About the book: year / Astrophysicist Stefan Komogorov studies the theory of space-time tunnels. Now he is going to Mercury, because a mentor from the Gemini brotherhood believes that this will help Stefan cope with the age crisis: Stefan will soon turn thirty-six years old, and the next opportunity to make a pilgrimage will not be available until his forty-eighth birthday. On an interplanetary liner, Stefan meets a group of journalists who are flying to Mercury to cover the conclusion of peace between the Earth Confederation and the newly independent Mercury. Stefan's attention is attracted by journalist Stella. In his clumsy attempts to get to know the girl, Stefan finds himself drawn into a semi-legal journalistic investigation....