Connectors of Time and Contrast

While descending Siula Grande in Peru, Joe and Simon, experienced climbers and beste friends, had a dramatic, life-changing experience. On reaching the summit a few hours earlier, the weather had looked fine, but just as they where heading back down the mountain, they encountered a massive storm. Despite the freezing temperatures, driving snow, and zero visibility, they continued slowly down the mountan. It was at this point  that the disaster struck- Joe fell and broke his leg. Simon had to make a very difficult decision. While it woul be easy for him to go on and get help, leaving Joe would probably kill him. Hard as it was, Simon decided to risk lowering Joe down the mountain single-handely. During the now even more hazardous descent, disaster struck again when Joe fell into a creavasse. Hardly had this happened when Simon realized he was being pulled toward the creavasse too. At this point he had to make a split-second life or death decision to cut the rope or not. Even though cutting it would mean he would survive,it would mean certain death for his friend. Impossible as it was, Simon cut the  rope, and Joe fell into the crevasse. When he had managed to compose himself again, Simon, deeply traumatized, continued the down the mountain alone. On reaching the base camp, Simon told Richard, another climber, the bad news. Despite feeeling very upset, Simon was absolutely exhausted abd could do nothing but sleep. Three days passed, by which time Simon was feeling strong enough to leave base camp and return home. However, just as Simon and Richard were leaving, they heard a voice. It was Joes. Were they emagining it? As soon as they realized it was really him, they ran, overjoyed, to find their friend, who was in horrible shape, but alive. Although Simon had cut the rope, Joe was not angry. Hard as it was to believe, they had both survived and lived to tell this remarkable story.