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Most people got to the top of Rio’s Sugarloaf Mountain by riding its famous cable car Thousands of tourists a day visited the observation deck at the summit for the spectacular view, as well as its snack bars and shops Fro thirteen hundred feet above the entrance to Guanabara Bay looked like a bo on end, with sheer, rocky cliffs on all sides But froe covered with low trees and scrub brush extending from the sea all the way to the summit Al this ridge, a rough and difficult hiking trail marked by steep stone faces and several near-vertical rock climbs
“Whose idiotic idea was this?” Hali Kasied up the worn dirt path near the peak The slion’s communications officer and seldoors of the three-hour trek carrying a huge pack on his back His T-shirt and cargo pants were covered in dust and soaked in perspiration
Marion MacDougall “MacD” Lawless chuckled
“Ah believe it was yours,” the blond Army veteran said with a honey-thickened Louisiana drawl He followed behind Hali to catch him in case he stumbled and fell backward down soh MacD carried the same kind of backpack, he didn’t think the hike had been so bad “This is nothing cohed twice as ht on two rations daily and four hours’ sleep”
Hali waved his hand dis in a coe by ht I typically lift inaround ned in a laboratory experi posters If a movie were made about your life, Chris Hely to play you”
“And too wi with the premise “Ah do think Ah was a Spartan in a previous life”
MacD laughed as Hali threw a glance over his shoulder and rolled his eyes “Ugh I’m just thankful I don’t have to see you in a loincloth My humiliation would be complete”
“This ood time to remind you that it was your hobby that convinced the Chairman to let us try this”
“I didn’t think he’d actually go for it,” Hali said
“Neither did Ah But that video of you flying over Mexico was iot a knack for it”
“So do you It’s infuriating that in only two days youfor three years”
“Ah wouldn’t say ‘mastered’ But Ah’ve jumped out of my fair share of airplanes It ain’t that different”
“Is there anything you’re not good at?” Hali asked
“Ah don’t know,” MacD said with a s yet”