A mysterious explosion in hard-to-reach mountains literally shakes the planet. The reason is unclear: a natural phenomenon, a test of a top-secret weapon, or even aliens? Security inspector Melvin Hesley and three scientific experts must solve the mystery. However, the further the investigation, the more mysteries. The only witness to the disaster talks about the phenomenon of a magnetic black cross... In a small town several tens of miles from the epicenter of the explosion, pure devilry begins. "Doubles" appear and disappear - ugly ghostly copies of the participants in the events... Really, mysticism ?But no, Evgeny Beloglazov’s novel is a classic “hard” SF. Even if the most inquisitive human mind cannot solve all the riddles.