In the good old days when you were dispatched to rescue a maiden distressed by monsters, they usually gave you a suit of armor and a mighty steed. Well, times have changed:John tardy didn't volunteer to do battle for maiden fair; he didn't know about the battle until he was in it. And no suit of armor either - on Dilbia, it's bare hands even when your opponent has the size, strength and temperament of a hungry Kodiak bear. John Tardy. a very competent Earthman, figured all that could have been worked out, if only he could have arrived at the fight aboard a magnificent charger, or on his own two feet, or any way other the he's been sent: as a package labelled Spacial Delivery