Darwin's Race
By Brian Ullmann
Medallion Press, Inc.
Copyright © 2009
Brian Ullmann
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-934755-07-5
Chapter One
Six Years Later
Rockefeller Center
New York City
If New York City was the media capital of the world, Rockefeller Center represented its
epicenter. "The Rock," as it was known within Manhattan, was home to the largest news
gathering organization in the world, the Associated Press, as well as the broadcast headquarters
of NBC-TV and Radio City Music Hall. But it was perhaps most famous for its flag-lined
sunken plaza. During the winter months, the plaza morphed from an outdoor restaurant to a
giant ice-skating rink, the site of the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree.
Months before the first chill of winter, the sunken plaza had been converted into a massive
stage, a six-foot platform that stretched forty feet across, facing a dozen rows of folding chairs.
On the far side of the plaza, a striking statue sat atop a large fountain. Forged in bronze and
covered in gold leaf, it depicted the Greek mythological figure Prometheus stealing fire from the
gods as a gift for man, bringing knowledge and arts to the mortals.
Like ravenous rats, reporters swarmed the open courtyard between the stage and the gilded
Prometheus. An empty podium sat on top the otherwise bare stage, surrounded by broadcast
cameramen and audio techs adjusting microphones, checking levels, and trying nonchalantly to
sneak a peak behind the giant curtain hanging at the back of the stage. Two burly security
officers positioned on either end of the stage saw to it that none were successful, forcing the
media to pacify themselves with live teases and taped stand-ups.
Snatches of their reports could be heard over the clamor.
"Speculation is rampant," a pretty blonde reporter vamped into a video camera,
"as NBC
and Discovery Channel are set to announce a joint project shrouded in secrecy." The woman
gestured to the growing throng of media.
"One of the reasons for all this media attention is the
recent press release issued by hotshot producer Terrance Carlton. Yesterday afternoon Carlton,
known as the creator of the TV phenomenon Endure and the executive producer of the
granddaddy of all adventure races, the Eco-Challenge, released the following brief statement."
The reporter displayed a piece of paper to the camera before quoting from it directly:
"'The
National Broadcasting Company and Discovery Channel Entertainment in conjunction with Eco
Productions cordially invite the esteemed members of the media to a unique program
announcement this Thursday at 1 p.m. in Rockefeller Plaza.'"
The woman waved the piece of paper at the camera.
"That is the extent of the release, but
the real buzz started yesterday with an article in Variety
reporting that NBC had won the
broadcast rights to Carlton's new venture after a fierce bidding war with two other networks.
The article cited sources within the upper management of General Electric, the parent company
of NBC. Apparently, the significant rights fee had to be approved by the parent company due to
the, quote, 'explosive nature' of the program's content."
The reporter flashed her perfectly white teeth nicely complementing her carefully groomed
locks and a smart navy business suit.
"All of our questions will be answered in roughly twenty
minutes and CNN will carry the press conference live. For now, reporting live from Rockefeller
Center, this is Susan Peretti, CNN, New York City."
* * *
Terrance Carlton was pacing.
The fifty-fifth-floor office of NBC's vice president of special programming, Horace Alger,
was nearly large enough for a full-court basketball game, but Carlton felt like he was suffocating.
The office offered clear views of the Plaza, and Carlton distractedly surveyed the activity below.
Alger himself was seated on a lush Theodore sofa, and Carlton could feel the weight of the vice
president's heavy gaze upon his back as he strode from one side of the office to the other.
Carlton counted the steps it took to cover the length of the office. Thirty-six.
"There's nothing to be nervous about," Alger said finally. "Leslie has taken care of
everything. The press is here ... they're practically chomping at the bit to hear our news. Just
try to relax."
Carlton stopped mid-stride to consider the plump executive.
Alger had earned his sprawling office after twenty years of loyal service at NBC. He rose
up through the ranks, from a fresh-faced production intern for Brokaw's then-fledgling nightly
news to the executive producer for NBC's top-rated
Today Show. But Alger's big coup came
when he orchestrated a groundbreaking partnership with Discovery Channel to provide
educational children's programming on Saturday mornings. The move saved millions of dollars
in production costs and earned NBC kudos for exceeding the new, strict educational
programming guidelines set by the FCC. Alger's reward for his pioneering efforts was a fancy
title, an envy-inducing office, and almost complete autonomy for special programming. That's
why he was the perfect person to approach with Carlton's latest brainchild, a project that
promised to eclipse all his other endeavors, even
Endure. Alger, not surprisingly, jumped at the
opportunity.
Carlton knew that their partnership was big news-the combination of two titans. Failure,
as they say, was not an option.
"I'm not nervous," Carlton said, resuming his trans-office stroll. "I'm anxious. There's a
big difference. There's work to be done. If we want to launch this program for November
sweeps ..."
Alger interrupted. "Not 'want to launch,' Terrance. We
must launch for sweeps. NBC
didn't shell out this kind of money for a summer throwaway. I don't need to remind you of our
financial investment, do I?"
