The author of this book, who fought bravely in Afghanistan, was twice nominated for the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. But he never received it. Probably because, as he later jokingly explained, he wore more comfortable sneakers during combat operations in the mountains instead of the required boots and did not conduct political training with the soldiers well. However, he has military awards: two Orders of the Red Star and medals. “The bright red suitcase, churning, slammed onto the concrete of the Kabul airfield,” writes Nikolai Prokudin. “It was a strong German suitcase, huge, literally gigantic in size, which is called the “occupier’s dream.” It contained a pea coat, an everyday overcoat, a dress overcoat, a casual and dress jacket, chrome boots and a lot of other nonsense. I took a deep breath in the hot July air of Kabul... When I was completely fed up with the drunkenness and insanity of the garrison, I finally managed to get transferred abroad. Afghanistan, which has been at war for many years now, has become my “abroad”. Neither I nor my colleagues really knew what was really going on there.” Returning from the war, Prokudin began to write. For what? “My heart aches for those who died in the Afghan war,” says the writer.