The Gold of the Ataman

In the novel "The Gold of the Ataman" the action takes place in a certain small village located somewhere in central Russia. The protagonist's grandmother, Antonina Sergeyevna, lives in the village. Her grandson Seryozhka Tikhonov is her main joy. This summer, he comes to her for two months, being immensely happy that he will spend this time in the bosom of nature, away from the reinforced concrete jungle of the city. He has friends in the village with whom he likes to spend his free time, but he also likes to spend time alone sometimes. Seryozhka loves adventure and scary stories. Many villagers know scary stories, "which are better not to tell in the coming dream." The place itself is mysterious and enigmatic. And the point here is that being an echo of one bigger village, a place where time is almost frozen, a tiny enclave of civilization, the village is located near the forest, where a gang of the most cruel robbers in the whole district once lived. According to legend, they all died in battle with the soldiers, but their souls, not finding rest, had been wandering through the forest every night since then. Their ataman continues to kill people, lying in wait on the paths and luring them into the thicket with stories about his countless treasures. Thus, he hopes to resurrect himself and his gang. And none of the locals suspect that the legend is true, that everything is true. The cruel and ruthless ataman and his gang of inveterate murderers really exist. Being ghosts, they are ready to do anything to become living people again, to spread fear and horror again, as before.