 Take one man with a dream of the past, let him face the future on the sheer cliffs of a towering mountain. That's our story, Ascent, taken from the files of John Steele, adventurer. Friends, this is John Steele. We're back this week to bring you another story of action and excitement. And this is one of my favorites. Some of my guests I've known quite well, and others only slightly. But this week's guest I know very well. Larry and I have been friends ever since he was an awkward kid. I've watched him grow into young manhood. Believe me, I'm quite proud of him. Suppose you take over from here, Larry, before I tell the whole story. Folks, this is Larry Marshall. I guess mountain climbing fever runs in families. That's the only explanation I could find, because believe me, nobody was more surprised than I was. You see, my dad was killed in 1938 just before the war. He and four friends set out to climb the Dernalberg, one of the lesser peaks of the Swiss Alps. And, well, they just disappeared. I was a kid away in prep school at the time, so I got all of my information secondhand from my mother. It seems they sent out search parties, but they never found them. I wanted to go home, but mother said it wasn't necessary. I remember lying in my bunker, but school late at night crying. Swearing that someday I'd climb that mountain and find out what happened to my dad. Then the war came along, postponed my plans. But after the war, I took my discharge in Europe, wrote the families of all of dad's original party, asking them to help finance the expedition. And this was the surprise. They all wanted to come along. So I went ahead to Oberhofen, the little town at the base of the mountain, and settled down on a cozy inn to wait for the others. Within a month they were all there, including John Steele, who'd come over at mother's suggestion. It's good to see you again, Larry. Oh, it's good to see you too, John. John, why did mother ask you to come? Well, you know how mothers are. Still doesn't trust me to take care of myself. I wouldn't say that. It's hard for your mother to realize. John, I've been through a war. I know. I'd resented under any other circumstances. You mean because I was your dad's closest friend? Yeah, I guess so. Well, that's the only reason I came. I'm glad you did. I was supposed to go on that trip with your dad. Oh, I never knew that before. Yes, everything was all arranged. Sonny, you never told me. Canceled my plans at the last minute. Why? I don't know. John, does it strike you as strange that all these people wanted to come along? Oh, I don't know. It must have been 10 years. Why should they want? You did. Well, I had a reason. Maybe they have theirs. What do you mean? Just conjecture. You're not worried taking a group of avatars up the Dornalburg, are you? Oh, well, they've all had some experience. Oh, I didn't know that. Yeah. Besides, with you along, we're both seasoned climbers. Yeah. Well, come on. You may as well meet them now. Okay. It's certainly a strange collection. I'm not surprised. Well, folks, here's the fellow we've been waiting for. John, this is Michael Murphy. John Steele. Hello, Mr. Murphy. Call me Mike, John. Everyone else does. How Mike it is. Mike's brother was on the trip with dad. Yeah, I remember. John, this is Jerry Livingston. Hello, Jerry. How do you do, Mr. Steele? Well, since we're being informal, why don't you just call me John? Well, I'd rather not. Whatever you say. Jerry's in the same spot I'm in. He lost his dad on the trip, too. Yes. And this is George Weishart. Oh, Steele. Doing a little celebrating, eh, George? Nothing wrong with celebrating... No, of course not. It's just that if I'm going to guide this party, then I'm responsible for your safety. I've been up a lot tougher mountains than Dornalburg. This time of year, any mountain stuff. Well, don't worry about it. Dornalburg may have killed my brother. But it won't beat me. I'm sure George will be in shape by morning. Oh, sure. This is Virginia Hamilton, John. How do you do, John? Hello, Virginia. Isn't it just too exciting for Wales? I suppose you might say that. I mean the anticipation and everything after all these years. Yes, of course. I know just how mother felt the night before they left. Perhaps. Dear dad, he's such an old stay at home, but mother used to enjoy the sort. Yes. If you'll excuse me. It's sort of elemental. Of course. I feel almost... Yes, Virginia. We have eight days of hard work ahead of us, folks. Are there anyone who feels he can't make it? No, of course not. Okay. Larry's gotten all our equipment ready. Now, I've arranged for us to be awakened at four. In the morning? Yes, Virginia. We have to be on our way by five. But that's a win. Well, good night, folks. See you