North Face Page #2

Andi, don't forget the curfew.

Luise, good luck,

see you around.

What was that?

We prefer cleaning latrines these days.

It's just like when we went climbing as kids.

- What?

- Me chasing after you.

I want something I can be proud of too.

And if they print my story...

You must understand that.

I do understand,

just find 2 other climbers.

You're so stubborn.

But I always waited for you in the end.

Faster, you can go much faster!

Go!

Lazy bastards.

- Look at this joke of a wall.

- Leave me alone.

No talking!

Climb!

I thought you could do this.

Faster!

Thanks.

Next!

What's wrong?

I'm not hungry.

Hey, Andi,

how long are you going to be mad at me?

How long are you going to be

too coward to even try?

You and I could be the first ones up there.

That's not what climbing is about.

Yes it is,

that's exactly what it's about.

I want to prove to the world

what I can do and who I am.

I don't have to prove anything to anyone.

I climb for myself.

Understand? For me alone.

Just arrived from Munich.

I imagined it much bigger.

On such a tiny...

I don't even know what it's called.

Piton.

Whatever. Just imagine a man's life

hangs from this tiny thing.

You've got to be very determined.

They backed down, right?

How do you know?

A reporter's most important tool.

Next, please.

Willy Angerer and Edi Rainer

are Austrians,

but they're party members.

And apparently top-notch alpinists.

They're camped at

the foot of the Eiger.

In the next few days...

I'll be paying the gentlemen a visit.

I see.

Miss Fellner,

there'll be other times.

Yes.

Special leave until the end of July?

Are you completely mad, Hinterstoisser?

Reason?

Private business, Company Sergeant.

Don't play me for a fool, Andi!

I'm not stupid.

Company Sergeant, the truth is...

I know what the truth is.

Request denied.

Dismissed!

Permission to speak, sir.

It's for a wedding.

You're just what I needed, Kurz.

Well then, who is getting married?

I am, Company Sergeant sir.

You?

And Private Hinterstoisser

is to be my best man.

Get out!

Both of you!

If we don't get our leave of absence,

we quit.

Heil Hitler.

Bye.

Why did you change your mind?

Because what I said wasn't true.

I don't just climb for me.

And someone has to watch out for you.

That's enough,

now we need 10 ice pitons.

Crampons, ice axes, carabiners,

short and long pick,

two times 30 metres of rope,

two static chords...

- There's no "h" in cords.

- Who cares?

Two gasoline stoves, a litre of gasoline,

a pack of Metas,

and so on and so forth.

How much?

Sixty marks. At least.

Plus another 15 for the train.

What train?

We're going by bike.

Sure, by bike to Switzerland.

That's just 700 km, right?

Miss Fellner?

Just a second.

OK.

Evening.

Working so late?

Yes...

The man in the photo department, he...

What about him?

He said that after we go to press

it's alright...

for me to print my photos.

Very nice. Really.

Very good.

Really very good.

You take excellent photos,

Miss Fellner.

Thank you.

Ever been to Switzerland?

No.

We should be there by tomorrow.

Are you excited too?

Yeah.

I can see her already.

Who?

The bride,

beautiful, very beautiful,

just a little tall next to you.

Love at first sight, right?

I'm not so sure.

The train goes

straight through the mountain...

all the way up to the Jungfrau.

Fancy that!

Just look at the landscape!

Isn't it splendid?

Fabulously splendid.

Darling, you didn't even look.

The middle station.

This is where our hotel is.

Four stars, at over 2,000 metres!

I can see mountains on the Riviera.

From the seaside.

There it is!

TUESDAY, JULY 14

MIDDLE STATION KLEINE SCHEIDEGG -

What a circus.

Colossal.

Come!

A "sea of ice," Darling.

The seaside!

Tours to the Maiden Saddle.

I'm too old to be saddling maidens.

Glacier tours!

Look who's coming.

Bartolo Sandri and Mario Menti.

- Who are they?

- Italians.

Another couple of fools.

Come in a train, leave in a coffin.

Quite a place, hm?

You know what the best part is?

It all counts as travel expenses.

- Hello.

- Arau.

- Mr. Arau.

- Yes.

You have a magnificent room

with a view of the North Face.

Your wife will be delighted.

Too bad we're just colleagues.

Pretty busy up here.

All crackpots like you.

Well?

Nice room?

Yes.

It's even got a bathtub.

Really?

I don't suppose it's that cozy down there.

I'll start a fire and cook dinner.

You finish pitching the tent.

Are we married or something?

Don't talk, pet! Work!

Now I know! You remind me of my mother.

- I am your mother.

- Grandmother.

Mother-in-law.

And that's the spirit

of the German conqueror...

manifested in the battle

against the mountain.

Bound together in life and death,

the climbing partners dream of ice and rock.

Do you see?

The reader has to feel

Like he's really there,

that's what makes a good story.

The German soldier dreams of when,

having fought to the summit,

the world shall lie at his feet,

and above him shall stretch

the limitless sky.

That's a mouthful.

I adore this kind of thing.

Yeah?

You adore Richard Wagner too.

In any case,

with great photos,

no one reads the words anyway.

Did you see the French team's iron?

They won't get as far as the Rote Fluh.

The Dagos don't even have ice axes.

Look who's coming.

Mr. Angerer and Mr. Rainer from Salzburg.

Hello, boys.

Look who we have here.

Heil Hitler.

We wondered where you were.

After all,

this is a gathering of professionals.

Were you on the wall today?

Scouting around?

No.

Picking mushrooms.

How high did you get -

picking mushrooms?

What's for dinner?

Barley soup.

You say the German alpinist...

dreams of the limitless sky?

Very interesting.

Would this be race-specific?

I wonder, for example:

What does...

the Austrian dream of?

A Greater Germany.

At least the Aryans among you.

I wouldn't know

if that also applies to you.

I was talking about mountaineers.

Now they are a breed of their own, hm?

Aren't you homesick for Austria?

Schuschnigg...

can't hold out much longer.

When Germany annexes Austria,

we'll be home in the wink of an eye.

And then we call the shots.

- It'll be our turn then.

- Aha.

I don't know if I could take being exiled.

Did you see our iron?

Steel pitons, rope, only the best,

and all paid for by the SA.

What do you have to do in return?

Be the first ones at the top.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15

The tunnel has a total length of 7.4 km.

And it took 15 years to build.

Cost?

Behind this wooden door

is one of the galleries...

that opens out on the North Face.

From here, excavated rock

was dumped straight into the abyss.

We are now just shy of

Sedlmayer and Mehringer started here...

and climbed straight upward.

Tedious, it's so steep

you'd need a piton every metre.

I think...

we should climb diagonally.

Head for the gallery window.

And stash gear there?

Yes. Bivouac sacks, ice pitons, food, etc.

EIGERWAND STATION - 2,865 M

Careful, ladies and gentlemen!

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