P 58 Premonition

” I had sensed that something would happen without quite understanding what it would be. I didn’t like this irrational theory.”
This quote suggest that Joe sensed that Simon would fall over the edge of the mountain before it happened. This in turn makes you think that it is possible that another event will happen further along in the book as he will sense it.

P 63 Japanese climbers

” When they reached the summit headwall Simon had seen the leading Japanese climber fall outwards and backwards, arms outstretched in surprise, the awesome 2,500 foot plunge, visible through the breaks in the cloud, was framed behind him. To his horror, he had then seen the falling leader jerk and twist and, without a sound, pull his partner into the void.”

This quote foreshadows an event later on in the book. Joe is talking about an event that Simon experienced and saw while they are climbing down suila grande. There is also a great amount of detail and description on the events that happened with Simon and  Jon (his partner at the time).

In he quote Joe includes a reference or alludes to The void by saying the two climbers were falling into the void. This can mean that the person is pulling them into the massive space below it is likely to be talking about death. The reason for this is that the Japanese climbers are both falling down a 2,500 foot drop and their chances of surviving is extremely small.

P 72  Something dark

” Something terrible, something dark with dread had just occurred to me, and as i thought about it I felt the dark thought break into panic”

This quote talks about the darkness appearing in Joe after he seriously injured his leg. This darkness is probably despair, as Joe knows that this injury is serious. That it will most likely kill him. He also knows that he is threatening his Simon’s life, if Simon helps him of course. There is desperation in Joe because he “knows” that he is going be left on the mountain to die, therefore making him panic.