"At Shouting Distance" by Sergei Naumov, summary

The writer created a dynamic spy detective story. The novella "At Shouting Distance" was written by Sergei Naumov in 1981. The work describes a daring Soviet intelligence operation in Austria during the final days of World War II. It is a detailed depiction of the psychology of an illegal spy. The officer is forced to risk his life among the enemy at every turn.

The story was successfully adapted into a film. In 1985, the feature film "Two Steps from Paradise" was released in Soviet cinemas. Millions of viewers watched the film, praising its tense plot and the authenticity of the operational details depicted.

Summoning to the capital and receiving a task

Army intelligence major Andrei Dolgintsov urgently arrives in the capital. The war is nearing a victorious conclusion, the spring warmth melting the last of the snow. The experienced officer, known by the pseudonym "Sedoy," is recalled from the front for a special assignment. In his office, the major meets with the general and Lieutenant Colonel Sukhov, who discuss his service record. The general personally tests his knowledge of dialects, quoting a poem by Heinrich Heine. Dolgintsov accurately identifies the southern pronunciation.

The scout is assigned to replace the captured German Hauptmann Udo von Plaffen. His physical resemblance makes Andrei an ideal candidate, so the major receives a Spanish passport and a genuine letter of recommendation to SS-Obergruppenführer Ernst Kaltenbrunner. To confirm his status as a wealthy aristocrat, Dolgintsov is presented with a family heirloom. This platinum ring with a huge diamond will serve as a reliable cover for the trip.

The expedition’s main goal is to penetrate the Austrian Alps, near the town of Bad Aussee. In the final days of the war, Kaltenbrunner’s courier will attempt to escape through the mountains to Switzerland. The messenger will carry microfilm containing the coordinates of a secret agent network the Nazis left behind in Eastern Europe. Sedy is tasked with intercepting this valuable spy data, finding a contact named Austrian, and contacting the Ajax station chief.

Infiltrating the squad and fighting on the slope

Arriving in Austria, Dolgintsov successfully legalizes his place of residence and submits a letter of recommendation to Kaltenbrunner’s office. The document is picked up by his assistant, Eigruber. Establishing contact with Ajax is difficult, as the station’s radio has been silent for some time. Local officials are nervous and preparing to flee from advancing American troops. Andrei decides to act independently and meets a group of Nazis planning an illegal border crossing.

The cautious Rohrbach leads the group of escapees. The squad includes the long-armed boxer Holz, the taciturn Karger, and the beautiful Lotte Kästner. Lotte wears a dark SS uniform and carries herself like a fanatical supporter of the Führer. Armed with warm fur jackets and sturdy tents, the escapees begin the arduous climb to the high mountain passes.

During the grueling trek across the snowy slopes, tensions escalate. The SS officers begin to suspect Andrei and decide to get rid of their unwanted companion. Holz, Karger, and Rohrbach organize a brutal game reminiscent of an impromptu duel. The Germans challenge Lotte to fire the first shot at Sedykh. The woman calmly agrees, takes the pistol, and asks to be allowed to take five steps back.

Lotta slowly walks away across the crisp firn, while the Germans chant numbers in unison, grinning. Suddenly, the woman turns sharply and quickly fires bullets at the SS men, revealing herself to be a Soviet spy. The nervous tension of the last few days gets the better of her, so Lotta drops her weapon and collapses in the cold snow, crying.

Pursuit of the courier and the finale of the operation

The scout gives Andrey extremely valuable information about the real courier. The enemy, carrying the microfilm, is moving ahead along an old, well-trodden path. The German is called Eisvogel, which translates as "ice bird." Sedoy immediately sets off in pursuit across the dangerous glacier. The officer notices the distinctive indentations left by crampons and cautiously pursues the courier.

Icevogel spots his pursuers on an open plateau, and a deadly standoff ensues. The Gestapo man removes his protective goggles, quickly suffering a corneal burn and temporary blindness. He has only one bullet left. The German takes a long, shaky aim at Dolgintsov. Andrey instantly assesses his chances and, with a well-aimed throw, sends his heavy ice axe straight for the enemy’s head.

There’s a sharp crack of a gunshot. The bullet hits the sturdy metal of the ice axe and ricochets into Sedykh’s head. The major loses consciousness, his body sliding down the icy slope. The blinded Gestapo officer desperately tries to throw the secret microfilm into the bottomless abyss. At that moment, Lotta, arriving in cold blood, kills the courier, saving the valuable agent lists.

Andrei slowly comes to. Lotta gives him scalding coffee from a travel thermos and recites Pushkin’s autumn poems from memory. The scout warmly calls the major Andryusha and relays the final orders from Center. Sedoy is to securely hide the microfilm and await the arrival of American troops with new documents in the name of Peter Geshner. Lotta bids her partner farewell and heads off to the pass forever.