Andrei Guskov is a Russian soldier who is wounded at the front in 1944. When he recovers, he decides not to go back to his unit, and therefore becomes a deserter. He hides in the thick forests that surround his natal village, in Siberia (the location of most, if not all, of Rasputin's work). It is winter, and at nights, Guskov wanders near the town. One day, he comes home and suddenly finds his wife, Nastiona. Andrei forbids her to say anything to his or her parents, which puts the woman in a difficult situation. Even so, Nastiona finds a way to visit her husband sometimes, taking advantage of some trip to the city, or in the middle of harsh winter storms. They face a hard dilemma, because Guskov will be forced to leave the surrounds in Spring, when peasants return to work. And then hell breaks loose, when Nastiona gets pregnant.