The City of Ember

Doon is worried about Lina and conflicted about leaving with such a dreadful lie afoot. Wanting his father to know the truth, he leaves a folded message on the community kiosk on his way to the Pipeworks: “Father—We have found the way out—it was in the Pipeworks after all! You will know about it tomorrow. Love, Doon” (227). He hears the Singing in the distance; shortly after the people of Ember begin “The Song of Darkness,” all goes black. He realizes he can run in the dark—once he lights his candle. The lights return as he arrives at the Pipeworks. Lina runs up with Poppy. She must carefully carry Poppy tied in her sweater like a sling as she descends the iron ladder. Doon and Lina manage to get the boat with its supply of candles, matches, and paddles into the water, secured by one of its ropes to a pin they find affixed to the riverbank. The water pulls and tugs at the vessel violently. Once they have boarded, Doon loosens the rope, and the boat races along the river pulled rapidly by the driving current.