René, the protagonist from Kubiczek’s successful novel A Sketch of Summer, whom we meet again in this story, is sent to a boarding school in Halle an der Saale at the end of summer 1985. The school offers a few select students the opportunity to attend university in Moscow after graduation. Despite the chance to swap the provinces for the sister state, René remains unimpressed: "Who jumps for joy at the chance to study the communist system?"

Or perhaps not unimpressed, but captivated by other things, as boarding school means being away from your parents. Having girls close by. Lots of prohibitions. Prohibitions are really fun. And: "280 German marks bursary, just like that, for doing nothing. Whichever way you look at it, it’s a win."