In the town of Olechovo, criminals aren’t executed—they’re turned into “impaired” people using a magical locket. But free people—robbers—have been searching for a way to open it for many years, to reverse what was done to their comrades. Year after year, the final commandment of the free people is fulfilled: the words “One day, Haralug will open the locket” will eventually defeat the spell. And the robbers, naively, believe that their long-dead leader will rise from the grave and restore justice.
Yesenya Zhmurenok, nicknamed Baluy, is sixteen and knows nothing about the final commandment. He drinks, wanders, and amuses himself—until the locket accidentally ends up in his hands…