The City of Ember: Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

Lina is terrified. She remembers that the library is often open on holidays and runs for it, but it’s locked. She tries to flatten herself against the door, but the guards see her and tackle her to the ground. Lina rips at the guard’s beard, but he says that Lina is going to see Mayor Cole for telling rumors. There are already a few people in the square for the Singing, while others begin to unfurl the banners representing the three songs. The guards shove Lina into the same room she visited on her first day of work and Redge Stabmark tells her to sit in a small chair. Mayor Cole enters a moment later, seeming larger than ever. He dismisses the guards and then accuses Lina of going places she’s not supposed to go.

Mayor Cole says that curiosity is a dangerous and unhealthy quality, especially now when Ember is going through tough times and needs people to stay in line. Lina ignores the mayor and begins to plan as Mayor Cole says that it’s his job to understand things too complex for other citizens to grasp. When the mayor says that he’s doing things for the good of others, Lina says that’s hogwash. This angers the mayor, and he suggests that Lina should spend time in the Prison Room. The mayor reaches for his bell to call the guards back, but the lights go out.

Lina already knows where to go. She leaps up, knocks over the table to cover the sound of her footsteps, and dashes out the door. She takes the stairs up and knows that if she can get onto the roof, she can get down to the street. The lights come back on just as she bursts onto the roof. Carefully, Lina ducks down and listens to the clock chiming, announcing the start of the Singing. She pauses to look at the people below, all excited to sing their songs. As the first song, “The Song of the City,” begins, Lina feels a rush of joy and sadness. The song winds down and Lina looks out over the city she loves. She only has five minutes to meet Doon, but sadness in her chest makes her pause. She isn’t sure she can leave Poppy behind.

“The Song of the River” begins. It always makes Lina uneasy but this year, it seems to be urging her to go. Finally, “The Song of Darkness” begins. It’s the saddest and most majestic song. Suddenly, the lights go out again. Voices falter, but then rise more powerfully than before. Lina joins them and sings through the end of the song. After it ends, there’s nothing but silence. Lina considers telling everyone then and there about her and Doon’s discovery, but before she can say anything, she hears the crowd erupt in panic. She hopes for the lights to come back on but, in the distance, sees what she realizes is a candle. It must be Doon. The lights flicker and come back on, and Lina joins the crowd with a plan.