The rulers of countries and peoples, as a rule, are also the rulers of thoughts. And they mercilessly impose their own vision of the world. Moreover, they demand to follow it. And they torment the souls and destinies of people, although soon their dogmas turn out to be not just false, but also harmful, and even vile. Of course, you can, like the Wise Minnow, stick your head into the mud. Then the universal storms will pass, and the gray life will turn out well. However, this is not the case with the main character of the novel, Podluzhny. And being an investigator, a prosecutor, the head of a district, he always remained himself in order to live his own path, not an imposed one. Therefore, he defended justice and legality, because he was convinced: the main human principle at all times is that whoever works best for people deserves a better fate. His credo does not equate to happiness. These two aspirations are not always compatible. But the choice always remains with the person - the master of his destiny. The consolation is weak. But Podluzhny has no choice.