Larry Filmore, a human fighter, finds himself in a precarious situation on Dornel IV, facing the daunting prospect of battling Fornax Kedrin, the reigning champion of the planet. His manager, Blackmer, has manipulated him into this fight, leaving Larry feeling trapped and resentful. Despite his past victories against various alien species, he doubts his chances against the massive, clawed Dornellian. While drowning his sorrows in a bar, Larry inadvertently provokes a fight with a local Dornellian. The ensuing brawl serves as an unexpected training session, allowing him to gauge the strengths and weaknesses of his opponent. Despite suffering injuries, Larry manages to defeat the Dornellian, gaining confidence and a sense of camaraderie from the onlookers. After escaping the police with the help of an Arcturian fan, Larry returns to his hotel, contemplating the upcoming fight. However, he wakes up the next day feeling unprepared and anxious. When he finally contacts Blackmer, he learns that the fight against Kedrin has been canceled due to the champion's injury from the previous night’s brawl. Relieved and amused, Larry realizes he has dodged a bullet, both literally and figuratively. The story concludes with Larry feeling liberated from the constraints of his contract and the threat of death in the ring, leaving him to ponder his future without the looming specter of the fight.
By Robert Silverberg · First published 1974 · Genre: Science Fiction, Action, Adventure