The stalker, deified by the Zone, who has even forgotten his name, goes to the Middle Zone (a kind of buffer between the central regions and the outskirts of the Zone). On the way, he makes two friends: the Black Dogs of the Zone, mutants. Together they hunt, fight for the right to live, pester their neighbors, who, unfortunately, are slightly dead - zombies. The stalker gets into the habit of communicating with his unhappy, always hungry neighbors. Due to the fact that you want to talk, but not with anyone. One day he is surprised to discover that there are other living people in the Zone. He also learns that he himself is no longer quite like other people. The Stalker goes to a local merchant, meets such wonderful people as Damba, Luck, Khmyr... and receives the task of destroying the Debt group. In the process, he will meet the bandits of the Zone - very polite, not very well-mannered and almost good people. Together with the hero of the book, you will visit a group of bandits of the Zone, see the winter of the Zone and meet many wonderful personalities, anomalies and mutants.