As a rule, stalkers do not live long in the Zone. But there are exceptions to every rule. For example, a stalker named Old. And no one realizes that this, although lucky, but quite ordinary stalker, and the semi-mythical Zone Watcher are one and the same person. That is, the Old One thinks that no one guesses... (“The masterpiece” is in the process of being written. I would be grateful to everyone for pointing out errors.)