1941. The life of Ivan Gouchkov, a student of Physics and Mechanics at the Leningrad Industry Institute, dramatically changes one day just before his spring exams when he comes to the attention of Major Lobanov, Head of Intelligence at the Leningrad Military District Command. Several months later, Main Intelligence Directorate receives information that the USA is developing a powerful nuclear weapon. Soviet Intelligence recruits Ivan and sends him to "Object X", a uranium enrichment plant in Nevada. To avoid suspicion, Ivan's appearance is changed, and he is given a new identity. He is turned into Stanley Liber, a marine cadet who had gone missing but who somehow has miraculously survived. Furthermore Ivan is to marry Sheila, Liber's fiancee. The couple soon become close, Sheila begins to share all her problems with Ivan and even decides to leave for Nevada with him. Gradually Ivan begins to forget his own fiancée Lika, who stayed behind in the Soviet Union. No-one knew whether she survived the Siege of Leningrad. But Ivan's life is unpredictable. First Sheila, and later Ivan, are arrested and deported back to the Soviet Union where Ivan will have to endure immense suffering before he can begin his search for those near to him and piece his life back together.
