A ghost and a French marquis wander through the Winter Palace in St Petersburg, encountering scenes from many different periods of its history.

The summer of 1971 was hot and dry. This circumstance ensured that the plan would be exceeded and promised large earnings for Ivan Kopyriv's geological exploration expedition, which was located in the area of the Tunguska village of Erbogachen. Upon encountering a layer of permafrost, master Yelfimov, contrary to fire safety regulations, ordered the permafrost to be thawed with bonfires. However, the dry and gusty wind did its job: the resulting fire spread with catastrophic speed to the continuous forest areas, and the situation spiraled out of control.

A murderer is using every possible trick in his efforts to escape from justice. He is extremely crafty in his ways of infiltrating the government. He becomes a politician with growing status and influence and an official immunity from prosecution.