Summary

Chapter 5 opens with Coquette's foal coming early and no one hearing her have it. By the time Beryl's father finds it, giant Siafu ants have devoured parts of the dead foal. It could have been stillborn upon birth, but there is no way to know whether that was the case or not. When Beryl finds out, she skips her lessons and runs to the Kip village. There, as she watches the boys play, she wishes that she had been born as a Kip boy. Kibii finishes his training and talks to her. She tells him about Coquette's foal and questions the purpose of the giant ants. He says that it is not for man to know.

As time goes on, Beryl realizes that Mrs. O, or Emma, acts more like her father's wife or her mother than a housekeeper. Emma tries to give...