It is ["Desert Encounter"](https://fantlab-ru.translate.goog/work30828?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=uk&_x_tr_pto=wapp) by I. Rosokhvatsky, [isfdb](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?958073) Other names: "Aliens from another time", "Newcomers from the next hour", "Meeting in time", "Meeting in the desert". First published in 1961 (ukrainian version). [![enter image description here][1]][1] **Plot** > In the middle of the Asian desert, not far from the remains of an > ancient city, archaeologists have discovered two strange statues of a > man and a woman. The mystery of the statues haunts researchers. > According to one of the hypotheses, a spaceship once landed in the > desert, and intelligent beings left these statues as a sign of their > stay on Earth. The truth is somewhat different... **"Misha" character:** > His name was Mikhail Grigorevich Butyagin. When he came here for the > first time, **they called him "Misha"** [Full story (russian)](http://books.rusf.ru/unzip/add-on/xussr_mr/rosoh031.htm?1) [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/7msXO.png