It was only then that I truly understood unity with nature. I saw that anything is possible. I learned to understand every bird and intuitively felt empathy for every animal. I would wake up at the slightest sound. If there was a steamer approaching, I would get up and put a kettle on. I looked forward to meeting anyone… In the Ural Mountains, there are oases, a different climate, and clear boundaries between climate zones. This is because the mountains protect the region from the wind. This world is fantastic. And right next to it is yet another world: if you climb up to the plateau, there is grass that is taller than you are. The willows are as thick as a human body. We saw a large golden root growing out of a tree stump… It takes time to learn not to shoot left and right… A lynx lived nearby. I never saw it but always felt its presence when I stood there with a sketchbox easel. I felt its eyes on me, watching me from behind. I felt uneasy. The lynx wouldn’t let me work. It was somewhere close all the time. The views were extraordinary… There was a geological expedition outpost on the Yugorsky Strait. Once I was bored and decided to visit the White Nose station. It is three kilometers away by sea in the direction of Sokoliy (Hawk) Island. I climbed up the hill and understood why the island was called that way, with its outspread wings and beak. On my way back, I saw a huge whale come up. It didn’t touch me. It just said hello.