ТАВ. АЛТАЙН АНЧИД
In the tavern, the expedition members discuss the difficulty of finding a local guide for the remote field. Erdene reports having spoken with the local party branch leader, describing three possible contacts: an absent newcomer, an 80‑year‑old elder, and a man named Damdin. Bayar places food on the table while the conversation continues. Dashnyam, the young party committee head, enters with the elderly Ga avgai, a highly respected former collective leader adorned with medals. Ga avgai describes his past, his current role as head of a local group, and his familiarity with the area. The team learns that Damdin has been dispatched by the party committee, but he recently fell from a horse, spent weeks in the hospital, and now has a crippled foot. When Damdin arrives at 8 a.m., he tells the group that he cannot guide them because of his injury and because a resident who never returned in previous years would not permit it. The discussion shifts to the target area “Bichig bogd,” which Professor Bat identifies as a wild, hard‑to‑reach region about six to seven days away, with no permanent inhabitants and abundant wildlife. Panov asks about the local fauna; the locals list various species including deer, goats, yaks, ibex, wolves, and many birds, emphasizing that the area is a natural sanctuary. The meeting ends without securing a guide, and the expedition remains uncertain about how to reach the site.