He certainly didn't. Though the media had not yet gotten wind of the enormous price tag,
the truth was that it would represent one of the most expensive productions in the history of the
network. And all for a program for which there was no pilot, no auditions, no cast, and a
logistical nightmare that made
Survivor look like
America's Funniest Home Videos.
The only thing they had was a site. And even that presented its difficulties.
Carlton ran a hand through his thick brown hair. Standing two inches over six feet, he was
an imposing man. Maybe it was his adventure racing background, but he was known in the
television community as somewhat of a bully, a do-anything-to-get-the-job-done type. He
certainly wasn't shy about throwing his two hundred muscular pounds around if the situation
warranted. A boyishly cute face betrayed forty-five years of wisdom, honed from competing in,
and later producing, triathlons, Ironman competitions, and then, ultimately, the most grueling
adventure race on the planet, the Eco-Challenge. People
died during these annual ten-day sprints
over demanding courses of rivers, mountains, cliffs, and desert. And that responsibility rested
solely upon the event's creator and mastermind. Parlaying his success with Eco-Challenge,
Carlton launched
Endure, a game show/reality show hybrid that dropped a dozen men and
women in the most inhospitable locations in the world and then, through a series of physical and
mental challenges, challenged them to survive in the wild.
Endure was the biggest primetime hit
in CBS's illustrious history and propelled Carlton to a position of power within the entertainment
world.
But there were clouds on the horizon. Eager to make the leap from producing fringe
adventure races to primetime programming, Carlton had made a serious miscalculation. A
mistake that, despite his rampant success, threatened everything.
With a deep breath, Carlton filled his lungs, puffed his chest, and straightened his shoulders.
"Horace, I realize there is pressure for this program. I
relish the pressure. It's part of what's
going to make this the greatest television event of all time. I just want to get this press
conference over with, so I can begin working on actually producing the damn thing. I don't have
to remind you where we're filming, do I?"
"No one has to remind anyone of anything," Alger replied. "We're all aware of the risks
and dangers of this ... spectacle. I talked Discovery Channel into a significant investment in
this project, and we have to make this work no matter what. The green they're putting up for this
could finance two straight months of
Shark Week."
"Shark Week?" Carlton said with a sneer. "Fuck
Shark Week. This event will blow that
away. After this,
Shark Week will be running during overnights." Carlton felt his confidence
surge. "Horace ... this is beyond television programming. This is beyond entertainment of any
kind. What we are doing here is nothing short of ... history."
At that moment, the door to Alger's office opened and a beautiful woman stepped through.
Leslie Dickerson, NBC's vice president of communications, was all business. Designer black-rimmed
glasses and hair pulled back in a severe bun did nothing to draw attention away from a
flawless face and a pair of long legs more suited to high-fashion runways than a public relations
desk. She made eye contact with each of the men, as if sizing them up, gauging their readiness.
"It's time," she said.
* * *
The outdoor courtyard exploded with activity as Carlton and Alger followed Leslie
Dickerson onto the stage. Flashes popped, reporters scrambled to their seats and camera
operators jumped into position, adjusting the focus and rechecking audio levels. After years of
covering mindless press tours of network suites (each one invariably proclaiming the potential of
their fall schedule), the prospect of something really interesting happening had invigorated the
cynical press corps.
The NBC communications staff had set out nearly one hundred chairs and all were filled.
Overflow media filled the aisles on either side, and a few unlucky latecomers were relegated to
peering around the phalanx of television cameras in the back of the plaza. A small crowd of
passersby ringed the perimeter.
Several yelled out questions, but as the communications chief assumed her position at the
podium, the courtyard fell silent. Carlton and Alger assumed their respective positions in
director's chairs upon the stage. Leslie paused for a moment, waiting for the signal from the
television cameramen to indicate they were rolling.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you are about to bear witness to an historical moment in
entertainment. I am pleased to introduce to you the participants in this evening's announcement.
"On my far right, Mr. Terrance Carlton. Creator of
Endure, today's most innovative and
popular television show. Mr. Carlton has also produced a host of other programming, including
the Eco-Challenge series and last year's highest-rated documentary,
Mallory and Irvine: The
Quest for Everest."
She paused as Carlton nodded politely toward the crowd.
"Next to Mr. Carlton is Mr. Horace Alger, vice president of special programming for NBC ..."
As Dickerson outlined Alger's résumé, Carlton scanned the crowd for familiar faces. He
spotted reporters from
Outside and
National Geographic-their coverage was a given-and
counted the cameras in the back of the plaza. Twenty-two. Not bad.
There was a slight commotion as a rather large man, bearded and bushy-haired, pressed
through the rearmost row of chairs. Carlton's eyes followed the bear of a man until he found a
seat. Then, staring directly at the producer, the man winked.
Another wave of applause brought Carlton's attention back to the business at hand.
