1918. Despite the conclusion of peace between Soviet Russia and Germany, provocations continue on the border. Soldier Yakub Kovalenok returns to his native village. At the fair, he tries to buy a horse; he’s ready to pay anything for it, even to sell a grenade. Some young nobleman snatches it away and, running off, leaves Yakub a red bicycle. In the village, Yakub finds out that he has the bicycle of Stas Dobuzhinsky, a courier for Kurnevich’s gang, which has long been being tracked down by a detachment of Red Army soldiers. The Bolshevik Alena recognizes the traitor’s bicycle and requisitions it, despite Yakub’s explanations. Outraged by such lawlessness, Yakub decides to seek justice and writes a letter of complaint to Lenin himself...