While_CJS arguably_AV0 the_AT0 areas_NN2 being_VBG disputed_VVN between_PRP China_NP0 and_CJC India_NP0 were_VBD far_AV0 from_PRP the_AT0 Punjab_NP0 and_CJC belonged_VVD to_PRP distant_AJ0 provinces_NN2 ,_PUN the_AT0 truth_NN1 was_VBD quite_AV0 different_AJ0 once_CJS you_PNP started_VVD to_TO0 think_VVI about_PRP the_AT0 Five_CRD Rivers_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 Punjab_NP0 and_CJC their_DPS significance_NN1 ._SENT For_PRP all_DT0 five_CRD of_PRF them_PNP ,_PUN as_CJS well_AV0 as_CJS the_AT0 Indus_NP0 into_PRP which_DTQ they_PNP all_AV0 eventually_AV0 flowed_VVN ,_PUN originated_VVN in_PRP the_AT0 Himalayas_NP0 ._SENT Once_CJS you_PNP had_VHD gained_VVN control_NN1 over_PRP a_AT0 river_NN1 's_POS headwaters_NN2 ,_PUN you_PNP could_VM0 put_VVI a_AT0 dam_NN1 there_AV0 ._SENT As_CJS soon_AV0 as_CJS you_PNP did_VDD that_DT0 ,_PUN you_PNP could_VM0 control_VVI its_DPS flow_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC thereby_AV0 control_VVB the_AT0 lives_NN2 of_PRF all_DT0 who_PNQ lived_VVD downstream_AJ0 of_PRF it_PNP ._SENT 
Sorting_VVG out_AVP the_AT0 details_NN2 of_PRF where_AVQ to_TO0 go_VVI and_CJC how_AVQ to_TO0 get_VVI there_EX0 had_VHD been_VBN a_AT0 somewhat_AV0 bewildering_AJ0 process_NN1 because_CJS of_PRF the_AT0 convolutions_NN2 and_CJC forkings_NN2 of_PRF the_AT0 river_NN1 valleys_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 mountains_NN2 ._SENT But_CJC once_CJS Laks_NP0 had_VHD uploaded_VVN the_AT0 geography_NN1 into_PRP his_DPS head_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 place_NN1 that_CJT leapt_VVD out_AVP as_CJS being_VBG of_PRF greatest_AJS interest_NN1 was_VBD where_AVQ the_AT0 Chenab_NN1 and_CJC the_AT0 Beas_NP0 originated_VVD within_PRP just_AV0 a_AT0 few_DT0 kilometers_NN2 of_PRF each_DT0 other_NN1 on_PRP opposite_AJ0 flanks_NN2 of_PRF a_AT0 high_AJ0 spine_NN1 of_PRF rock_NN1 spanned_VVN by_PRP a_AT0 nightmare_NN1 of_PRF switchbacks_NN2 called_VVD the_AT0 Rohtang_NN1 Pass_NN1 ._SENT Northeast_NN1 of_PRF there_EX0 was_VBD the_AT0 even_AV0 higher_AJC region_NN1 of_PRF Ladakh_NP0 ,_PUN indistinctly_AV0 bounded_VVN by_PRP the_AT0 Line_NN1 of_PRF Actual_AJ0 Control_NN1 ._SENT 
Down_AVP in_PRP the_AT0 lowlands--basically_AJ0 everything_PNI west_NN1 of_PRF Chandigarh--it_NP0 was_VBD easy_AJ0 to_TO0 move_VVI laterally_AV0 from_PRP one_CRD river_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 next_ORD by_PRP crossing_VVG the_AT0 table-flat_NN1 doabor_NN1 Mesopotamian_AJ0 plateau_NN1 between_PRP them_PNP ._SENT Now_AV0 ,_PUN though_AV0 ,_PUN topography_NN1 made_VVD it_PNP imperative_AJ0 simply_AV0 to_TO0 choose_VVI one_CRD river_NN1 and_CJC follow_VVB it_PNP up_AVP to_PRP