In 1916, the young man Andrey Berestov is finishing his studies at the gymnasium. His stepfather reveals a terrifying secret to him: it turns out that he is one of a community of time travelers. He bequeaths this knowledge and the hardware part (a time machine) to his stepson. Andrey falls for Lidochka. He studies at university. In 1916, he is accused of a terrible crime. The only way to avoid punishment is to escape for a couple of years into the future. Andrey and Lidochka run to the year 1917. They are the cross-cutting main heroes of the cycle.