2030, astronomers have discovered a new comet. They have calculated its trajectory and determined that in six months, it will collide with Earth. Despite only having a few days before its arrival, a retired pilot who lives a secluded life in a country house remains calm and continues to live his life with dignity and appreciation for each day. These days seem to blend together, like two drops of water, until one day, before going to bed, the pilot reads Orwell's 1984 and the next day reads The Strugatsky's "Picnic on the Edge of the Wilderness."