

Is this the goal?

For me the Himalayas are unknown.

Me and my teammates hope to work together

while using our own climbing skills.

Are you nervous?

I would lie if I said I'm not.

But just like for my respected predecessors, the feeling of joy is bigger than the tension.

I heard that the fee to participate in the expedition is one million yens.

Disgraceful.

Why can they make the trip

while we are sitting here?

It's a matter of financial resources.

The poor can't go climbing.

Hey, Inoue...

What if we climb the Ghost Rock?

What?

Ghost Rock in winter.

It is suicide.

The poor have to think of ways to become famous.

Ghost Rock in winter is not less than the Himalayas.

I don't want to die.

What do you live for?

If I can't go to the mountains, there's no difference with being dead.

Tanigawadake is very difficult in the storm.

The conquest of the well-known Ghost Rock

gave us both fame.

Climbing requires more than physical strength.

You also need a sense of balance and rhythm.

Habu had those talents.

No one dared to try following his pace.

He was not only fast, but also neat.

The rhythm of climbing was very smooth.

In other words, he was a genius?

Right.

He was the perfect climber.

But also the worst man.

Unlike our first moment of fame

the expedition that challenged the Annapurna failed.

Mr. Habu.

I heard about the Ghost Rock.

So amazing.

Only two people for that challenge.

I could have done it alone.

My partner could have been anyone.

How terribly those words hurt.

He was completely unconscious.

But I couldn't stand him anymore.

I cut off from him.

I never had a climbing partner so annoying.

But some people still admired him.

Kishi!

Take a safest way.

Stupid.

Hook the rope first.

Don't change the line.

Stupid, not there.

Hey, come back!

Why did you climb that way?

Because it's faster.

I'm not interested in safe ways.

Don't be too arrogant.

If you know someone climbed it in the past

then it's no different from walking the ground.

There is no need for climbing.

Joji Habu also thinks so.