Mac Thornwald, a retired Interstellar Policeman, arrives on Bleekman's Planet seeking a peaceful life after a decade of service. However, his hopes are quickly dashed when he is confronted by corrupt customs inspectors who confiscate his belongings and arrest him under dubious circumstances. Thornwald, who lost his left arm in combat, is thrown into a prison cell where he learns from his cellmate, Miller, that the planet is under the tyrannical control of Governor Lloyd Henderson, who monopolizes the lucrative thylomine drug trade derived from the local narkos tree. Determined to escape and reclaim his prosthetic arm, which is crucial for his survival, Thornwald devises a plan. He feigns a medical emergency to lure a guard into his cell, allowing him to overpower the guard and flee. Injured but resolute, he navigates through the shadows toward the Governor's Mansion, where he believes his trunk and arm are being held. Upon reaching the mansion, Thornwald employs stealth and cunning to incapacitate guards and make his way inside. He confronts Henderson, who is dismissive and attempts to extract information from him through violence. Thornwald, however, remains defiant, insisting he is not a spy and has no transmitter. After enduring a brutal beating, he concocts a ruse, claiming that his prosthetic arm contains a hidden transmitter. Henderson, intrigued, orders his men to retrieve the arm from Thornwald's trunk. When they bring it to him, Thornwald activates the arm telepathically, using it to seize Henderson by the throat. With the Governor as his hostage, Thornwald demands the location of an ultrawave radio to call for help. Under duress, Henderson complies, revealing the device's location. Thornwald uses the ultrawave to contact the Interstellar Police, informing them of the corruption and danger on Bleekman's Planet. He requests immediate assistance to clean up the lawlessness instigated by Henderson and his thugs. As he awaits backup, Thornwald stands ready to confront any further threats, determined to restore order and secure his newfound home.
By Robert Silverberg · First published 1990 · Genre: Science Fiction, Adventure, Dystopian