its_DPS beginning_NN1 ._SENT By_PRP far_AV0 the_AT0 most_AV0 direct_AJ0 one_PNI was_VBD the_AT0 Beas_NP0 ._SENT It_PNP had_VHD stopped_VVN Alexander_NP0 the_AT0 Great_NP0 ._SENT Perhaps_AV0 it_PNP could_VM0 stop_VVI the_AT0 Chinese_AJ0 as_CJS well_AV0 ._SENT Shimla_NP0 ,_PUN a_AT0 city_NN1 of_PRF a_AT0 couple_NN1 of_PRF hundred_CRD thousand_CRD that_CJT the_AT0 Brits_NN2 had_VHD planted_VVN up_AVP in_PRP the_AT0 mountains_NN2 so_AV0 that_CJT they_PNP would_VM0 n't_XX0 all_AV0 perish_VVI of_PRF heat_NN1 stroke_NN1 during_PRP the_AT0 summer_NN1 ,_PUN was_VBD not_XX0 on_PRP the_AT0 Beas_NP0 ._SENT But_CJC one_PNI of_PRF the_AT0 least_AV0 terrible_AJ0 ways_NN2 to_PRP getto_NN1 the_AT0 upper_AJ0 Beas_NP0 from_PRP Chandigarh_NP0 was_VBD to_TO0 pass_VVI through_PRP it_PNP ,_PUN and_CJC anyway_AV0 Jasmit_NP0 was_VBD bound_VVN in_PRP that_DT0 direction_NN1 and_CJC avidly_AV0 wished_VVD to_TO0 support_VVI the_AT0 quest_NN1 of_PRF (_PUL until_CJS this_DT0 morning_NN1 )_PUR Laks_NN2 and_CJC (_PUL now_AV0 )_PUR the_AT0 Fellowship_NN1 ._SENT Halfway_AV0 there_AV0 ,_PUN they_PNP stopped_VVD at_PRP a_AT0 factory_NN1 that_CJT ,_PUN like_PRP all_DT0 other_AJ0 structures_NN2 here_AV0 ,_PUN was_VBD perched_VVN improbably_AV0 on_PRP a_AT0 slope_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC picked_VVD up_AVP cargo_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ the_AT0 boys_NN2 helped_VVD load_NN1 ,_PUN then_AV0 sat_VVD on_PRP the_AT0 rest_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 way_NN1 ._SENT 
Once_AV0 they_PNP had_VHD parted_VVN company_NN1 with_PRP Jasmit_NP0 at_PRP Shimla_NP0 ,_PUN Laks_NP0 's_POS bhais_NN1 only_AV0 slowed_VVD him_PNP down_AVP ,_PUN since_CJS group_NN1 hitchhiking_NN1 was_VBD slower_AJC than_CJS solo_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC before_CJS they_PNP went_VVD very_AV0 much_AV0 farther_AV0 they_PNP entered_VVD into_PRP the_AT0 valley_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Beas_NP0 ,_PUN which_DTQ ran_VVD straight_AJ0 north_NN1 to_PRP the_AT0 destination_NN1 ._SENT There_EX0 were_VBD two_CRD roads_NN2 running_VVG parallel_AV0 to_PRP the_AT0 river_NN1 on_PRP opposite_AJ0 banks_NN2 ._SENT It_PNP was_VBD impossible_AJ0 to_TO0 get_VVI lost_VVN ._SENT So_AV0 for_PRP a_AT0 couple_NN1 of_PRF days_NN2 they_PNP split_VVD up_AVP ,_PUN leapfrogging_VVG one_CRD another_DT0 on_PRP various_AJ0 modes_NN2 of_PRF transport_NN1 ,_PUN staying_VVG in_PRP sync_NN1 with_PRP phones_NN2 ,_PUN reconnecting_VVG in_PRP hostels_NN2 or_CJC dhabas_NN2 ._SENT They_PNP were_VBD now_AV0 decisively_AV0 out_AVP of_PRF the_AT0 Punjab_NP0 ,_PUN in_PRP a_AT0 Sikh-minority_NN1 part_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 