: At night, any light seems much closer than it really is. The narrator recalls how he was once deceived, getting to an overnight stay, and compares the story with life itself and its alluring lights.

The narration is conducted in the first person.

Once upon a time, a storyteller happens to sail along a Siberian river. Suddenly, he sees the light ahead, and, already anticipating a close night's sleep, speaks about him to the rower, to which he answers that the light is still far away. Indeed, it turns out to be very far from this light, which has the property of approaching, defeating the darkness, but actually being at a very impressive distance.

They float along the river for a long time before they reach this light and make a halt.

The narrator often recalls this sullen river and that alluring light. After that incident, he sees many more beckoning lights, like many other people. But life goes on, and you have to lean on the oars.

But still ... still ahead - the lights ...