The Legacy by Craig Lawrence Page B

announced, before leading them to a wooden door that opened onto a small terrace. It looked out over the city’s rooftops. The girls could feel the heat of the morning sun as they stepped onto the terrace.
    â€˜What a great view,’ said Isobel.
    â€˜If you look over there,’ said Harry, using his thumb to point like the Nepalese, ‘you can see your hotel. And over there,’ he said, again pointing with his thumb, ‘is Durbar Square.’ There were a couple of slightly battered but comfortable looking rattan chairs on the terrace as well as a hammock in one corner. Large pots containing leafy plants and a few dwarf fruit trees gave the terrace a Mediterranean feel. ‘It’s nice to sit up here with a beer and watch the sun go down,’ said Harry.
    â€˜How often are you here?’ asked Lucy.
    â€˜It depends,’ replied Harry. ‘If I’m working on a contract, then I may go five or six months without coming back. But if I’m between jobs, like now, then I’ll stay for a few months.’ Harry led the girls back to the kitchen and poured them all a coffee. ‘Tell me about the expedition,’ said Harry.
    Isobel explained the plan in outline. ‘We’re going to travel to Pokhara within the next few days to meet up with the guides. We’re then going to trek into the Annapurna Basin and establish a base camp. The plan then is to spend two weeks climbing the peaks.’
    Harry wasn’t sure whether he should be impressed or deeply concerned. Though the trek from Pokhara into the Annapurna basin was a tourist favourite, the Annapurna peaks were technically and physically demanding and only ever attempted by experienced and accomplished mountaineers. His concern was evident when he looked at the girls. ‘I’ve done a bit of scrambling in the basin,’ he said, ‘and the peaks are quite a challenge you know, particularly at this time of year.’
    Lucy smiled at him. ‘Really?’ she asked, through slightly gritted teeth.
    â€˜Yes,’ said Harry. Isobel started laughing.
    â€˜What’s so funny?’ asked Harry.
    â€˜Nothing, I’m just touched by your concern for our welfare,’ replied Isobel. Isobel continued to smile to herself as Harry led them out of the house to start his tour of the city. What Harry didn’t know was that both Lucy and Isobel had climbed on the Annapurna Massif before, reaching the top of four of the six peaks until atrocious weather, and specifically the avalanche risk, forced them off the mountains. The reason they were back in Nepal on this expedition was to climb the peaks they’d missed the last time, particularly Annapurna 1 which, at over eight thousand metres, was one of the highest and most physically demanding mountains in the world. Both highly competent and experienced mountaineers, they were confident they would be able to achieve their ambition, provided the weather didn’t close in again.

Chapter 16
    Highworth stood up and looked out of his window. The view of the city was spectacular. As well as the iconic buildings that now dominated the city’s skyline, he could see up the River Thames as far as the Houses of Parliament. He was admiring the view when there was a firm knock on his door. ‘Come in,’ he called, knowing who it would be. The man that entered the room was older than Highworth but looked equally as distinguished. One of the country’s richest men, Sir Richard Knowles had a reputation as a shrewd and extremely capable businessman. He’d made the bulk of his money buying companies that were in difficulty, closing them down and then selling off their assets. His enemies - and there were many - said his approach was similar to that of Gordon Gecko, the asset stripper played by Michael Douglas in the film Wall Street .
    â€˜Thank you for meeting me at such short notice Charles,’ said Knowles.
    â€˜It’s always a