«The child, the child is completely frozen! Have some tea, it will warm you up.»
The bewildered little girl gazed at the captivating scene and was unwilling to let go of her father's hand.
After they had shed their outerwear, cups were brought to them, filled with surprisingly salty tea mixed with milk (they later learned it was a traditional drink in these parts). Witnessing the perplexed expressions of the new guests, Nadezhda threw up her hands:
«Oh, right! The child needs something sweet! I'll go make some.»
Soon after dinner, they fell asleep almost instantly. And before dawn, beneath the still starry sky, they set off once more.
After a few days, the road led them to the river, and they continued their journey along the Lena's bank. Eventually, the road immersed itself back into the forest. They arrived at their destination, the unknown Kirensk, when the sun was already setting. The pines parted, revealing a remarkably beautiful sight: a small town amidst a snow-covered field adorned with tracks of sledges and skis – the frozen river itself (the opposite bank was dotted with boats trapped in ice). In this bend of the Lena River, where it merged with the Kirenga, stood the village. The snow gleamed with a pink hue in the setting sun, and bluish columns of smoke billowed above the huts – this is how Olga would later recollect her very first impression of Kirensk.
They were expected upon arrival. The chairman of the district council, Kurekhin, had received a telegram from Moscow requesting all possible assistance to the survey expedition, and thus everyone who arrived was promptly accommodated in their homes.
The next day, Kurekhin decided to give them a tour. He showed up in the morning, inquired if they needed anything, and suggested a walk:
«You will be able to take a look at our town, the sights, so to speak», and, glancing skeptically at Olga, added, «Just dress warmer, we don't have the climate for the capital's… styles here.»
«Understood, girls?» Leonid laughed. «You won't even need to unpack those styles.»
The Mirachevskys hadn't expected to find anything captivating in this remote wilderness, but it would have been impolite to decline the hospitable host's offer. They strolled along the street, where the occasional passers-by stopped to greet them and observe the newcomers with curiosity. The town was truly bustling, featuring stone and log houses, many adorned with mezzanines and peculiar shutters on the windows. Some of these houses had once belonged to prosperous merchants, fur traders, timber magnates, and grain merchants, while others were the residences of businessmen and shipowners. One of the houses, with its blue-trimmed windows, had even sheltered the exiled Decembrist Prince Golitsyn.
«You have such unique architectural details here,» Olga remarked.
«And there's much more we have that others don't. Our town is ancient; the Cossacks established an ostrog (fortress) here as far back as 1630. We hold on to our customs,» the chairman explained.
«What kind of people do you have here? Will they be willing to join my expedition?» Leonid inquired, more concerned about the practical aspects of hiring workers.
«You must be cautious in the district: there are fugitives and the dekulakized (dispossessed peasants) hiding around here,» the chairman cautioned. However, he quickly corrected himself after Mirachevsky cast a meaningful gaze at him, then shifted his gaze to his wife, «Well, that was in the summer, nowadays they've probably driven them all away. But we have many educated individuals, including former exiles. My grandfather, an engineer, was exiled here from Samara Governorate. By the time his sentence was over, he had established a family and a home here. This place was close to his heart.»
«What was your grandfather in for? Did he dissent against the Tsar?» Olga inquired.
«Oh, yes! A political exile,» the chairman confirmed.
«My grandfather's brother was also like that,» Leonid recalled the stories about his mother's uncle Markel, «After serving his time in the Kara katorga, he settled somewhere not far from here, in Yakutia.»
As they approached the river, they spotted two temples on the left: an impressive stone one and a wooden two-story structure with mica windows, appearing as if from an old engraving due to its weathered and darkened appearance. The chairman explained, «The former Trinity Monastery has been here since the 17th century, known as the Ust-Kiren Monastery. The wooden church is St. Nicholas, and the cathedral used to be the main one.» Sighing involuntarily, he added, «Tomorrow we'll hold a meeting to get to know the people better.»
«It's a sight to behold!» Leonid exclaimed, already looking forward to exploring the surroundings of Kirensk, «But I couldn't see any bridges. What about in the summer?»
«There are no major bridges here, and the wooden ones built by the locals are destroyed during the ice drift. So, in the summer, transportation is primarily done by boat, and there's also a ferry crossing. When the ice melts, our three rivers will be fully visible – that's when you'll see the true beauty! Notice that hill over there? It's called Krasnoarmeyskaya, but its actual name is Sokolinaya Gora. The best views are from there.»
«Three rivers? I only read about two!» Leonid shivered, feeling the cold.
«Well, I suppose your books don't cover everything. Look to the left on the other bank of the Lena, you'll find the Telyachikha River flowing into it from the north. There are ship repair shops over there. And to the right is our Kirenga River,» the chairman elaborated.
«Well, for now, it's frozen over,» Olga said, trying to warm up.
«Olga, we're in the Venice of Siberia!»
«It's time to head back; the young ladies are already feeling cold,» the chairman expressed concern.
The next day, the club, originally built by merchants for their own needs, was bustling with people. Engineer Mirachevsky addressed the gathering, explaining the purpose of the expedition:
«Your region is rich, as you all know, and its development requires the construction of roads. Kirensk holds a strategic location in a region where the government and scientists have long contemplated building a road to connect with the Turkestan railroad. That's why we're here: survey parties are currently active all across the East Siberian region.»
«They say they'll stretch the road all the way to the ocean!» A lively voice called out from the back rows.
«That's the talk. But whether that road becomes a reality depends on all of us. So, my comrades, if any of you wish to be part of this crucial endeavor, please sign up.»
Leonid had not anticipated the party to recruit workers so swiftly, but his joy was premature. The volunteers couldn't endure the harsh working conditions for long: weeks spent on arduous treks exploring vast territories. Kurekhin explained the locals' seasonal habits:
«People here are used to hard work during the summer, but in winter, they tend to retreat into a sort of hibernation, focusing mainly on hunting. Leonid, you should look among the Evenks; some of them are willing to collaborate.»
«I'll search everywhere. Thank you for the guidance; Saveliy is a clever fellow and knows these places well.»
«Yes, and what a skilled hunter he is!»
The main research commenced during the summer. Before departing, Mirachevsky warned Olga that they would be away for at least a month. She had to come to terms with it.
The plan involved descending the Lena and then moving a little further east. In one of the villages along the shore, they managed to hire two strong, reserved men – a father and son. Saveliy suspected they were former kulaks (wealthy peasants) who had escaped exile, but they proved to be diligent, moderately amicable, and reliable enough, and that was all that mattered to the party chief.
The terrain became increasingly challenging, with occasional encounters of marshy areas. They had to adapt the plan, altering directions and deviating from the original route. The survey parties often traversed uncharted and undeveloped lands, at least according to their maps. However, the taiga wilderness concealed not only natural treasures, but also other dangers. The