Journalist Avilov and his comrades manage to establish the Puppeteer’s habitat. The nest of a mysterious creature is located in one of the mountain dungeons of the Himalayas. A military expedition led by Avilov is heading there. On the way, the heroes overcome more and more new dangers, because the enemy has attacked them with all its might. In the labyrinths of the mountain dungeon, the expedition perishes. Only Avilov reaches the goal. Finally he stands face to face with the Puppeteer. If you can call it a face... The moment of truth comes. It becomes clear who this Puppeteer is, where his incredible power comes from and - most importantly! - why he torments Russia century after century. As in the previous novel in the dilogy, chapters from the manuscript of the deceased historian Zakharov are woven into the fabric of modern events. They prepare the reader step by step to discover the essence of the Puppeteer. This is an unexpected look at Russian history, which reveals the origins of our troubles, problems, and misfortunes.