Troubles continue to plague Thaddeus Flint's carnival as it travels from world to world around the galaxy. Jupiter Monk, Flint's animal trainer, no longer has any animals to train. The animals he brought with him from Earth were unable to cope with the constant changes in climate and have died. So, Monk sets out on his own to search for new animals to incorporate into his act. Unfortunately, he is unable to find suitable animals on any of the planets he visits, until he lands on Sabellius III. His guide, a native, is a nightmare monster that most closely resembles a giant bat. Inspired, Monk strikes a deal and a new act is formed, with Monk and his new partner sharing both the trainer and the animal roles, switching back and forth to suit the local sensibilities on whatever planet they happen to be performing on.
However, what begins by appearing to be a mutually beneficial partnership quickly devolves to an ugly one-on-one war. While this is a huge boost the the carnival's revenue stream, it is creating friction and discord throughout the carnival. Flint tries everything he can think of to defuse the situation. Will the carnival survive its most successful act? Another entertaining Resnick romp.
