Read Forty Shades of Pearl for Free Online Page A

safety checks. There is so much to learn and I kick myself. Why did I agree to this? The truth is, I lied to Alexandre. I have never been rock-climbing. Well, I once went with a group of friends in Idyllwild, California, so technically I did go. I even put on the gear but the rock-face was so daunting, I was too chicken to go through with it. I am a novice and I’m too ashamed to tell him. I’ve never, ever climbed more than several flights of stairs. It’s too late now to come clean without humiliating myself further.
    Alexandre helps me step into the leg loops of my harness and tightens the straps around me, hitching me up so it’s snug against my pelvis and hips. When he touches me I sense my heart race. The shoes feel as if they are four sizes too small but they both assure me they are the perfect fit for good grip. I’m also given a helmet – uh, oh, not such a sexy look, but at this point, peering up at the rocky wall in front of me, I need all the help I can just to stay alive.
    “You said this was for beginners,” I grumble.
    Alexandre looks amused. “It is.”
    “But I can’t climb that!”
    “Yes you can. Rock climbing is about faith, Pearl. Faith in yourself. Believe that you can overcome anything and you will. Trust me.”
    “I’ll try,” I say, not completely convinced.
    “Good girl,” he says tapping me on my behind. “Now climb up that rock-face and remember, don’t look down any further than your feet. Keep going higher and higher. Take your time, don’t rush, don’t panic. Just believe in yourself. Now, I’ll go up first, I’ll be leading. They’ll be this rope connecting us. If you fall I’ll have you – the rope will catch you, hooked into pre-placed bolts in the rock, so don’t worry. Chris is down here with you. He’ll be coaching you all the way. Trust him. He’s been doing this for years, he’s a pro.”
    I watch Alexandre as he climbs without hesitation up the sheer rock-face, clipping the rope into nooks and crannies. Easy for some. Meanwhile, Chris is explaining more technical stuff to me, how the ropes work, the carabiners.
    He explains, “Now, whenever possible, Pearl, you should try to do most of the work of climbing using your legs . In the ideal case, climbers try to keep their centers of gravity over their feet and then push upwards with their legs. Only use your arms and hands just for balance and positioning.”
    “But where do I put my feet?” I squeal, looking up at what seems to be an almost smooth surface.
    “You’ll feel your way as you go and I’ll guide you. Little itty-bitty notches and indentations – that’s what you need to feel for with your hands which will, in turn, guide your feet into the right positions. Those shoes you’re wearing have a lot of grip. Imagine you’re climbing a ladder, it’s that simple. But keep your weight down on your toes, not your heels.”
    “I wish it was that simple.” My palms are sweating with trepidation.
    “Here, dip your hands in this,” Chris says, and I put the tips of my fingers into a little bag he offers me, filled with what seems like white chalk.
    Alexandre is way up high, lodged on a small ledge, waiting for me. “Ready?” he shouts down.
    I nod and take a sip of water to ease my nerves. Trembling, and I haven’t even started.
    “How much experience do you need to have to lead a climb?” I ask Chris, double-checking Alexandre’s prowess – can I trust him?
    “There’s no set answer to that. Leading is an art form, make no mistake, and it requires an incredible amount of climbing experience – stress management, decision making, route finding, rope management, gear placement, anchor systems, climbing technique and God knows what else, to be brought together all at once. You need to have a good head on your shoulders, and it helps to be mechanically inclined. I wouldn’t let Alexandre do this if I didn’t trust him implicitly. This is an easy climb but he’s led some pretty tough