country_NN1 ,_PUN predominantly_AV0 Hindu_AJ0 of_PRF course_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC the_AT0 farther_AJC north_NN1 they_PNP went_VVD ,_PUN the_AT0 more_AV0 strongly_AV0 it_PNP was_VBD inflected_VVN by_PRP Tibetan_AJ0 Buddhists_NN2 and_CJC Western_AJ0 backpackers_NN2 ._SENT Of_PRF the_AT0 latter_DT0 ,_PUN some_DT0 were_VBD pure_AJ0 adventurers_NN2 while_CJS others_NN2 were_VBD pilgrims_NN2 ,_PUN figuratively_AV0 and_CJC literally_AV0 on_PRP the_AT0 road_NN1 to_PRP Dharamshala_NP0 ._SENT 
This_DT0 put_VVD Laks_NP0 into_PRP a_AT0 funny_AJ0 state_NN1 of_PRF mind_NN1 when_CJS he_PNP found_VVD himself_PNX ,_PUN as_CJS happened_VVN increasingly_AV0 ,_PUN among_PRP such_DT0 people_NN0 in_PRP hostels_NN2 or_CJC bus_NN1 stations_NN2 ._SENT To_TO0 extend_VVI Ilham_NP0 's_POS analogy_NN1 ,_PUN if_CJS this_DT0 was_VBD the_AT0 Fellowship_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Ring_NN1 ,_PUN Laks_NP0 was_VBD Aragorn_NP0 ,_PUN part_NN1 man_NN1 and_CJC part_NN1 elf_NN1 ,_PUN equally_AV0 capable_AJ0 of_PRF hanging_VVG out_AVP with_PRP Lord_NP0 Elrond_NP0 at_PRP the_AT0 high_AJ0 table_NN1 of_PRF Imladris_NN1 or_CJC slamming_VVG down_AVP pints_NN2 in_PRP a_AT0 tavern_NN1 in_PRP Bree_NP0 ._SENT When_CJS not_XX0 standing_VVG next_ORD to_PRP his_DPS modern_AJ0 backpack_NN1 he_PNP looked_VVD absolutely_AV0 like_PRP a_AT0 Punjabi_AJ0 Sikh_AJ0 ,_PUN and_CJC so_AV0 was_VBD assumed_VVN to_TO0 be_VBI just_AV0 that_DT0 by_PRP locals_NN2 and_CJC Westerners_NN2 alike_AV0 ._SENT When_CJS he_PNP started_VVD talking_VVG ,_PUN most_DT0 would_VM0 peg_VVI him_PNP as_CJS American_AJ0 ,_PUN though_CJS people_NN0 in_PRP the_AT0 know_VVB could_VM0 guess_VVI from_PRP his_DPS articulation_NN1 and_CJC certain_AJ0 vowel_NN1 sounds_VVZ that_CJT he_PNP was_VBD Canadian_AJ0 ._SENT 
He_PNP generally_AV0 kept_VVD his_DPS distance_NN1 ,_PUN though_AV0 ._SENT The_AT0 backpackers_NN2 carried_VVD their_DPS own_DT0 rolling_AJ0 soap_NN1 opera_NN1 with_PRP them_PNP ,_PUN with_PRP an_AT0 ever-shifting_AJ0 cast_NN1 of_PRF characters_NN2 and_CJC set-piece_AJ0 dramas_NN2 :_PUN who_PNQ was_VBD sleeping_VVG with_PRP whom_PNQ ,_PUN who_PNQ was_VBD a_AT0 cool_AJ0 kid_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 user_NN1 ,_PUN a_AT0 narc_NN1 ,_PUN or_CJC moocher_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ was_VBD in_PRP the_AT0 know_VVB ,_PUN who_PNQ was_VBD clueless_AJ0 ,_PUN who_PNQ had_VHD left_VVN the_AT0 communal_AJ0 bathroom_NN1 in_PRP a_AT0 terrible_AJ0 state_NN1 ._SENT None_PNI of_PRF this_DT0 was_VBD going_VVG to_TO0 help_VVI Laks_NN2 and_CJC so_AV0 he_PNP kept_VVD his_DPS mouth_NN1 shut_VVD ._SENT 
