noon
Nikolai carried my knapsack all the way , as well as his own smaller parcels . When I suggested that we should share the burden , he said it was no weight at all . I think Nikolai wanted to spare the little tawny lady . At noon we saw the fjord beneath us . Nikolai stopped and carefully rubbed down the mare once more . As our path sloped downward , I felt a pressure , a contraction in my chest ; it was the sea air . Nikolai asked me what was the matter , but it was nothing .