This story began one spring day in an ordinary Moscow courtyard. Five monks disappeared - five purebred pigeons who lived on the roof of house number seven in an old carved buffet. Or rather, the pigeons were not lost - they were stolen. But who could need these innocent and beautiful birds, delighting people with their free, swift flight? This is what the boys Krendel and Yurka want to find out. Young detectives will have extraordinary adventures - funny, sometimes even dangerous - with chases, shootouts, and pursuits. Will they be able to track down the kidnappers?..Illustrations by E. Muratova.