During_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD part_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 journey_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 truck_NN1 drivers_NN2 who_PNQ picked_VVD him_PNP up_AVP ,_PUN all_DT0 of_PRF whom_PNQ were_VBD Sikhs_NN2 ,_PUN seemed_VVD to_TO0 assume_VVI he_PNP was_VBD just_AV0 a_AT0 young_AJ0 wanderer_NN1 who_PNQ needed_VVD a_AT0 lift_NN1 somewhere_AV0 ._SENT But_CJC north_NN1 of_PRF about_PRP Kullu_NP0 this_DT0 all_DT0 changed_VVN ._SENT South_NN1 of_PRF there_AV0 this_DT0 young_AJ0 hitchhiker_NN1 might_VM0 have_VHI been_VBN bound_VVN in_PRP any_DT0 direction_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC the_AT0 thing_NN1 in_PRP his_DPS hand_NN1 was_VBD just_AV0 a_AT0 walking_NN1 stick_NN1 ,_PUN the_AT0 kind_NN1 of_PRF thing_NN1 a_AT0 savvy_AJ0 traveler_NN1 might_VM0 carry_VVI to_TO0 fend_VVI off_AVP rabid_AJ0 dogs_NN2 ._SENT North_NN1 of_PRF there_AV0 his_DPS destination_NN1 and_CJC his_DPS intentions_NN2 were_VBD obvious_AJ0 ,_PUN the_AT0 purpose_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 stick_NN1 unmistakable_AJ0 ._SENT His_DPS bhais_NN1 discovered_VVD likewise_AV0 ._SENT They_PNP opened_VVD up_AVP the_AT0 bundle_NN1 of_PRF rattan_NN1 and_CJC passed_VVD out_AVP sticks_NN2 even_AV0 to_PRP the_AT0 non-combatant_AJ0 Ilham_NP0 ._SENT Their_DPS baggage_NN1 grew_VVD heavy_AJ0 with_PRP food_NN1 and_CJC even_AJ0 clothing_NN1 donated_VVN to_PRP them_PNP by_PRP truck_NN1 drivers_NN2 and_CJC dhaba_NN1 staff_NN0 who_PNQ knew_VVD what_DTQ they_PNP were_VBD doing_VDG ._SENT 
The_AT0 ease_NN1 with_PRP which_DTQ they_PNP reached_VVD Manali--the_NP0 last_ORD settlement_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 Beas_NP0 before_CJS you_PNP climbed_VVD up_AVP into_PRP high_AJ0 mountains--forced_AJ0 Ravi_NP0 's_POS hand_NN1 ._SENT He_PNP had_VHD been_VBN waffling_VVG the_AT0 whole_AJ0 way_NN1 ,_PUN claiming_VVG that_CJT he_PNP was_VBD only_AV0 tagging_VVG along_AVP on_PRP the_AT0 first_ORD leg_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 journey_NN1 so_AV0 that_CJT he_PNP could_VM0 see_VVI the_AT0 mountains_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC that_CJT he_PNP 'd_VM0 peel_VVI off_AVP and_CJC go_VVI home_AV0 at_PRP some_DT0 point_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 not_XX0 too_AV0 distant_AJ0 future_NN1 ._SENT But_CJC just_AV0 like_VVB that_CJT they_PNP were_VBD in_PRP Manali_NP0 ,_PUN where_AVQ you_PNP could_VM0 n't_XX0 look_VVI in_PRP any_DT0 direction_NN1 without_PRP seeing_VVG a_AT0 genuine_AJ0 Himalaya_NP0 erupting_VVG straight_AV0 up_AVP just_AV0 a_AT0 few_DT0 miles_NN2 distant_AJ0 ._SENT Far_AV0 from_PRP running_VVG low_AJ0 on_PRP supplies_NN2 ,_PUN