Alatau from Kuznetsk, 4 May 2011
After driving all night to reach the city of Krasnoyarsk, Syssoi and Kassian had left the M53 to branch off to the southwest. At noon they paused near a village called Tarabanovskoye. They settled at a discreet distance, camouflaged by the lush vegetation, to regain strength. The locals, simple peasants, could react badly to the cadaveric teenager and Baranov wanted to remain discreet, even if the proximity of humans made him want to go have a little fun. Since they could not make a fire, his companion was content with cold golubtsi—cabbage leaves stuffed with meat—which he ate while observing the surroundings. The forest shone, its colours sublimated by the sun which, in places, created phantasmagoric skylights. The foliage then took on a magical carnatio
