According to the story by George Vladimov.

After Stalin's death, the disbanding of the camp system begins. A security sergeant from Vologodsky receives an order from his superiors to shoot his convoy shepherd Ruslan, as she is no longer needed. The military brings the dog into the forest and already brings up the gun, but at the last moment the pity wins, and he chases the animal. The dog obeys the command humbly, thinking that for some reason he has blamed and lost his master's love. In the following days he returns to the camp every morning, but cannot find a sergeant there. One day in the nearby village of Ruslan, he can still feel his footprint. He finds the owner at the train station buffet, where he drinks with a former prisoner. After noticing his dog, the sergeant takes too much of his muzzle, thus severely offending Ruslan. He then gives the dog a slice of bread, but he refuses. In case of non-fulfillment of the command, the sergeant gets annoyed with the difficult life and alcohol, spreads a piece with a thick layer of mustard and stuffs the dog in the mouth. Later, an amnesty buffet prisoner finds Ruslan on the street and takes him to his ...