A blizzard traps a group of poorly prepared tourists in the mountains of the Subpolar Urals, who set out on a “trip from the Internet.” Alla understands that the group is on the edge of death: they have a wounded member, and the pass cannot be overcome. Death—terrible, pointless—breathes its icy fury on them all.
Marek Ledogorov finds the freezing group and escorts them to a remote taiga cordon, which looks more like an ark. It seems a miracle has happened—everyone is saved, but… who is this Marek Ledogorov? What is he doing here? Why does he shoot like a sniper, and why can’t his cordon—or ark!—be found on any map, while an old, packed ski trail lies in that deep taiga forest?
When a mysterious, inexplicable murder occurs at the cordon, the case becomes hopelessly tangled. Marek Ledogorov is convinced: every member of the tourist group is lying to him. For what purpose? Who among them ended up here not by chance? Marek and his friend Pavel must not only unravel a terrible secret, but also sort out themselves, find love, and secure salvation—after all, the ark was invented to save them!…