The party journeys along the river for a long time, but the night never falls.
Most of them are in a hurry to leaveâthe same desire as before, but now much stronger than ever before, more than enough to bring the long-awaited harmony of a common purpose to the team.
And no one dares mention their experiences for the rest of the trip.
Krolik: Let's make camp after we get out of the forest. What do you say?
Bessmert: I'm fine with it. How are you feeling, Mr. Jurien?
Jurien: I'm fine with that.
Yenisei: ...
A few still harbor a lingering curiosity, one they endure for a long time, and until unable to resist, they turn around to see if the ancient city on the mountainside is still in sight.
But while this is not a story where those who look back might turn into pillars of salt, there remains no trace of the strange city that should have still been in view.
And as they walk onward, the revived river known as the PèilĂn too has changed its appearance.
Yenisei: ...!
Yenisei: Madam, the river ...
The once-wide river invisibly splits into slender tributaries behind them, spread out across the lush spring meadows like a rope net.
Even if they wanted to find it, they might never distinguish the one that would lead them back.
Bessmert: What is it?
Team Member II: The compass is working!
Team Member II: Great!
Their fellow traveler excitedly raises his hands, briefly blocking Yenisei's gaze from Bessmert.
The girl takes advantage of the situation and withdraws the words she cannot say. She only gently shakes her head.
Yenisei: Nothing. Let's move.
Yenisei: The compass is working, which means we can rely on the map again.
Bessmert: Oh, that's good. As for the book I'm going to write ...
Yenisei: Yes? Have you decided the title?
Bessmert: Yes. I will call it ...
Bessmert: "Notes on ShuòrÏ."
Yenisei: Notes on ShuòrÏ ...
Yenisei: Yes, that's the title.
She flips over a page and continues reading.
Yenisei: "The title is actually not a good choice for a book on geographical discoveries."
Yenisei: "On one hand, there is no doubt that 'ShuòrÏ' is a difficult word for the target readers of this book."
Yenisei: "On the other hand, the word 'Notes,' in most cases, is used to describe the collections of informal essays. They usually record the daily talks of professional writers, and thus include a variety of ideas and inspirations."
Yenisei: "As a geographer, however, I don't possess enough knowledge of literature to write the real 'Notes,' nor does the assistant who takes dictations from me, unfortunately ..."
Yenisei: Haha ...
Yenisei: "Even so, we have decided to use these words for the title. Postscript: The title has also been included in the first draft we sent to the editors of Motherland Documentary and the Department of Publication Review."
Yenisei: The next page is missing. Let me see ...
Yenisei: Oh, found it.
Yenisei: "June 4, sunny. I never knew the journey back to Omsk would take so long. My assistant and I set off from Yekaterinburg last year, and we didn't arrive until now ..."
Yenisei: "In Omsk, we met the governor again. I left him some drafts of this book in return for the help from the local Scientific Research Association."
Yenisei: "Those drafts have recorded the steppe ecosystem around the Om River in detail. For example, before we arrived in Omsk, we followed a herd of sheep across the river. The wool on their tails was apparently matted."
Yenisei: "I recorded this detail because the way they crossed the water was almost a miracle. It is known to all that sheep can be easily drowned because their thick wool holds them back in water."
Yenisei: "Yet things seemed different for those sheep. They had been trained by the local herders and were able to cross the river swiftly, as if they were only several balls of cotton floating on the water ..."
Ms. Radio: "... When they came to the shore, I noticed that their hooves were in the shape of a round cake with one slice missing."
Vertin: Hmm ...
Ms. Radio: "They climbed out of the water with their little cake hooves, shook themselves dry, and continued on to the next pasture, never hesitant to go forward, never looking back."
Ms. Radio: "Seeing all these, I hope I will be as determined as these sheep in my future journey ..."
Ms. Radio: "Today's article was an extract from a geographic manuscript from St. Pavlov Foundation Far East Branch, recorded by Yenisei."
Ms. Radio: "Next is the news broadcast ..."
Vertin: ...
Vertin: Mmm ...
Vertin: Ms. Radio?
Ms. Radio: Yes, I'm here.
Vertin: I ... What time is it now?
Ms. Radio: It's 4:15 p.m.
Vertin: The nap went on a little longer than I thought.
Ms. Radio: Yes. How are you feeling?
Vertin: Think I had a dream. Many animals were jumping over a broken bridge.
Ms. Radio: I read you a story which has zebras and sheep in it.
Vertin: Zebras and sheep?
Vertin: I don't remember that ...
Vertin: Hmm?
???: Excuse me. Is Timekeeper in the room?
Vertin: I am.
???: May I come in? There is something I need to confirm with you ...
Vertin: I'm sorry, who's that?
Sonetto: Hmm? It's me, Sonetto.
Vertin: I might have taken too long a nap. Never mind, please come in.
Sonetto: Timekeeper, you don't look very well. Are you alright?
Vertin: It's ok. I had a weird dream.
Vertin: What's going on?
Sonetto: Oh, it's a letter from the Foundation. A colleague from the Russian branch was transferred to the headquarters today. She has shown a strong willingness to perform long-term field missions ...
Sonetto: Thus, the headquarters intends to transfer her to the Timekeeper Squad. Would you have a meeting with her? It is said that she is experienced in geographical exploration and survival in the wilderness. She could be a great helper.
Vertin: Geographical exploration? What's her name?
Sonetto: Please hold on. Let me check her file here.
Sonetto: And her name is ...
Sonetto: Yenisei.