all in the morning. Yeah. Good night. Time to turn in, Larry. Yeah. I think I'll get just a breath of air before I hit the same. Good idea. Go on on the terrace. Okay. Weather chart looks good. You never tell in October. No. Air feels clean. That's a beautiful mountain. Yes, it is. Doesn't seem possible. What? After all these years, I'm here. I was hoping you'd forget about this during the war. I almost did. Can't wait any longer. What do you expect to find up on that mountain, Larry? I don't know. I don't know. Are you sure you want to make this trip? Yes, John. Very sure. The next morning, we made our way up through the groves and gentle slopes of the wasteland. Everyone pretty much setting their own pace. And by late afternoon, we were approaching the guide's hut. I noticed that Weishart had lagged behind a couple of hundred yards, so I dropped back to see if he was all right. Everything okay? That's taken my time. There's no hurry. Almost there now. Yeah, I know. You know? I mean, it's, uh, after five, I assume we're getting close. Oh. George, what was your brother like? I said... I heard him. Well... If you don't mind. Of course. I had no idea. After ten years, you wouldn't want to... Did I say something funny? Very. Well, I guess... I was no love wasted between me and Tom. Oh. I hated him. But then why... Why what? Why do you want to go up the mountain? You know, you ask too many questions, kid. Maybe I do. You mind your business? I'll mind mine. That's okay with me. Well, it's just over this slope. Yeah, there it is. The others are already there. Meaning? Nothing. Nothing, George. Oh, John, where's Virginia? Down by the brook holding her feet. Oh, I think I'll take some of the sand. Just call when supper's ready. Okay. Brook's just too delicious for words. I'm tired. All the back of my leg's simply thrown. Come on, take off your shoes and give it a try. All right. You've taught me into it. Isn't that simply wonderful? That feels good. Is that all you can say? That feels fine. It's not much better. Oh, it's been a simply thrilling day. Has it? Of course. Yeah, I guess it has been a good day. You guess? I hadn't really noticed. Oh. You see, I take this trip pretty seriously. Why on earth? It's something I've been promising myself that I do ever since my dad was lost. That's silly. Silly? Maybe. Why did you come along? Just for fun. Sounded like a good idea besides I was bored with New York. I see. Well, there's really nothing to be so intense about. No? You don't honestly think we're going to find anything up there, do you? I don't know what I think. Well, that isn't the silly... What was your mother like, Virginia? Mother? Oh, I don't know. I can barely remember her. You weren't that young. I just never knew her very well. See, she and dad were separated when I was a youngster. Oh. I never saw her very much after that. As a child, I remember that she cried a good deal. She and dad were always fighting over something. I see. The only thing that I know she loved was being outdoors. Of course, dad couldn't stand that. No. Come and get it, kids! We're coming! Such a deal. Huh? Oh, really, Larry? Don't be a dode. Come on, I'm simply starving. By mid-morning of the next day, we had reached the foot of the glacier lying between two huge ridges that swept up the Dornalberg. When we got up on the smooth ice of the glacier, John insisted that we rope up as a precaution. So we split up into two teams, Steele, Virginia, and Weisshard on one rope, Jerry, Murphy, and myself on the other. John led the way, sounding with his ice axe before each step, and watching for the discolorations that were sure signs of the voids under them. A sense of uneasiness was growing inside me. I wanted to know more about these people I was climbing this mountain with. Exhaust! Okay, Virginia. Can't waste time if we're going to make the first terrace bike dark. Five minutes more won't make that much difference. How you doing, Jerry? Okay. Well, just sit where you are. Yeah. You okay, Mike? Strap on my rucksack's been loosening up for the last hour. Oh, well, I'll help you. Really beautiful up here, isn't it? Yeah. So clear. There, try that. That's much better. Cigarette? Oh, thanks. Lips are about to split. We'll use more wind-burned trees. Must have a gallon of the stuff on now. What causes those ice towers? Oh, buckling pressure where the glacier meets the mountain. Beautiful. Yeah, to look at, you mean. Yeah, what do you think? Well, if one of them falls over and starts down the glacier, well, you don't want to be in the way. I see what you mean. Pretty risky, huh? Well, nothing about mountain climbing that's easy. Makes me wonder. What? What we're all doing here. Why did you come? Really, Mary's idea. Who's Mary? Pat's