Page 155 of Free Heart
“No.”
“Then I should do it. When will I have the opportunity again?” Distracted by movement out the airplane window, Sejin says, “Look! They’re bringing out luggage to that other plane over there.”
I let the subject go. We have hours and hours of time during the flight to solidify our plans. After a week in Seoul, which we’re playing by ear, we’re spending a week with a Korean climber and his wife. Sailor introduced me to them, of course. She has an in with almost everyone in the climbing world.
Jang Seojun will be taking us to Munsusan, Yongseo Falls, and Seonunsan, where he and I will climb some fantastic crags, while Sejin and Seojun’s wife, a British woman named Lana, will do some lovely—her word—hikes.
“Oh, they’re loading it up now,” Sejin murmurs, pressing closer to the window to watch.
My phone vibrates with an incoming call, and since we’re still sitting at the gate, I answer. “Sailor, you know I prefer texts.”
She ignores that. “I have a project for you—for us, really. Something I think you’ll really like.”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s gnarly as hell, a little dangerous—or a lot, depending on how you view danger—and it’s got money attached to it. A bunch of money. Another movie.”
“What’s the project?”
“Ingmikortilaq.”
I grow still, and Sejin notices, turning from observing the luggage to instead observe my face. “I’m listening.”
“My uncle is ready to move forward with it. He used another one of his connections to get Caroline attached…” She takes a breath and goes on, “So, of course, now I absolutely can’t say no. But Aiden—you know, Aiden Harris, my previous alpine and ice climbing partner—just had a baby with his wife. A boy. Named him Sailor after me. Nice, huh?”
“Sure.”
“So, that means I need a partner. Someone who has something to lose, so I don’t take stupid risks.”
“And that’s me?”
“You know it’s you.” She hesitates. “Dan, it’sCaroline.She’ll be there every day, all day, and surely at some point she’ll have to talk to me.”
“You’re planning to woo your ex by climbing Ingmikortilaq with me?”
Sejin frowns. He knows enough about dangerous climbs at this point to be immediately wary. I press my hand to his knee and he puts his palm over it.
“If you’ll agree, then I can have my people send your people all the details.”
One of the big changes over the last year is that I have “people” now—chosen by Sailor’s team—who do things like handle my calendar and review contracts before I sign them.
“How much?”
“It’s going to be sponsored by Nat Geo, so that’s a lot of money. I’d say you’ll get around seventy-five or a hundred.”
“Thousand?” I clarify.
“No, Dan, pennies. Yes, obviously, I’m talking thousands.”
“Okay. I’m in.”
“Wow.”
“What?”
“Didn’t you learn your lesson from last time? You better talk to Sejin first.”
I press my phone to my chest for a moment. “Doc, I’m going to climb Ingmikortilaq with Sailor, you okay with that?”
