Summary

In Part III, Chapter 25, Franny says when her daughter is stillborn, part of her goes to sleep. Ever since, she has been searching for something to wake her. The narrative shifts six years back. Franny visits Yellowstone National Park. The forest is empty of wildlife. She has been wandering for months. Niall calls, upset: the crow has been declared extinct. Franny promises to come home.

The narrative shifts two years before the narrative present. While in prison, Franny watches a news bulletin: "A lone gray wolf has been discovered and captured in Alaska, amazing scientists who believed them extinct" (207). The Mass Extinct Reserve, where Niall works, is trying to keep the wolf from being killed. Franny empathizes with its entrapment.

The narrative shifts back sick years. Franny and Niall are at the MER base in Scotland. Everyone wants to know...