wife. He was my brother. Oh. See, I was always crazy about Mary, and when Pat was lost, well, I waited the proper time, then I asked her to marry me. She said no. Because while Pat was legally dead, she still felt married in the eyes of the church. Kind of a funny attitude, because after all, they never did get along. Oh, I see. Whose fault was that? Who can say? Pat was a nice guy. Mary is a little hard to live with. I think I could get along with her. Uh-huh. Anyway, she said if I came on this trip and found any real evidence that they were all killed, then she'd marry me. The search party's never found them. I know. Well, then what? The only unusual angle of the whole deal was the fact that just before he left, Pat took $50,000 out of the bank in cash. That's a lot of dough. Yeah, for a trip to Europe. Yeah. Okay, folks. On your feet. Okay, John. Uh, listen, Mike, I want to talk to Jerry. Don't get too close to us, huh? Yeah. Yeah, sure. That's just between you and me, Larry. Right, right. Well, have you rested, Jerry? Oh, much better. You've been kind of quiet all day. Well, I've been thinking... I know what you mean. They came up this glacier 10 years ago. Maybe over the same route. Maybe. It's the closest I've been to Dad for a long time. What do you mean? Oh, I don't know. I kind of feel him all around me. Must have been quite a guy. Oh, the best. I thought they were over him. Yeah, I understand. No, you don't. No one ever loved his father the way I loved mine. Well, take it easy, fella. It's just it's been so long. Yeah. Nobody understood him like I did. He was such an idealist. Nothing ever worked out for him. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea you're coming along on this trip. Oh, no, no, no, Mike. My psychiatrist said it was the best thing in the world for me. Why? Well, he says it's not knowing that it's made me so nervous. Oh, I see. He says maybe if we can find proof that they were killed, maybe I can be myself again. Well, maybe he's right. Yeah, but what's that? I don't know. Give your eyes open. What is it still? Ice buckling. Look at that tower shaking. It's going to fall. Watch it, sliding down the glacier. Head of this way. Get over. Come on, Jerry. Come on. Maybe that's how dad... I just... I'm sorry, Phillip. Mike, help me drag him. He's not coming. Hang on to it. All right, grab his legs. Right. Give it to him. That was close. OK, Mike? Yeah. OK. Jerry, Jerry, come on, kid. Come on, open your eyes. Dad! We made it over the ice falling up to the first terrace. We made it over the ice fall and up to the first terrace by dark. The next morning, Virginia's ankle was so swollen that John decided to deliver with a tent and enough supplies while the rest of us pushed on. It had turned cold during the night and we all pulled on extra sweaters and mittens before we started climbing. We worked our way up the gentle slope of the terrace till mid-morning when the ledge became noticeably narrower. What do you think, John? Terrace is good for another couple hundred of yards. I haven't seen anything that looks scalable. I've been watching, too. You've got to find something soon. Maybe we should have started around the other way. Never lose altitude if you can help it. Cardinal rule of mountain climbing, Jerry. It really cuts in here. Yeah. John, hold it. How about right here? Pretty steep. A little at first. We can get up the first 30 feet. Looks like the cliff face falls off after that. The corner isn't bad. You can get a leg on each side. It might go. I'm willing. What do you say, George? It's OK by me. It's the best we've seen. Let's go then. Right. Rope up, everyone. Right. I'll lead. Then, George, Jerry, Mike, Larry, you bring up the rear. Yeah. Tie those knots tight. I'll leave about 40 feet between you and George, Jerry. Yeah. Here goes. Don't start till he signals you, George. I know. John, there's a handhold about six inches to your right. Got it. How is it? Not too bad. He'll probably stop when he gets to that ledge. Then you go, George. I've been up a mountain before. Yeah. Sorry. A little to your left, John. Right. OK. Come ahead. Go on, George. OK. I'm gone. And that's the way it went. First, George, then Jerry, then Mike, then it was my turn. And that's the way you climb a mountain. Not in big steps, but an inch at a time. You grip with your hands, with your toes, your knees, your chest, and you crawl up it like a fly up a wall. And most of the time it's lonely. The only company you've got is the thin lifeline of the rope twisting and turning over the rocks above you. Showers of stone beat down on your head and your shoulders and you pull yourself up another inch, another foot, until you reach a ledge where the others are resting. But by that time