1981. Arctic Circle. Dead surface of the ice fields. Drifting station Pole 21 has just left the last occupant - meteorologist Alexander Nesterov. He received an urgent telegram to the mainland and now has to leave the endless Arctic on a comfortable boat, which will select it in the specified place at the appointed hour. However, instead of a warm reception waiting for this nightmare of a scientist: the case he will soon be on board the nuclear powered icebreaker north wind, many years ago, lost in ice nonexistence.