Plagued by more equipment malfunctions and anxious to determine the fate of the colonists, Dan sets out on foot to reach the new colony site where he hopes to find a thriving community and their only problem is a dysfunctional radio.

After three days of traversing a colossal forest, his real troubles begin; a flashflood separates him from his equipment and supplies, and washes him far off course. At every turn he battles strange beasts who want him for supper while he has no supper of his own.

After three days of traversing a colossal forest, his real troubles begin; a flashflood separates him from his equipment and supplies, and washes him far off course. At every turn he battles strange beasts who want him for supper while he has no supper of his own.

Nothing deters Dan from his objective, not even countless days of crawling and feeling his way through pitch-black caves. In the caves, he has nightmares of his many failings, and fears he will never see daylight again. When he finds an exit, he discovers signs that other sentient life exists on this planet; something that will ripple through the galaxy for eons to come; if he ever makes it back to civilization.

With his newly acquired talents for survival, Dan continues his quest and stumbles across what he thinks is a female savage living alone in the forest. In his excitement he trips and cracks his skull on a rock.