Intense is right. The big expeditions had an agreement with the Sherpa to leave them alone while fixing the rope. The Sherpa struggled with getting the ropes fixed, then the 3 dudes crammed into the top belay point - must have been frustrating. Then a Sherpa mob formed. Steck goes on record that Moro did not propose a fight though:

http://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adv...ecks-Story.html