Base camp intrigue

On the long windy walk from Pangbuche to base camp, through the sandy ocean like landscape we met an Aussie climber on his way down. He said it was too dangerous up there for him, that two other parties had also left, that the Russians were getting drunk and refusing to buy more rope to fix lines about camp two. I am thinking "shut up, you are going to get Tom all worried". So we made it to base camp by now it is all foggy and quite cold. 15,000 feet, but still a glorious site, our tents are set up and there are two other sets of tents, which we learn are the Austrians and swedes. After the hot soup, I wandered over to talk to the Austrian Sherpa. They were all in their tents adjusting to the altitude,  they have been here for a week. He confirmed the problems with the Russians, who were now gone, and said the sherpa climbers were going to work together to fix the ropes to camp 3 and summit, including Nima. Not that I need fixed lines, but this is the order of things on the mountain. From camp three to the top is all blue ice. Today is the pujo, the Buddist llama will be blessing our expedition it is also Sunday. Tomorrow we start moving gear to camp one. Nima has a plan to climb the mountain in 10 or 11 days, naturally i have a better plan tat involves fewer trips back down to base camp.