The main role in the novel is played by a surveyor K., who is called to the village to make official measurements here. Already on his arrival, he encounters the peculiarities of the local environment, especially the inhabitants who are afraid of him, shun it and fear. Because of the official discrepancies, the mayor of the village does not want to give him a surveying work and assigns two annoying helpers. After the novel with the local high -ranking waitress Frid of the Lansk Inn, who is an alleged lover of the respected and dreaded chateau clerk Klamm, K. gets into the unpleasantness of the innkeeper, is thrown out of the pub U Most and is offered a janitor. Here he will find refuge with his fiancée. But their relationship does not last long. After visiting the Barnabas Castle, whose family is notorious in the village because of the Sister of Sister Amalia, after a debate with the younger sisters - Olga - is a lot about the hierarchy at the chateau, the position of officials and the rules in the village ...