A summary of "The Child and the Devil" by Boris Akunin

A spy detective story published in 2007, this book is a bold literary experiment, stylized like a classic silent film script from the early twentieth century. The narrative is characterized by a distinctive rhythm, constantly alternating light comedic moments with tense dramatic scenes. The author masterfully conveys the spirit of the pre-war era through the prism of gripping spy intrigue.

The work spectacularly opens the popular "Death on Brotherhood" series. The entire series consists of ten standalone stories, traditionally referred to as films. The series includes the following parts: "The Torment of a Broken Heart," "The Flying Elephant," "Children of the Moon," "A Strange Man," "Let the Thunder of Victory Resound!", "Maria, Maria…," "Nothing Sacred," "Operation Transit," and the grand finale, "Battalion of Angels."

July 1914

Europe stands on the very brink of a vast abyss. Archduke Franz Ferdinand has been assassinated in Sarajevo. The head of the counterintelligence department suffers from nervous insomnia. Staff Captain Prince Kozlovsky brings the general extremely disturbing news. Guards Lieutenant Ryabtsev has turned out to be a covert enemy agent. The traitor managed to copy secret military documents and arranged a meeting with a German resident. The chief immediately approves the bold plan for a violent takeover. The secret operation is given the harsh code name "Wolf Hunt." Armed counterintelligence agents form a tight ring around the Levashevo dacha platform. Kozlovsky is extremely nervous in the ambush, painfully bothered by an old cavalry leg fracture.

Meeting at the Levashevo platform

Lieutenant Ryabtsev stands for a long time on the empty night platform. Suddenly, a short man with a thick black beard appears from the darkness. The agent sternly demands that he hand over all the copied secret sheets immediately. The lieutenant flatly refuses to hand over the full yellow folder. Ryabtsev hastily hands the German only a small encrypted diagram of the hiding place. Kozlovsky accidentally reveals his presence with a loud metallic scraping sound. The German resident reacts instantly to the sound and deftly jumps onto the railroad tracks. The detectives quickly seize the lieutenant, but lose the spy. The bearded man manages to swallow the saving sheet with the diagram.

Poison and an Absurd Accident

During a brief scuffle, the German treacherously scratches Ryabtsev’s cheek with a ring laced with a poisoned needle. The traitor falls and dies painfully in horrific convulsions from the paralyzing poison curare. Meanwhile, at a neighboring dacha, mathematics student Alexei Romanov passionately sings famous romances. The young man is deeply in love with the beautiful Serafima Chegodayeva. The girl sincerely reciprocates her feelings, but her domineering mother categorically forbids her daughter from associating with the penniless student. Serafima takes Alexei into the dark garden for a frank conversation. Suddenly, the young man hears a suspicious noise and heavy scuffling behind the wooden fence.

Arrest of a student

Forgetting all about lofty romanticism, Romanov boldly rushes to the aid of an unknown passerby. The naive student mistakes the undercover agents for simple street thugs. With his sincere but completely thoughtless actions, Alexei allows the German agent to escape unhindered into the darkness. The enraged counterintelligence agents roughly subdue and arrest the hapless protector of the spies. Staff Captain Kozlovsky sternly interrogates Romanov throughout the long night. By early morning, it becomes clear that there was no malicious intent whatsoever. The student simply committed a colossal folly with the best of intentions. The officer explains to the young man in detail the scale of what happened.

The Secret of the Sports Club

A top-secret General Plan for Troop Deployment has been stolen. If these strategic plans reach Berlin, the Russian army will inevitably suffer colossal losses. Burning with shame, the mathematician desperately offers to assist the investigation in any way he can. Kozlovsky rudely dismisses the young man, but later abruptly changes his mind. Alexei remembers one important detail just in time. The traitor Ryabtsev often played football on the closed grounds of the Guards Corps Sports Club. The secret yellow folder is surely hidden somewhere in Tsarskoye Selo. Meanwhile, the German spy returns to the safe house.

Escape from Predtechenskaya Street

General Staff Captain Josef von Theofels, nicknamed Sepp, hides on a quiet street called Predtechenskaya Street. His enormous servant, Timo, faithfully tends to his beloved master’s wounds. Sepp masterfully deciphers the strange Chinese markings on laundry and deciphers Ryabtsev’s cunning conspiracy. The captain calmly prepares to retrieve the plan. Counterintelligence successfully pinpoints the exact address of the elusive spy. Kozlovsky and his armed detachment seal off the residential building. The detectives attempt to seize Timo, but the mighty giant easily disperses all their attackers. Sepp and his loyal servant demonstrate incredible ingenuity.

Preparing for a football match

They fearlessly jump out of a third-floor window, clinging tightly to the sturdy steel cables of heavy bird cages. Kozlovsky’s staff meticulously searches the entire Sports Club. Hours-long searches for the yellow folder yield no results. A historic football match between the Russian Guard and a powerful German community is approaching. On the day of the main game, the club’s massive doors will be thrown wide open to foreigners. Kozlovsky begins grueling athletic training. A lame officer is forced to replace the late Ryabtsev as goalkeeper. Alexei Romanov patiently teaches the prince how to properly kick fast soccer balls.

