The story revolves around a young officer who is stationed at a remote outpost on the Russian steppes during World War I. He is tasked with guarding a strategic location and is left to his own devices for long periods of time. As the night wears on, the officer's thoughts turn to his past and his relationships with women. He recalls a romantic affair he had before the war and becomes increasingly obsessed with the idea of reuniting with her. The officer's mental state deteriorates as the night progresses, and he becomes convinced that he is being watched by unseen forces. His paranoia grows, and he begins to question his own sanity. Ultimately, the officer's fragile mental state collapses, and he succumbs to a breakdown, losing all sense of reality and identity.
By Vsevolod Garshin · First published 1888 · Genre: Psychological Fiction, Literary Fiction, Tragedy · 6 chapters