This year a miracle happened - Zoya and I’s vacation coincided, and a friend invited me to Malye Petushki. Not Hawaii, of course, but a rural paradise would suit us instead of a tropical one! In addition, pleasant acquaintances were not long in coming - the “milk king” Podlubnyak, the owner of an elite cottage, gave me a ride to the village. And soon I met his stepdaughter Kira on the river, who immediately invited me to visit. But it didn’t turn out to be a pleasant evening - they called the girl, and from snatches of the conversation I realized that she was quarreling with someone, in my opinion, she was even being threatened. I hastened to take my leave, and at night Zoya and I woke up from a strange noise and glow. Fire! The cottage of the “dairy king” was on fire!..