The Message, Chapters 1 and 2 Summary

"The Message" is a short prologue to the novel. It consists of a short note written by Doon Harrow and Lina Mayfleet to the people of the underground city of Ember explaining that they have found a way to escape their dying city and giving them the instructions.

Chapter 1 is called "What Torren Saw" and is the opening chapter in Part 1, entitled "The Arrival." While on an errand to fetch some cabbages from one of the fields surrounding the village of Sparks, a young boy named Torren climbs a windmill to look around. In the distance he sees a large group of people descending from a hill. Excited, he rushes to the village and raises the cry for the villagers to come see.

The people of Sparks summon their leaders, Mary Waters, Ben Barlow and Wilmer Dent...