Roger tries to communicate with the pilots by trying to tell them where to put down the food. They didn't listen. Anne watches the parachutes of food landing and crashing through the ice. Most of their food supply is spoiled. A few months later Anne's father becomes increasingly ill due to a tumor which appears on the back of his neck and cannot tend to his trapline.
Hunger sets in.
Anne worries that the lack of food is due to her having expressed pity for a beaver who must die in order for the family to eat. They wait for the plane that was scheduled to arrive weeks ago. It doesn't come. Sarah realizes that her husband is dying. She decides to surgically remove the horrendous growth, using the few supplies she has.