corporate-responsibility

Mary Vaughan returns to her secure apartment after a traumatic sexual assault, struggling with fear, shame, and the physical and psychological aftermath of the attack. Meanwhile, Reuben Montego, the site doctor, negotiates with the president of Inco to prevent criminal charges against Ponter, a Neanderthal found inside the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, who is recovering from heavy-water ingestion and head injury. Ponter, confused and disoriented, interacts with his Companion Hak and tries to make sense of his unfamiliar surroundings while coping with his physical pain and hallucination fears.

The chapter juxtaposes two narratives: a dancer named Waldo performing an extraordinary ballet tap act despite an impending brain operation, and James Stevens, a chief engineer grappling with a series of catastrophic power failures threatening the North American Power-Air system. Stevens is reluctantly compelled to seek help from Waldo, a controversial figure whose expertise might resolve the crisis, while also visiting Doc Grimes for a health check, highlighting the intersection of human frailty and technological crisis.

In this chapter, Aja Barber directly addresses fast fashion CEOs, criticizing their exploitation of garment workers, environmental harm, and prioritization of profit over humanity. She challenges them to use their wealth to reform their business practices, pay fair wages, support unions, reduce production, and address climate impacts. Barber also commits to donating to garment worker unions and calls for systemic change beyond superficial sustainability efforts.