Summary

Ross Claiborne has been mysteriously transported to the planet Pasaule, a violent land torn by incessant warfare. Through his dreams hs learns that he has only three years in which to perform some noble selfless act of heroism to atone for crimes which he committed in a previous life 500 years earlier. He has been made chief scout of an army fighting to overthrow a corrupt ruler. However, in the vicious border warfare that he finds himself engaged in, doing a heroic and selfless deed is difficult and he fears that he is simply adding more crimes to his account. In addition to fighting against enemy soldiers, he must deal with his doubts about the morality of his cause and his lack of confidence in his own ability as a soldier and a leader.