When the blue plague appeared on the planet of Dara, fear struck nearby worlds. The fear led to a hate that threatened the lives of millions and endangered the galactic peace. But the med service ship Aesculapius 20, with Calhoun and Murgatroyd the Tormal aboard, is on the job and has stumbled into the horrible mess caused by unreasoning hatred, quarantine, mass starvation, and worse. Calhoun must use all his medical knowledge and significant skills even to understand the situation in neglected Sector 12.

Can he and Murgatroyd untangle this Gordian knot and live to tell the tale? Maybe or maybe not. Listen and find out.