We explained the aim of our journey and our intention to pass through Mongolia to the nearest port on the Pacific.
The officers asked me to bring them out with us.

I agreed.

Our reconnaissance proved to us that there were no Partisans near the house of the peasant who was to ferry us over the Little Yenisei.

We moved off at once in order to pass as quickly as possible this dangerous zone of the Yenisei and to sink ourselves into the forest beyond.

It snowed but immediately thawed.