A special forces soldier, escaping the cruelty of his fellow servicemen, ends up in the Zone—where dangers come not only from people, but also from mutants and anomalies. A story about whether it’s possible to preserve one’s humanity amid an unending war. Nikita Nefedov, who served at the Cordon in the Chernobyl Zone, had to endure unbearable conditions and mockery, but after a tragedy involving a friend he is forced to desert into the Zone. However, life there is no easier: radiation, anomalous emissions, deadly traps, and mutants become part of everyday life. Even though many of these threats can be gotten used to, constant encounters with deception and betrayal make the task of staying human much more difficult.