About the book: 2001 / At first it seemed to Shatov that the dream was continuing. Something warm and affectionate was pleasantly sliding across his face, a grasshopper was chirping above his ear... It can’t happen, Shatov thought relaxed. And also this completely unreal light breeze. It doesn’t happen. In order for all this to happen in reality, Shatov would have to go out of town, find a nice clearing and fall asleep, forgetting about work and problems. And about caution, Shatov thought, and his abdominal muscles involuntarily tensed. Caution. The scar on my cheek itched. This is a reminder to you, Shatov, of carelessness. The fact that you have a pistol in your hand, and the adversary has a bullet in his chest, does not mean at all that you, Evgeniy Shatov, are not in danger.