they've gone on. And then way above you hear the leader hammering in steel pythons as you reach the tough part of the climb. And later you reach the python yourself and you feel the steel spike and your handy new energy flow through your muscles because you know others have been there before you. We've been climbing for about two hours and we're halfway up the cliff when I inched up to a ledge and found Mike resting. Okay, another foot and I can pull you over the ledge, Larry. Okay. Little to your right. Yeah. That's it. Okay now. Thanks. Oh, it's holding us up. Cliff bulges out right above us. Took John a little while to work around it and get on top. George and Jerry make it okay? Yeah, yeah. Once we get on top we'll be all right. You ready for Mike, John? Okay, send him up. Okay, get going, fella. Yeah. What's the matter? Nothing. Feel all right? Just a little tired, I guess. You want to rest? No. No, I'm okay. I'll work you away straight out on the ledge about 10 feet and then start up. Right. Right. And that's it. Another couple of feet. Okay, now up. That's it. There's a toe hold to your right up about a foot. Don't look down, Mike. Now, now, there you got it. Good. Now, can you reach that python? Don't think so. Well, look, shift your weight to your left foot. Good. Now, stand on your toes and lean for it. Can't make it. Don't look down. I'm slipping. Hang on. I'm gonna fall. Grab the rope, kick it away from the cliff. Help! Mike! Is he hurt? I don't know. Hit his head. Mike. Mike, are you hurt? Help me. All right, hang on. John, lay him up. He's hanging right below me. Right. We'll get you, Mike. Just hang on. That's it. Keep him coming. More. More. Another 20 feet. Hang on, Mike. 10 feet now. Keep him coming. That's it. Five now. All right, hold it, John. I can reach him. Don't reach for him. Pull him in. Right. All right, slack off. Hold it now. Okay, John, I got it. Loosen the rope. Cutting my chest. Yeah, you're okay, Mike. It's a close call. Yeah. Yeah, let me see that cut. How is he? He's got a bad cut on his head. How's he feel? How do you feel, Mike? I'm scared. Weak. He's weak. Better send him back down. Right. I'll lower the grappling rope. You let him down 50 feet. He's over the hard part. You make it low from there. Right. I'm sorry, Mike. Nothing but foolishness anyway. What do you mean? He's dead. Everyone knows it. Oh, I see. Why should I risk my neck coming at this mountain? No reason. If you find anything, let me know. I will. Wish I knew for sure he was dead. Yeah, I guess you do. We lowered Mike back down the cliff till he could go on by himself. Then I worked my way up to the others. Once over the bulge, the rest was easy, and we made the second terrace my late afternoon. During the night, a heavy wind blew up, and a first-class gale was blowing. But John and I left George and Jerry to look out for the equipment and we went on up the terrace. If the ledge went all the way to the top, we could give it a try, wind or no wind, but if the ledge ran out and we had more scaling to do, we'd have to wait for a break in the weather. Too bad if we have to wait. Yeah. Only have supplies for five days. I know. We're cutting it pretty far. Well, maybe the terrace goes all the way. Maybe. It's funny we haven't seen any sign. Of what? Dad's party. What did you expect? Oh, I don't know. John, what's that? What? That pile of stones looks like a cannon. Wait a minute, Larry. I got to see it. Maybe Dad's. Take it easy. It is, John. It is. Are you sure? There's a tin can in here. Let's see. All right, wait until I get it open. Anything in it? Yeah. It's a piece of paper. What's it say? Wait a minute. It says... It says Lawrence Marshall. July 28, 1938. It's got signatures of all the others. Let me see. You're right. Well, now we know they got this far. Yes, we do. You don't seem surprised. I've known all along. How? Those pythons I was hammering in coming up the cliff. They weren't my own. They were already there. I just wanted to be sure they were tight. Dads? Yes. Why didn't you tell me? I don't know. I don't get this, John. This whole thing is mixed up. Why? All these people wanted to come with us. They all had their reasons. Well... Some of the things they've said don't fit. Like what? Like Mike. Said his brother took $50,000 out of the bank before he left. Yes. Weisshard acted like he'd been up this mountain before. I see. Weisshard is the only one I really can't understand. He brushed me off and I tried to find out why he was here. I can tell you. You can? Yes. Ten years ago, George Weisshard was tried for the murder of his father and acquitted. Why? Insufficient evidence. The state's star witness was his brother. And he disappeared on the Dornalberg two months before the