The Dyatlov Pass Incident. Mystery of the Fireballs. Sergei Mikhailov
these events were connected by a single thread leading to this moment. At some point, this stream of knowledge seemed to break free, and the world before him changed. The very air around him became saturated with some new force, and the space around him acquired an unknown depth.
His gaze now turned toward the majestic forest growing at the mountain’s foot. Among its dark, ancient trees stood Anna, meeting his gaze with understanding. She smiled softly, and her words resonated like an echo from another world:
“Your journey is only beginning. You are one of the guardians. You have an important mission that must change everything.”
Maxim approached her and nodded, understanding that his life would never be the same. At that moment, Anna pulled a worn notebook from her pocket.
“This is Semyon Zolotarev’s notebook,” she said. “It was empty when they found it, but that doesn’t mean it contained no information.”
Maxim took the notebook and ran his hand over the cover. Suddenly images flashed before his eyes: he saw Zolotarev hurriedly writing something, then running his hand across the page, making the text disappear.
“Invisible ink?” Maxim suggested.
Anna shook her head.
“Something more complex. Zolotarev had the ability to encode information in the paper’s very structure. Only those who know the secret can read these writings.”
She pointed to Maxim’s wrist.
“The watch. Zolotarev had two of them. They didn’t just tell time – they were instruments for determining exact coordinates and navigating between realities.”
Maxim raised his hand and was surprised to discover an antique watch that hadn’t been there before.
“How is this possible?”
“You’ve inherited not only the knowledge but also the artifacts of the guardians,” Anna explained.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. An elderly Mansi man in traditional clothing emerged from the forest. He bowed to Maxim and Anna.
“I am Itokai,” he introduced himself. “My people have guarded the secrets of these mountains for centuries. We knew of the new guardians’ coming.”
Itokai told them about ancient Mansi legends, the mountain spirits, and those who came to study the anomalies. He mentioned the second group that was on the mountain at the same time as Dyatlov’s team.
“And now,” said Itokai, “let me show you something.”
He led them to a small cave. Inside, they saw rock paintings depicting people, stars, and strange devices.
“This is the history of the guardians,” Itokai explained. “And now you are part of this history.”
As they studied the drawings, Maxim suddenly felt his consciousness expanding again. He saw the Dyatlov group boarding their bus, heading for their fateful trek. He felt their excitement, heard their conversations and jokes.
He saw Yuri Yudin especially clearly – the tenth member of the Dyatlov group who had to turn back due to illness.
Maxim felt his disappointment and simultaneously an inexplicable relief, as if part of Yudin knew of the approaching danger.
“Yudin,” Maxim whispered. “He must know more.”
Anna nodded.
“Yes, Yudin is a key figure in this story. He didn’t just survive – he was the keeper of memory.”
Itokai added:
“Many searched only for external causes of the tragedy: avalanches, weapons, wild animal attacks. But the real mystery was always deeper, in the very fact of boundaries between worlds.”
Maxim looked at Zolotarev’s notebook, at the watch on his wrist, at the ancient drawings on the cave walls. He understood that each of these elements was part of an enormous puzzle he had to solve.
“What now?” he asked.
“Now,” Anna replied, “we must find Yudin. Only he can help us decipher Zolotarev’s notes and understand what really happened that fateful night.”
Itokai nodded.
“The path won’t be easy. Dark forces won’t leave us in peace. But remember, we’re not alone. The mountain spirits and the souls of the dead Dyatlov hikers will be with us, guiding and protecting us on our way.”
Maxim took a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility that had settled on his shoulders. But at the same time, he felt a strange excitement. The Dyatlov Pass mystery was just the beginning of a greater story, and he was ready to uncover it completely.
Chapter 8 – The Mystery of the Red Beard
Maxim, Anna, and Itokai set out to find Yuri Yudin. They knew this man was a crucial figure connected to the tragedy at the pass. However, the further they proceeded, the more they sensed their search might be futile. Local residents avoided discussing the topic, and all information about Yudin was fragmentary and contradictory. Some said he had left long ago, others claimed no one had seen him.
Nevertheless, they pressed forward despite growing doubts. In another village where they decided to stop, they noticed a man sitting by a fire near the road.
As they approached, the man stood and walked over, nodding in greeting.
“Hello, travelers,” he said. “I’m Mikhail Sharavin, a local. Are you looking for something? How can I help?” His gaze was attentive and calm.
Maxim explained they were searching for Yuri Yudin and their urgent need to find him.
“Yudin, you say?” Mikhail squinted thoughtfully. “He doesn’t appear here often. But I know where his house is. You’d hardly find it without help, but I can show you the way.”
Sharavin pointed toward the forest and gave detailed directions to Yudin’s house. He didn’t speak long about Yuri himself, only adding:
“That man doesn’t like excessive attention.”
Yudin’s house stood apart, surrounded by a high fence. When they knocked, the door opened to reveal a gray-haired man with deep wrinkles on his face. His gaze was wary and tired.
“Yuri Efimovich?” Maxim asked.
Yudin nodded, studying the visitors intently.
“You’ve come to learn about the pass,” it wasn’t a question but a statement.
They entered the house. Inside was dark and cool. Maxim went straight to the point.
“Was the 1959 trek your last? Did you never hike again?” he asked.
Yudin shook his head.
“Never. After that trek… everything changed.” He paused, then continued: “You want to know the truth. But are you ready for it?”
Maxim showed him Zolotarev’s notebook and the watch. Yudin’s eyes widened.
“So the time has come,” he whispered.
Yudin began his story:
“Before we reached the starting point, something happened. On the way to Vizhay village, the bus driver dropped us off for a couple of hours – he went about his business in a restricted settlement, promising to return in an hour. To avoid wasting time, the others suggested visiting some facility near the road, one I’d never heard of before. We went. Within twenty minutes, we were there. A man with a red beard met us.”
Another red beard? Maxim was alarmed but didn’t show it. It seemed to be appearing too frequently in his life lately, he thought.
“He gave Zolotarev some instructions,” Yudin continued. “And