A Lae is a little metal foundry whose owner has gone back to Australia and which the workers have taken over, with some help from the provincial government. An experience in cooperative-management that is new in Papua-New Guinea.

Five years later a 17-year-old Katie turns up at Janet's doorstep. The overwhelming joy is short lived, though, as Katie is suffering from severe trauma and unable to account for her absence. What's worse, after mysterious strangers begin following them, Janet becomes convinced the kidnappers have also returned for Katie.