A new novel by the recognized master of Russian adventure fiction, Alexander Zorich! The fight against piracy off the coast of Somalia is a familiar job for a Marine. Setting off from the frigate Zealous on a raid on the island of Socotra, where a pirate base has been discovered, senior lieutenant Sergei Shchukin is not worried: power and truth are on his side. However, a strange natural phenomenon that occurred during the battle deprives the Marines of an imminent victory. Shchukin and his friend Sergeant Major Nezvanov find themselves in a strange place - around them is an eastern city in the spirit of the Arabian Nights fairy tales. Merchants of magic potions, battle magicians, basilisks, salamanders and huge cyclops... Fortunately, the Kalashnikov assault rifle and the Pecheneg machine gun work perfectly in an unfamiliar universe!