An unusual discharge swept over the Zone, completely drying up the backwater of the Pripyat River, where the "scavengers" had been dumping the rarest artifacts for years. It would seem that go and shovel them — but it's not so easy to do. The most severe radiation background kills all life in the backwater, besides, it is now filled with a bloody fog, from which no one has ever returned.The sniper is still obsessed with the idea of reviving his dead friends. And now the way to his goal lies through the backwater, which is actually equivalent to death. In addition to this "klondike of artifacts", all major groups of the Zone show serious interest — "Borg", "Volya", bandits, mercenaries, who will never allow a lone stalker to the treasures hidden in the red mist…But the Sniper is still ready to go to the sink, despite any obstacles and even knowing for sure that he will not come back alive.