they_PNP had_VHD stocked_VVN up_AVP as_CJS they_PNP went_VVD ._SENT No_AT0 one_PNI could_VM0 claim_VVI that_CJT they_PNP had_VHD suffered_VVN any_DT0 hardship_NN1 ._SENT Even_AV0 the_AT0 most_AV0 coddled_AJ0 traveler_NN1 would_VM0 think_VVI twice_AV0 before_CJS whining_VVG in_PRP earshot_NN1 of_PRF Ilham_NP0 ,_PUN who_PNQ had_VHD endured_VVN shit_NN1 you_PNP would_VM0 n't_XX0 believe_VVI ._SENT No_AT0 obvious_AJ0 opportunity_NN1 had_VHD ,_PUN in_PRP other_AJ0 words_NN2 ,_PUN presented_VVD itself_PNX to_PRP Ravi_NP0 to_TO0 justify_VVI his_DPS falling_VVG away_AV0 from_PRP the_AT0 quest_NN1 ._SENT 
Manali_NP0 was_VBD a_AT0 curious_AJ0 place_NN1 where_AVQ a_AT0 number_NN1 of_PRF very_AV0 different_AJ0 streams_NN2 of_PRF humanity_NN1 came_VVD together_AV0 ._SENT They_PNP did_VDD not_XX0 clash_VVI but_CJC sorted_VVD themselves_PNX into_PRP parallel_AJ0 worlds_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 economy_NN1 was_VBD based_VVN on_PRP tourism_NN1 ._SENT Indians_NN2 traditionally_AV0 came_VVD here_AV0 on_PRP honeymoons_NN2 ._SENT Western_AJ0 backpackers_NN2 used_VVD it_PNP as_PRP a_AT0 base_NN1 camp_NN1 for_PRP mountain_NN1 forays_NN2 ._SENT The_AT0 styles_NN2 of_PRF accommodation_NN1 for_PRP those_DT0 two_CRD classes_NN2 of_PRF visitor_NN1 could_VM0 n't_XX0 have_VHI been_VBN more_AV0 different_AJ0 ._SENT Added_VVN to_PRP that_DT0 was_VBD a_AT0 less_AV0 visible_AJ0 community_NN1 of_PRF refugees_NN2 from_PRP the_AT0 north_NN1 ,_PUN who_PNQ naturally_AV0 collected_VVD here_AV0 because_CJS it_PNP was_VBD the_AT0 first_ORD place_NN1 a_AT0 person_NN1 coming_VVG down_AVP out_AVP of_PRF the_AT0 mountains_NN2 would_VM0 have_VHI any_DT0 chance_NN1 of_PRF survival_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 fourth_ORD stream_NN1 was_VBD military_AJ0 ,_PUN but_CJC they_PNP occupied_VVD their_DPS own_DT0 facilities_NN2 and_CJC drove_VVD their_DPS own_DT0 vehicles--sometimes_NN2 on_PRP their_DPS own_DT0 roads_NN2 ._SENT A_AT0 neophyte_NN1 wandering_VVG into_PRP town_NN1 would_VM0 have_VHI burned_VVN a_AT0 day_NN1 or_CJC two_CRD trying_VVG to_TO0 make_VVI sense_NN1 of_PRF all_DT0 that_DT0 ,_PUN but_CJC Ilham_NP0 vectored_VVD them_PNP straight_AV0 to_PRP a_AT0 hostel_NN1 ,_PUN half_DT0 in_PRP the_AT0 woods_NN2 and_CJC sufficiently_AV0 down-market_AJ0 that_CJT it_PNP also_AV0 served_VVD as_PRP a_AT0 logistics_NN1 base_NN1 for_PRP a_AT0 certain_AJ0 number_NN1 of_PRF Tibetan_NN1 and_CJC Uighur_NN1 refugees_NN2 camped_VVD out_AVP nearby_AV0 ._SENT The_AT0 Fellowship_NN1 settled_VVN in_PRP there_AV0 for_PRP an_AT0 afternoon_NN1 and_CJC a_AT0 night_NN1 ,_PUN ate_VVD that_CJT portion_NN1 of_PRF their_DPS donated_AJ0 food_NN1 that_CJT seemed_VVD least_AV0 