The first book of the spy series “The Dead Sometimes Resurrect.” The action of the stories in the series takes place mainly on the territory of fictional states. The time of action is the middle of the current century, i.e., the not too distant future. The heroes of the spy series are employees of a special service called the Federal Agency for Effective Technologies (FAET). The cycle consists of three books, united by the same heroes. Each book describes a separate FAET operation. In the first story, called “Operation Serpent,” the heroes of the novel confront an evil genius who intends to create an army of clones to conquer the world. The leadership of FAET, suspecting that there is a traitor among the agency employees, forms a group of special agents who were once withdrawn from the office registers in connection with an imaginary death. Operation classification: top secret. The group includes: Zinovy Cheremnykh (operational call sign Zinka), Dentist, Skif, Duchess and Aristocrat. All the agents went on a special mission to the Asian state of Jamaltar, from where the traces actually lead to Johann Stoltz, a geneticist, who produces homunculi on one of the Pacific islands. Freshly made clones undergo military special training on the islands of the Ili archipelago, in the possessions of the local ruler, Prince Guaram, a cannibal and tyrant. Special agents using prepared legends end up on the island. The dentist becomes Stolz's assistant and is directly involved in the creation of clones. Skif is a hand-to-hand combat instructor (trains clones). The aristocrat ensures the livelihoods of the island's contingent, and the Duchess climbs into Stoltz's bed. (Alas, these are the realities...). Zinka directs the group's actions from afar (Philippines). The purpose of the operation is to collect incriminating evidence against Stolz and his friend from Jamaltar, the dictator Basmangaley, and to confirm sources of funding. All sorts of adventures happen with the friends. The novel contains descriptions of duels and fights. But the life of a scout does not consist of mere butchery. There is a place for love in it...