While traveling through the dead forest of Animula, the Sterlings encounter a half man-half beast, named Virago, with incredible powers. Virago takes June to be his companion. Assisted by another forest resident named Akin, Hal and the kids try to rescue her.
other characters: Randy When the Sterlings arrive in the matriarchal town Ador, the women of the family are at first pleasantly surprised. Gradually the Sterlings learn men in the this section of Ador are slaves! Complications arise, from which the Sterlings must extricate themselves from.