It is very easy to bring down human civilization. As a result of the Collapse of 2028, the critical mass of nuclear matter necessary for an atomic explosion suddenly drops sharply - and a global apocalypse sets in, society slides into a primitive state, when everyone can only rely on their own strength and steadfastness of hand. Nikolai Benev is a famous smuggler who extracts precious fragments of a collapsed technogenic civilization. His work is extremely dangerous and does not contribute to longevity. However, he soon begins to realize that even in his business the risk may be excessive - when he undertakes to deliver a shipment of diamonds through the Alps infested with gangs of marauders for an extremely mysterious and sinister scientific project...Reader's Award for the best SF novel of the decade 1990-2000.