likely_AJ0 to_TO0 keep_VVI much_AV0 longer_AV0 ,_PUN and_CJC then_AV0 proceeded_VVD to_TO0 draw_VVI attention_NN1 to_PRP themselves_PNX by_PRP doing_VDG squats_NN2 and_CJC push-ups_NN2 and_CJC burpees_NN2 in_PRP the_AT0 courtyard_NN1 until_CJS they_PNP were_VBD near_AJ0 to_PRP passing_VVG out_AVP ._SENT Manali_NP0 was_VBD at_PRP two_CRD thousand_CRD meters_NN2 :_PUN a_AT0 mile_NN1 high_AJ0 ,_PUN basically_AV0 ._SENT Nothing_PNI compared_VVD to_PRP where_AVQ they_PNP were_VBD going_VVG but_CJC enough_AV0 that_CJT the_AT0 lungs_NN2 noticed_VVN ._SENT 
Two_CRD young_AJ0 men_NN2 came_VVD over_AVP to_TO0 watch_VVI ._SENT They_PNP looked_VVD South_NP0 Asian_AJ0 but_CJC ,_PUN to_TO0 judge_VVI from_PRP speech_NN1 and_CJC attire_NN1 ,_PUN were_VBD working-class_AJ0 Englishmen_NN2 ._SENT Laks_NN2 guessed--correctly_AV0 as_CJS it_PNP turned_VVD out--that_NP0 they_PNP were_VBD Sikhs_NN2 who_PNQ were_VBD non-observant_AJ0 ,_PUN at_PRP least_AV0 when_CJS it_PNP came_VVD to_PRP hair_NN1 ,_PUN beard_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC turban_NN1 ._SENT They_PNP were_VBD at_PRP least_AV0 wearing_VVG bracelets_NN2 ._SENT Perhaps_AV0 they_PNP were_VBD now_AV0 trying_VVG to_TO0 remedy_VVI that_CJT by_PRP letting_VVG their_DPS beards_NN2 grow_VVB ,_PUN or_CJC perhaps_AV0 shaving_AJ0 had_VHD just_AV0 been_VBN inconvenient_AJ0 for_PRP them_PNP during_PRP the_AT0 last_ORD week_NN1 or_CJC so_AV0 ._SENT They_PNP had_VHD walking_NN1 sticks_NN2 ,_PUN but_CJC in_PRP no_AT0 other_AJ0 way_NN1 did_VDD they_PNP seem_VVI to_TO0 have_VHI any_DT0 interest_NN1 in_PRP backpacking_VVG just_AV0 for_PRP backpacking_NN1 's_POS sake_NN1 ._SENT They_PNP introduced_VVD themselves_PNX as_PRP Sam_NP0 and_CJC Jay_NP0 ,_PUN which_DTQ Laks_NP0 could_VM0 guess_VVI were_VBD Anglicized_AJ0 variants_NN2 of_PRF whatever_DTQ traditional_AJ0 names_NN2 appeared_VVD on_PRP their_DPS passports_NN2 ._SENT Squinting_VVG through_PRP their_DPS own_DT0 cigarette_NN1 smoke_NN1 ,_PUN they_PNP appraised_VVD the_AT0 stick-work_NN1 of_PRF Laks_NP0 and_CJC Gopinder_NP0 with_PRP what_DTQ seemed_VVD to_TO0 be_VBI a_AT0 discerning_AJ0 eye_NN1 and_CJC asked_VVD questions_NN2 that_CJT seemed_VVD extremely_AV0 practical_AJ0 in_PRP nature_NN1 ._SENT 
Once_AV0 they_PNP had_VHD all_AV0 made_VVN friends_NN2 to_PRP a_AT0 certain_AJ0 point_NN1 ,_PUN they_PNP explained_VVD flat-out_AV0 that_CJT they_PNP were_VBD hooligans_NN2 ._SENT Soccer_NN1 hooligans_NN2 ._SENT Not_XX0 just_AV0 casual_AJ0 brawlers_NN2 but_CJC members_NN2 of_PRF organized_AJ0 bands_NN2 that_CJT would_VM0 travel_VVI en_NP0 masse_NP0 to_PRP foreign_AJ0 countries_NN2 and_CJC use_VVB organized_AJ0 tactics_NN2 to_TO0 make_VVI war_NN1 on_PRP