Pavel Rudolf Plasche

When Hana Sikorova, mayor of a northern Bohemian village, stands up to a large coal mining concern that offers villagers large compensation in exchange for abandoning their houses built on land containing brown coal deposits, her fourteen year old daughter Misha disappears. The search for her daughter makes Hana suspicious of the whole community, after years of peaceful coexistence. Under the pressure of unfolding events, the community starts to fall apart and show its true face. Solving the mystery divides the story into several interweaving narratives that ultimately connect in unexpected ways.

The staff at the White Cat Inn watch with concern and suspicion as Johan, the postman, pays frequent visits. This dapper, suave gentleman persistently courts Kristýna, the widowed innkeeper, even though he otherwise despises the locals. Kristýna's son Vítek dislikes him. And even more so when Johan tries to drive his pet and protector of the inn, the white cat, out of the house! Vítek, Kristýna's servants, and her friend, the poacher Prokop, are determined to get rid of Johan or at least make his life miserable. And things start to happen at the inn...

When Hana Sikorova, mayor of a northern Bohemian village, stands up to a large coal mining concern that offers villagers large compensation in exchange for abandoning their houses built on land containing brown coal deposits, her fourteen year old daughter Misha disappears. The search for her daughter makes Hana suspicious of the whole community, after years of peaceful coexistence. Under the pressure of unfolding events, the community starts to fall apart and show its true face. Solving the mystery divides the story into several interweaving narratives that ultimately connect in unexpected ways.