"Mr. Carlton will speak, but first we have a brief video presentation."
Murmurs rose from the crowd, many glancing about the screen-less stage, confused about
where to watch. With a low whir, the curtain parted and a giant thirty-foot-wide projection
screen rose from below the stage. A single word appeared in white against the black screen.
TIBET
The screen filled with a sweeping aerial image of a towering mountain range. The narrator,
baritone-voiced, intoned:
"Tibet. The Land of Snows. A place of magical mountains and
spiritual awakenings. A land of unparalleled majesty. And breathless beauty."
Images of snowy fields, glistening ice, purple mountain flowers flashed across the screen.
"Lying upon the shoulders of the mighty Himalayan Mountains, Tibet is a land on the top of
the world. Birthplace of Buddhism and the sacred line of the Dalai Lama, Tibet is as sacred as it
is inaccessible. Shielded from the outside world by towering peaks of snow and ice, Tibetans live
simple lives, as they have for hundreds of years."
Children playing. Wrinkled elders working the fields. Clothes of sturdy and colorful
construction.
"The size of the state of Pennsylvania, Tibet is inhabited by only a few thousand hearty
souls. Though the Himalayas have been the traditional site of religious pilgrimage for Buddhist
worshippers for many years, most of Tibet remains virtually unexplored."
Images of caves, churning whitewater rivers, steep granite cliffs.
"There is a special place within Tibet that has been completely closed off to man for over a
thousand years. Myth and legend have named this place Shangri-la. We know it today as the
Tsangpo Gorge. Few have braved this two hundred thousand-acre wilderness of dense jungle,
steep gorges, and towering ice mountains, and the Tsangpo Gorge has never been fully explored.
There are reaches of the mighty Tsangpo that have eluded man since time began. The River
Tsangpo-borne upon the mountain of Mount Kalaish, the legendary site of the grand struggle
between the Buddhist yogi Milarepa and the Bon sorcerer Naro Bonchung for religious
supremacy of Tibet-cuts through the gorge like a scythe. In the battle, Milarepa threw the
sorcerer from the peak, establishing Buddhism as the primary religion of Tibet and Kalaish as a
center of mystical thinking. In the wild Himalayas, Kalaish unleashes the mightiest river the
world has ever known."
The screen shifted to a world map, the image zooming in on Asia. Tibet, shaded in gray,
stood out in stark contrast to its neighbors, China to the north and east and India to the south and
west. The image zoomed again, zeroing in on the remote southeast corner of Tibet.
"Just east of the Tsangpo Gorge lies an area even more remote. Tibetans hold this land
sacred and have never ventured into this unknown territory. But they do have a name for it.
Kukuranda-The Three Sisters. Three peaks comprise the Kukuranda, with one towering peak
at its center. Tibetans know this mountain as Kuk Sur. The Beast. What is known of this
mountain, indeed of the entire Kukuranda, is known only through myth and tradition, handed
down through generations of Tibetan storytellers."
On the screen, an ancient Tibetan man speaks in hushed tones, surrounded by children in
rapt attention, a snowcapped mountain looming in the distance.
"The storytellers speak of a land beyond imagining. Of a land filled with great animals
found nowhere else on earth. A place protected by God himself. A place where no man dares to
tread. A place, they say, that shall forever be protected from the ravages of man. Even the
invading Red Army found the Kukuranda impenetrable when they pushed into Tibet in 1950. The
Dragon lost many troops during their attempt-and as they headquartered their occupation
forces in Lhasa-vowed thereafter never again to set foot in the accursed place.
"Kukuranda is perhaps the last great wilderness on our planet, this generation's South Pole.
What marvels can be found there? We now know that Kuk Sur is the tallest unclimbed mountain
on planet Earth. But will we ever know the true nature of the vast Kukuranda and the fabled Kuk
Sur?
"Perhaps the time is drawing near when these questions will finally be answered ..."
The screen went black and dropped back underneath the stage. Carlton was standing alone
at the podium, his black eyes unblinking in the face of a torrent of lightning from camera flashes.
Just before he spoke, the corners of his mouth turned upwards, flashing his trademark grin. Half
smile, half smirk, it was a mysterious concoction that bespoke confidence and secrecy. He
paused another moment, breathing in the attention he held, the power of the words that were to
come.
"Ladies and gentlemen, NBC Universal and Discovery Communications are proud to bring
you the greatest expedition of all time. It will be a completely unguided journey through the
remote Tsangpo Gorge from the western banks of the Tsangpo River to the summit of Kuk Sur.
Some of you know that Kuk Sur and the entire Kukaranda Range have been closed for several
years now by the Chinese government after a series of fatal accidents. I am pleased to announce
that they have agreed to lift these restrictions for this race. The opportunity to make a first ascent
of Kuk Sur stands before us."
(Continues...)
Excerpted from Darwin's Race
by Brian Ullmann
Copyright © 2009 by Brian Ullmann.
Excerpted by permission.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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