Hugo Lefèvre

Summary

• Nora, who is hungover, stumbles into a small dining hall in a research center where she grabs a black coffee and stale rye bread for breakfast. She observes that there are seventeen total people in the room - eleven men and six women, and sits down alone.
• Nora gazes out the window at the icy landscape composed of snowy, pointed hills and a glacier, noting the variety of white hues visible. The terrain is much more textured and diverse than she had previously seen in magazines or television.
• A man wearing a parka sits with Nora and introduces himself as Hugo Lefèvre who she vaguely recognizes from the research center in Svalbard. He compliments her on her paper concerning pulsating glaciers, and they discuss the unique phenomenon of such glaciers in the region.
• Hugo laments the never-ending light prevalent from April onwards, comparing it to an interminable day. He talks about his struggles with sleep aboard the boat they're on and how he spent the previous night drinking vodka with another researcher, Ingrid.
• Nora feels uncomfortable with Hugo's probing gaze and wishes she had sat with Ingrid instead. Hugo confuses Nora by saying she's the 'spotter' for the day. Not knowing what the term meant but not wanting to admit her ignorance, she agrees with him and voices her readiness for a challenge. Hugo wished her good luck.