their_DPS counterparts_NN2 from_PRP Athens_NP0 or_CJC Lisbon_NP0 or_CJC Warsaw_NP0 ._SENT They_PNP had_VHD reached_VVN an_AT0 advanced_AJ0 age_NN1 (_PUL twenty-five_CRD )_PUR where_CJS introspection_NN1 and_CJC wisdom_NN1 had_VHD begun_VVN to_TO0 cloud_VVI their_DPS judgment_NN1 ._SENT They_PNP 'd_VHD heard_VVN of_PRF the_AT0 war_NN1 being_VBG waged_VVN with_PRP rocks_NN2 and_CJC sticks_NN2 at_PRP the_AT0 top_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 world_NN1 and_CJC it_PNP had_VHD occurred_VVN to_PRP them_PNP that_CJT the_AT0 skills_NN2 they_PNP had_VHD acquired_VVN in_PRP combat_NN1 against_PRP supporters_NN2 of_PRF rival_AJ0 football_NN1 squads_NN2 could_VM0 just_AV0 as_AV0 well_AV0 be_VBI put_VVN into_PRP service_NN1 holding_VVG the_AT0 Chinese_NN1 at_PRP bay_NN1 ._SENT Sam_NP0 and_CJC Jay_NP0 were_VBD too_AV0 dour_AJ0 and_CJC grudging_AJ0 to_TO0 come_VVI right_AV0 out_AVP and_CJC say_VVB we_PNP 'd_VM0 like_VVI to_TO0 team_VVI up_AVP with_PRP youbut_NN1 thenceforth_AV0 they_PNP simply_AV0 behaved_VVD as_CJS if_CJS this_DT0 were_VBD a_AT0 done_VDN deal_NN1 ._SENT 
The_AT0 way_NN1 it_PNP worked_VVD here_AV0 ,_PUN as_CJS Ilham_NP0 explained_VVD ,_PUN was_VBD that_CJT drivers_NN2 aspiring_VVG to_TO0 go_VVI north_NN1 tried_VVD to_TO0 get_VVI as_PRP early_AV0 a_AT0 start_NN1 as_CJS possible_AJ0 ,_PUN to_TO0 beat_VVI the_AT0 traffic_NN1 jam_NN1 created_VVN by_PRP all_DT0 the_AT0 other_AJ0 vehicles_NN2 pursuing_VVG exactly_AV0 the_AT0 same_DT0 strategy_NN1 ._SENT They_PNP had_VHD to_TO0 get_VVI up_AVP so_AV0 early_AJ0 that_CJT it_PNP basically_AV0 was_VBD n't_XX0 worth_PRP going_VVG to_PRP bed_NN1 ._SENT They_PNP pooled_VVD funds_NN2 with_PRP Sam_NP0 and_CJC Jay_NP0 and_CJC hired_VVD two_CRD taxis_NN2 ._SENT Luggage_NN1 went_VVD in_PRP the_AT0 boot_NN1 or_CJC on_PRP the_AT0 roof_NN1 ,_PUN and_CJC sticks_NN2 were_VBD strapped_VVN alongside_PRP the_AT0 luggage_NN1 racks_NN2 ,_PUN which_DTQ to_PRP the_AT0 eyes_NN2 of_PRF adventuresome_AJ0 males_NN2 of_PRF their_DPS age_NN1 looked_VVD cool_AJ0 ._SENT The_AT0 road_NN1 north_NN1 out_AVP of_PRF town_NN1 was_VBD already_AV0 dismayingly_AV0 crowded_AJ0 ._SENT 
Until_CJS recently_AV0 it_PNP had_VHD been_VBN necessary_AJ0 to_TO0 drive_VVI all_DT0 the_AT0 way_NN1 over_PRP Rohtang_NN1 Pass_NN1 ,_PUN an_AT0 infinity_NN1 of_PRF switchbacks_NN2 cresting_VVG at_PRP four_CRD thousand_CRD meters_NN2 ,_PUN then_AV0 down_PRP an_AT0 equal_AJ0 number_NN1 of_PRF switchbacks_NN2 into_PRP a_AT0 hamlet_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 upper_AJ0 Chenab_NN1 at_PRP more_DT0 like_PRP three_CRD thousand_CRD meters_NN2 ._SENT From_PRP there_AV0 the_AT0 highway_NN1 followed_VVD a_AT0 maddeningly_AV0 