In "Pkhentz," the reader is plunged into a world where an alien being, marooned on Earth after a crash landing in Siberia, grapples with the complexities of human existence. Assuming the guise of a man named Andrei Kazimirovich Sushinsky, this extraterrestrial struggles to maintain his cover in a world that is not his. The narrative explores themes of isolation, identity, and the yearning for connection in a profoundly alien landscape.

Alien Among Humans

Our protagonist, the sole survivor of his spaceship's ill-fated journey, finds himself in an inhospitable environment where he must adapt or perish. Ingeniously, he disguises his true, vegetable-like form by binding his many appendages and concealing them beneath human attire. A wig and synthetic ears complete his transformation into a hunchbacked human, allowing him to integrate into society as a bookkeeper in Moscow. However, the constant vigilance required to maintain this facade takes a heavy emotional toll.

Emotional Struggles and Isolation

As the story unfolds, Andrei, who serves both as narrator and protagonist, divulges the inner turmoil that accompanies his deception. For over three decades, he has navigated human society, perpetually on guard against exposing his true nature. This self-imposed isolation prevents him from forming genuine connections, such as with Veronica Grigorievna, a young woman attracted to him, whose advances he rebuffs to protect his secret.

A Misunderstood Connection

Despite his aversion to the human form, Andrei yearns for companionship with someone like himself. This longing leads him to a fateful encounter with Leopold Sergeyevich, a hunchback he mistakenly believes to be a fellow alien. In a laundry, driven by desperation for kinship, Andrei decides to reveal his identity to Leopold, addressing him with "Pkhentz," a sacred name from his home planet. But Leopold dismisses the notion, seeing Andrei as merely a more grotesque human.

A Painful Realization

The meeting with Leopold spirals into a moment of despair when Andrei physically reaches out, only to realize that Leopold is indeed human by his body heat. This crushing discovery deepens his sense of loneliness, compelling him to hastily withdraw, his hopes for a shared identity dashed. The episode highlights Andrei's increasing desperation and the futility of his search for belonging on Earth.

A Return to Origins

This emotional upheaval takes a physical toll, leaving Andrei debilitated and dehydrated. Confronted with his mortality, he resolves to return to the crash site in Siberia, abandoning his human masquerade. There, he plans to face his end authentically, igniting himself during the first frost, thus freeing himself from the charade he has maintained for so long.

Longing for Home

Before his final act, Andrei spends his remaining time gazing skyward, attempting to identify the star that was once his home. As he contemplates his fate, he clings to fragments of his native language, the words "Pkhentz" and others resonating in his mind as a poignant reminder of a lost world. The story closes with Andrei's emotional farewell to his homeland, a testament to his enduring connection to a place he can never return to.