In the small town of Progrody, Nissen Piczenik makes his living as the most resp
ected coral merchant of the region. Nissen has never been outside of his town, d
eep in the Russian interior, and fantasizes that a Leviathan watches over the co
ral reefs. When the sailor nephew of one of Progrody s residents comes to visit,
Nissen loses little time in befriending him for the purpose of learning about t
he sea. The sailor offers Nissen a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come to Ode
ssa and tour his ship. Nissen leaves his business during the peak coral season,
and stays in Odessa for three weeks. But upon his return to Progrody, Nissen fin
ds that a new coral merchant has moved into the neighboring town, and his coral
is quickly becoming the most sought after. As his customers dwindle, life takes
an evil twist for Nissen Piczenik. And the final decider of his fate may be the
devil himself."
