Synopsis: "Barley Cross is as nice a little town as you are likely to find in this post World War III world of ours.If the villagers work hard they generally have enough to eat. Thanks to The O'Meara and his castle and his battle tank they have a place of refuge when the roving gangs come by. They even have some medicines from the Old times.But what makes Barley Cross a really special place - a unique one, in fact - is their children. That's again thanks to one- time Master Sergeant Patrick O'Meara, now Master of the Fist and Lord of Barley Cross: in all the world he's the only man who isn't sterile - that's why nothing is too good for The Master of the Fist." (Publisher's blurb)