This novel is a prologue to the Death Saga, describing the background to the events of the trilogy. Who is this strange creature that arose in the depths of the Zone? What caused it to appear? Some call him a man, while others call him a mutant. His father is unknown, and his mother died fleeing from mysterious killers. He was born in the Zone - and knows it better than anyone. No one knows how to find anomalies and deal with mutants like he does. No one knows the secret paths along which he walks, no one can track him down... After all, he is the mascot of the Zone. But what will happen if all the stalkers want him dead?