The novel is the second part of Lainšček's trilogy about the Mura River, continuing the story from his 2003 work, Ločil bom penood valov. Set just before the outbreak of World War II, the story followsJulian Spransky, a young engineer building a bridge across the Mura River. The bridge is later destroyed by the Yugoslav Army. The Mura River is a constant presence and a crucial symbol throughout the novel. The central plot revolves around an impossiblelove story between Julian and Zinaida Koslov, who are revealed to be siblings. The novel ends not with hope, but with a powerful sense of guilt.