indirect_AJ0 route_NN1 up_AVP into_PRP Ladakh_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 water-_AJ0 and_CJC oxygen-starved_AJ0 province_NN1 that_CJT bordered_VVD China_NP0 ._SENT Remote_AJ0 and_CJC thinly_AV0 populated_AJ0 as_CJS it_PNP was_VBD ,_PUN Ladakh_NP0 was_VBD connected_VVN to_PRP the_AT0 rest_NN1 of_PRF India_NP0 in_PRP only_AV0 a_AT0 few_DT0 places_NN2 through_PRP which_DTQ all_DT0 traffic_NN1 in_AVP and_CJC out_AVP of_PRF it_PNP was_VBD funneled_AJ0 ._SENT Hence_AV0 all_DT0 this_DT0 traffic_NN1 in_PRP the_AT0 wee_AJ0 hours_NN2 in_PRP what_DTQ otherwise_AV0 seemed_VVD like_PRP the_AT0 middle_NN1 of_PRF nowhere_AV0 ._SENT 
A_AT0 few_DT0 years_NN2 ago_AV0 the_AT0 government_NN1 had_VHD at_PRP last_ORD succeeded_VVN in_PRP punching_VVG a_AT0 very_AV0 long_AJ0 and_CJC deep_AJ0 tunnel_NN1 all_DT0 the_AT0 way_NN1 through_PRP the_AT0 spur_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 Himalayas_NP0 separating_VVG the_AT0 Beas_NP0 from_PRP the_AT0 Chenab_NN1 ,_PUN bypassing_VVG the_AT0 dreaded_AJ0 Rohtang_NN1 Pass_NN1 ._SENT Several_DT0 kilometers_NN2 north_NN1 of_PRF Manali_NP0 ,_PUN the_AT0 road_NN1 forked_VVD ._SENT A_AT0 newer_AJC road_NN1 ran_VVD to_PRP the_AT0 left_NN1 toward_PRP the_AT0 entrance_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 tunnel_NN1 ._SENT The_AT0 right_AJ0 fork_NN1 ,_PUN which_DTQ led_VVD to_PRP the_AT0 pass_NN1 ,_PUN was_VBD less_AV0 traveled_VVN ._SENT It_PNP wandered_VVD through_PRP a_AT0 little_AJ0 settlement_NN1 and_CJC then_AV0 struck_VVD out_AVP decisively_AV0 uphill_AV0 ._SENT Before_AV0 too_AV0 long_AV0 there_EX0 was_VBD snow_NN1 on_PRP the_AT0 ground_NN1 ,_PUN then_AV0 banks_NN2 of_PRF it_PNP plowed_VVN off_AVP to_PRP the_AT0 sides_NN2 ,_PUN and_CJC then_AV0 they_PNP were_VBD driving_VVG between_PRP vertical_AJ0 walls_NN2 of_PRF it_PNP ,_PUN as_CJS high_AV0 as_CJS the_AT0 taxis_NN2 '_POS windowsills_NN2 ._SENT As_CJS high_AV0 as_CJS the_AT0 roof_NN1 racks_NN2 ._SENT At_PRP one_CRD point_NN1 about_PRP halfway_AV0 up_AVP they_PNP stopped_VVD for_PRP a_AT0 bit_NN1 at_PRP a_AT0 little_AJ0 dhaba_NN1 and_CJC were_VBD able_AJ0 to_TO0 clamber_VVI up_AVP a_AT0 snowbank_NN1 and_CJC look_VVB down_AVP on_PRP the_AT0 road_NN1 they_PNP had_VHD not_XX0 taken_VVN :_PUN a_AT0 snake_NN1 of_PRF red_AJ0 brake_NN1 lights_NN2 winding_VVG its_DPS way_NN1 up_PRP a_AT0 valley_NN1 toward_PRP the_AT0 entrance_NN1 of_PRF the_AT0 tunnel_NN1 ._SENT They_PNP could_VM0 n't_XX0 see_VVI the_AT0 entrance_NN1 from_PRP this_DT0 angle_NN1 ,_PUN but_CJC could_VM0 guess_VVI where_AVQ it_PNP was_VBD from_PRP a_AT0 nimbus_NN1 of_PRF arctic_AJ0 cold_AJ0 white_AJ0 LED_NN1 lights_NN2 above_PRP a_AT0 spur_NN1 of_PRF rock_NN1 ._SENT 
