The City of Ember: Chapter 15 Summary & Analysis

Doon is confused, as the boat is only big enough for two people. He grabs another candle and he and Lina discover another door. Behind it is a room full of boats, each equipped with paddles and boxes of candles and matches. Back at the river’s edge, Lina puts the boxes away. Doon puts a candle and some matches in his pocket and they close the door. They stare at the river with wonder and decide that tomorrow, at the Singing, they’ll tell the city what they found.

Back aboveground, Lina and Doon realize it’s almost six p.m. They make a plan for the next day and then run home. Doon knows that tomorrow, his father will be so proud and happy when he learns what Doon found. Doon is even happier when he realizes that the guards will probably arrest Mayor Cole tomorrow, too. In the morning, when Doon’s father goes downstairs, Doon puts supplies in his pillowcase so he’s ready to go. He puts in food, extra clothes, and paper and pencil so he can record their journey. He reasons that in the new city, people will give him more food. Doon flips through his book of bug drawings, but decides to leave it behind.

Doon pulls out the box with the worm inside to check it. A few days ago, the worm bundled itself up, hanging from a cabbage stem. Though it hasn’t moved for days, the bundle is moving now. The bundle splits and Doon watches a wet moth crawl out. With a smile, Doon lets it go out the window. He knows that he witnessed something amazing and greater than even the power of the Builders or the power of Ember. Doon wonders again if he should take more things but then laughs—he’ll be with everyone else, and someone will lend him whatever he might forget.

Doon sees three burly guards approach old Nammy Proggs and ask for Doon. They say that Doon is spreading rumors. Nammy says she saw Doon heading for the trash heaps and the guards leave. Doon is stunned and doesn’t understand why he’s in trouble for telling the truth. He does realize that Nammy Proggs helped him. Thinking hard, Doon decides that if the guards had investigated the secret room, they’d know he was telling the truth. It’s also possible, he realizes, that the guards are also profiting from the storerooms. He feels suddenly full of rage, but races away to warn Lina.

Lina comes home to Mrs. Murdo’s with the sound of the river in her ears. She feels like she contains the river in her and has a voice that’s answering it, and she realizes that her dreams of a gentle path out of Ember were childish. Lina feels safe as Mrs. Murdo tucks her and Poppy in and sings a song about treetops. As she tries to sleep, Lina thinks that tomorrow is bound to be a mess. People will certainly fight over the boats. She vows to hold on tight to Poppy, Mrs. Murdo, and Doon. The next morning, Lina gratefully eats the breakfast Mrs. Murdo cooks for her. When someone bangs on the door, Mrs. Murdo opens it to find a wild-looking Doon. In Lina’s room, Doon tells her about the guards and says they have to hide.

Doon says that there are signs up all over the city, asking people to report it if they see Lina and Doon. Lina can barely think, but she waves to Mrs. Murdo and follows Doon to the school. She tries to pull down the signs as they run. The signs tell people to believe nothing Lina and Doon say. They finally reach the school and slip in. They sit in silence for a bit and then discuss what the guards will do when they find them. Doon says that they really only have to hide until the Singing, and then they can tell everyone about the boats and Mayor Cole. When Lina points out that there are always guards at the Singing, they sit in frustrated silence.

Lina looks around and catches sight of The Book of the City of Ember. She remembers it saying that Ember is the only light in the dark world, but she knows now that’s not true. Doon suggests that they could leave a note with someone they trust, take a boat, and go. Lina is worried about leaving Poppy, but Doon points out that everyone will follow soon. Hesitantly, Lina suggests they write to Clary, since Clary will believe them and lives close to the school. Doon excitedly points out that this way, they can be the first ones in the new city.

Lina lists all the things that will have to happen before everyone else can leave Ember, and she says that Poppy will need her. Doon insists that Mrs. Murdo is organized and will take care of Poppy. Lina knows this is true and tells herself she’s being selfish. Doon eagerly says they’ll be able to show everyone around the new city. He writes a note explaining everything, and Lina declares that she’ll deliver it to Clary. Lina suggests that Clary could come, but she realizes that Doon is intent on doing this themselves. They decide to deliver the note and then wait until after the Singing starts to head for the Pipeworks. Lina slips out, thinking of how scared Doon’s father and Mrs. Murdo will be when they see the posters and realize that they’re gone. Doon watches two guards spot Lina.