As Cat's husband, Alistair had one female ally in the group, but the fact was, Alistair and Jonathan were outnumbered by women, and so turned to stalwart macho friendship as a means of survival. Often called upon to defend their helpless girlie companions from wild animals, thundrous avalanches, and smelly latrines, the two men soon became weatherbeaten, grizzled, almost unrecognizable shadows of their former selves. All as it should be, of course.