About the book: 2002 / An amazing discovery was made during excavations of a Greek settlement in Taman. It promises to write a new page in the history of the Ancient World. First, archaeologists find a sword, then a golden royal mask. But then an avalanche of misfortunes falls on the small camp of archaeologists working peacefully on the seashore in an excavation. The head of the expedition, Roman Zadorozhny, makes a decision stay in Taman and continue working. He guesses who is watching his archaeologists. He recalls his recent trip to Turkey, to Izmir. A seemingly random meeting on the train - a fellow traveler, the Greek Chrysoula, a nice conversation, a fleeting attraction to a beautiful girl, on whose wrist is a precious bracelet of unimaginable antiquity. Professor Zadorozhny takes the bait and follows the girl - as she says, to her house. In fact, he ends up in a den of bandits, where the gang includes Turks, Russians and Caucasians; they set a condition for Zadorozhny - to describe in detail, from a scientific point of view, precious objects of an unknown era lying in a chest in a dark chamber... The novel miraculously escapes from the clutches of archaeological mafiosi... And in Moscow - in a closed mansion - a private display of sensational ancient treasures. Only a select few are invited. Possible prices for auction sales are advertised. The blind wife of Magnate Kozachenko, Giselle, feels the king’s golden mask with her fingers - she likes it. Her dwarf Stenka, clutching her hem, does not take his eyes off his mistress. People continue to disappear and die on the expedition. Who kills peaceful archaeologists? What kind of civilization was unearthed near Izmir, in Turkish Anatolia, and in Russian Taman? Who owns the golden masks of a man and a woman - a king and a queen? The day comes - and the door of Zadorozhny’s tent swings open, and on its threshold is the one who kept the researchers of the Ancient World at bay…