cross-species-encounter

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.