The repairs can be simply done by Teacher’s autonomic controls, but the need for raw materials force Flinx to land the entire KK-drive ship on the world of Arrawd.

Arrawd is classified by the Humanx Commonwealth as a Class IVB world, placing it technologically at 19th century Earth levels, the initial development of the steam engine.

On an excursion from his ship while it is repairing itself, Flinx falls and injures his ankle, leading to his discovery by married couple Storra and Ebbanai, two members of the Dwarra.

When this is discovered by Flinx he resolves to leave the planet, but too late it seems for his presence has started a war between three of the local governments, all seeking to control the new god that has come to their world.

A three-way war erupts and ends only when Flinx brings Teacher to the stronghold where the battle is raging and uses his ship's weapons to separate the combatants.