A fateful day at the stadium

The general officially approves the young student’s participation in a counterintelligence operation. The young man solemnly promises to unmistakably identify the German agent by his voice right there in the packed stadium. Kozlovsky thoughtfully hands Alexei a genuine Austrian pistol. On July 11th, the long-awaited sporting event begins with a ceremonial opening. The highest military officials of the Russian Empire gather in the wooden stands. The Russian football players, under the command of Baron von Hackel, quietly retreat to the defensive. They selflessly repel the furious attacks of their highly skilled opponents. Meanwhile, Sepp deftly and stealthily infiltrates the practically empty club building.

Murder of the referee and the penalty

The German mercilessly kills the French linesman, Monsieur Lafitte, and quickly changes into his striped uniform. The experienced spy unerringly finds a yellow folder in a hiding place directly behind a massive silver icon of St. Nicholas. An unprecedentedly tense moment erupts on the green field. The unyielding English referee, McGregor, confidently awards a controversial penalty against the Russians. Kozlovsky miraculously blocks an incredibly powerful shot from Salz, Germany’s best forward. The spectators erupt in wild cheers. Amid the deafening jubilation, Alyosha suddenly spots the pseudo-French referee sprinting away.

Bicycle pursuit

The fake referee quickly makes for the escape route, clutching the treasured yellow folder tightly to his side. An unarmed student unceremoniously snatches a bicycle from a fat passerby and boldly gives chase. Sepp and Timo quickly escape in a hired horse-drawn carriage. Romanov’s bicycle breaks down irreparably on the very uneven cobblestone road. The stubborn Alexei stealthily approaches a carriage parked at a railroad crossing. The young man quietly unscrews the retaining nut from a wooden wheel. With a terrible roar, the horse-drawn carriage breaks down at full speed. The spies continue on foot.

Shootout in the Pine Forest

They quickly disappear through the dense forest surrounding the dacha. Kozlovsky, who survived, catches up with the young man in a high-speed government-issued vehicle. The armed pursuers overtake the dangerous enemies among the tall trees. A fierce firefight immediately ensues. Kozlovsky expertly hides behind a sturdy double pine stump. The officer maintains a steady, highly accurate fire, completely preventing the trained Germans from escaping unpunished. Alexei inexperiencedly attempts to flank the seasoned spies, but accidentally drops his pistol magazine. Sepp and Timo fire back with coordinated precision from sturdy natural cover.

The mortal wound of the prince

A well-aimed German bullet knocks down a heavy branch right over the head of the brave staff captain. A huge, dry branch falls with a crash onto the hapless Kozlovsky. The prince suffers a terrible, fatal wound to the stomach from the exploding bullet. The bloodied officer hoarsely and sternly orders Alexei to continue the pursuit at any cost. The young man obediently runs after the resilient Germans for approximately twenty kilometers across wet, endless fields and wide meadows. A severe thunderstorm begins. Exhausted from the relentless run, the spies take temporary shelter in a dilapidated, abandoned wooden shepherd’s hut. The solicitous Timo lights a warm fire.

Psychological duel

A loyal servant feeds his tired master a delicious, hot dinner. A drenched Alexei brazenly bursts in with a completely empty pistol. The young man desperately grabs a yellow folder lying on the floor and decisively throws it into the blazing fire. Sepp coolly challenges the young man to settle the dispute with a fair fight to the death. The German slowly takes out two identical pills, declaring one of them poisonous. The combatants simultaneously drink wine with the dissolved pills. Captain von Theofels skillfully simulates the horrific death throes of sudden suffocation.

The Triumph of a German Spy

Mortally frightened by the terrifying sight, Romanov leaps out of the broken windowpane. The student runs away for a long time through the pouring cold rain, naively confident of his absolute victory. The German resident immediately drops his theatrics. Both pills the duelists took were ordinary aspirin. The folder the young man burned contained only old, unwanted newspapers. The cunning captain had safely hidden the real secret documents beforehand. Timo and Sepp reach Berlin safely and without the slightest hindrance. The German high command receives absolutely accurate information.

Concealing the truth

The German military leadership learns of the future disposition of Russian troops. A happy and very romantic reconciliation awaits the rescued Alexei and the beautiful Serafima. The student honestly reports to the counterintelligence general about the treacherous German deception. After hearing the terrible truth, the high-ranking officer flatly refuses to sound the alarm. The official military mobilization of Russian troops has already begun in full. A cowardly, petty, bureaucratic fear for his own successful personal career finally outweighs in the general’s soul his sacred duty to his native land. The high-ranking military man’s treacherous decision allows the enemy to maintain a strategic advantage.