"Now's our chance," Tintin said, and made a run for the cave. When he got inside, he found Chang dressed in a warm jacket, drinking hot tea and eating Himalayan musk deer steak with vegetables.
"Tintin, what brings you here?" Chang asked his old friend nonchalantly, as if they had just met unexpectedly on a street corner.
"Chang! My dear Chang! I've searched all over for you. I'm so glad I've found you."
"Oh really? You've been searching for me? Well that was very kind of you, but it really wasn't necessary. As you can see, I'm doing very well here. The Yeti has been taking great care of me. Would you care to sit down and have some steak and potatoes with a cup of tea? Or perhaps you'd prefer some beer, or wine, or maybe some soda and a glass of whiskey?"
Chang was well dressed in expensive mountaineering clothing, presumably stolen by the Yeti from a search party. He sat on a comfortable looking chair at a simple wooden table, perhaps stolen from a village in the valleys down below. In the corner stood a bed with clean looking sheets and blankets. The vegetables, supplementing Chang's delicious smelling meal, were probably obtained from lower lying farms.
Suddenly, there came the blubbering sound of a man's voice from outside the cave. An instant later the giant hairy Yeti appeared through the opening. Tintin was terrified at first, but Chang calmly talked to the giant beast, and it grunted and shuffled off into a corner of the cave.
"Well Chang, I've come here to rescue you and bring you back to Europe with me," Tintin said with a smile, as if he had just made an enticing offer for which he expected to be thanked and praised.
"Europe?" Chang asked with a frown. "Tintin, I really don't think I want to leave this place, and besides, the Yeti would be most upset."
The big hairy beast grunted in agreement from the corner.
Suddenly the Captain came charging into the cave wielding his pick-ax. The Yeti sprung to its feet, pounding its Chest, and let out a deafening roar that sent bits of rock falling down from the ceiling.
Tintin tried to restrain the Captain, and Chang shouted at the Yeti. "Oh be quiet you silly animal! Prepare some food and drinks for our guests, and don't be such a big baby!"
The Yeti sauntered about, preparing deer burgers and french fries for Tintin and the Captain. He went out to get some ice, and poured two tall glasses of whiskey for the visitors. The Captain smiled, downing both glasses, while Tintin was offered a cup of hot tea. Afterwards the Yeti poured himself a glass of whiskey and sat at the table with them.
The cave was well stocked with food and drinks. The Yeti turned out to be a great chef. Life was comfortable for Chang. Suddenly Chang yawned.
"Look, I really wish the two of you could stay longer, but it's getting late. I'm tired and the Yeti also needs his rest. Maybe we can do this again some time. Come back in a few years or so. It was lovely seeing you, goodbye!"
And with that the Yeti ushered Tintin and the Captain out the mouth of the cave. The two of them stood there dumbfounded. Tintin said that something must be amiss, he needed to go back in there and rescue Chang; but the Captain laid a fatherly hand on the boy's shoulder and spoke softly to him.
"Look here Tintin, now you've really done all you could to rescue Chang. It's time to give up; he doesn't want to be rescued. At least we had some great adventures in these mountains. Come on, let's go back to Marlinspike."
Tintin hung his head low and followed the Captain back to the monastery, and from there to Nepal and finally back home. He felt he had lost a friend, but was happy that Chang was at least alive and well looked after.
THE END