trial. Oh. George has been partway up the mountain before. In 1939, he tried to climb it alone and failed. That fits. How? Every one of these people wanted to go with us for selfish reasons. Yes. And everyone on Dad's trip was unhappy through no fault of his own. Everyone except Dad. You never knew your Dad very well, did you, Larry? Huh? I mean really well. Well, I was away in school a lot. Dad traveled six months of the year, but I thought I knew him. Maybe I didn't. I don't think you did. You know, from the beginning, I've had the feeling you didn't want me to make this trip. I didn't. Why? I can't explain. You think Dad and the other... I don't think anything. I won't forget that, John. And somehow I'm going to prove you wrong. We went on up the terrace until it started to narrow, and we knew we were going to have to scale for the top. Then we went back to the tents and spent the day working on the equipment. The wind blew all day and late into the second night. But when John woke me at four the next morning, the gale had died down. Jerry had burned his hand badly on the premise stove, and John decided that he couldn't make the try for the top with us. We started scaling the cliff right where we'd found Dad's caron, me leading, Weishart next, and John on the end of the rope. And John had been right. Every time I reached a tough passage and needed a python, I'd find one waiting just within arm's length. By noon, we were resting on a ledge just short of the top. The bald dome of the Dernalberg stretched 200 feet above us without even a hand hole in sight. Nothing but smooth, shining rock. The ledge on which we were standing circled off to our left and we decided to skirt the dome until we found something scalable. We worked our way around for 50 feet when the ledge suddenly narrowed to three or four inches. But we could see that after a passage of 20 feet or so, it broadened out again. It was our only chance for the top, so we decided to take it. I tightened the rope around my chest, worked my way out on the lip. Chest and face jammed tight against the cliff. I moved along an inch at a time, trying not to think of the 7,000 feet of air under me. Inching and resting, inching and resting until at last I felt the ledge widen under my feet, and I was over. Then it was Weisshard's turn. That rope's tight. Think I'm a novice? Okay, okay, get going. Atta boy, George. Keep going. Lean into the cliff. That's it. Let's get snarled there. Don't rush that, keep moving. That's it, yeah, that's it. Don't stop. Keep going, George. Rest in another three feet. Tired. I gotta rest. Don't stop. I gotta stop. Keep going. I'm tired. You're slipping, George. Hold forward. I can't hold it. I can try. George, the rope is slipping. When something like that happens on a mountain, you just gotta try and forget it. You gotta push on, try not to think that it might have been you. John made it over to me. We worked our way along the ledge again. Finally, we found a cleft in the dome that looked scalable, and we started up. Like before, there were dad's pythons waiting to give me a hand. In an hour, we were 10 feet from the top. All right. That's it. Reach that python. Pull yourself up to that ledge. All right, it's easy from here. Okay, John, I'm up. We're right with you. Come on, I can pull you up from here. Okay. All right. It's beautiful up here. You can see for a mile. Yeah. The world seems pretty far away. Yes. Dad's pythons led all the way to the top. Meaning? They made it too. It ought to be a Karen or something around here. Take a look. I don't see anything. Look some more. John. John, come in. What is it? It's the other side of the mountain. Yes? Pythons leading down. Well? They must have come up one side. Go on. And just going down the other? Yes. You mean dad and the others are still... Yes. You've known all along. I was supposed to make that climb with your dad. Why didn't you ever tell me? I didn't know whether or not you could keep their secret. Well, Larry, what are you going to tell the others? I'm going to tell them we found the spot where they fell. Come on, John, let's get going. The title, Ascent. The story of a man who learned to lead the past where it belongs. And if you like Larry's story, why not come back next week, friends? I'll have a man who had an unusual adventure with a milk truck, a money press, and a sinister stranger. I like to call it grade A. So until next week, this is John Steele saying, a life of adventure is yours for the asking, wherever you find it. Only don't look for it. It may find you. Well, goodbye and good hunting. Remember, next week, Mutual presents Grade A, another story of suspense and action from the files of John Steele, adventurer. This is the Mutual Broadcasting System.