The Book of Knowledge Read Online Free PDF Page A

sea!’
    â€˜Can they swim?’ asked Lionel.
    â€˜I think so. In shallow water, I guess. But even if they can’t, they’re so brave they plunge into the water as if they were still walking on land. They go out so far that they all drown. Not a single one is left.’
    â€˜Do they know they are going to drown when they go into the water?’ asked Caleb.
    â€˜How would I know that?’
    The three children stood looking at Roslyn, trying not to believe in the truth of her tragic story.
    Caleb said: ‘How do you know they have a queen?’
    Roslyn had invented the part about the ruler of the lemmings. But her quick wits saved her. ‘Well, they’re like bees in that way. They have a queen, don’t they?’
    â€˜Why should you be the queen?’
    â€˜Because I want to lead you all into the ocean to see if you will drown.’
    â€˜Not me,’ said Caleb. ‘I can swim.’
    Lionel said: ‘I can’t. I haven’t learned yet.’
    Kate said nothing. She was afraid to play the game. But she knew if Caleb followed Roslyn into the ocean she would go in too. Nothing would part her from him, not for a moment. She thought her courage would keep her afloat, or perhaps maintain her at a depth just above her head, or she would be instantly granted the swimming skill she wanted so badly. And if not, Caleb would not let her drown. Of that she was certain.
    In the hot sun, Emma dozed off ‘for a mere second,’ she later told herself. A wheeling gull above her head woke her with its shrill cry. She sat up abruptly and looked for the children. Roslyn’s black head was immediately visible. Then she saw Caleb kneeling beside her, his hair dark with water. Both were bent over examining something at the edge of the sea. Then she saw Lionel sitting cross-legged, looking down. Kate was not to be seen.
    Emma ran, ignoring the pull of her long skirt. She reached the end of the sand and saw Kate stretched out, her eyes closed and water running from the side of her mouth. Caleb held her hand and with his other rubbed her forehead.
    Emma screamed and pushed Caleb and Roslyn aside as she bent to pick up her daughter. Kate opened her eyes, looked up at Emma, spat out water, and then smiled weakly.
    â€˜Hello, Moth,’ she said.
    â€˜What happened, Caleb?’ Emma said.
    Roslyn said: ‘It was her fault. She was a terrible lemming.’
    Caleb turned on her angrily. ‘She was not . It was all your dumb idea. You had to be a queen.’
    Emma wrapped Kate in her skirt, exposing her own bathing dress for the first time in many summers. Kate squirmed impatiently in her arms, wanting to be put down, but Emma insisted on carrying her. The other children trailed behind her shouting recriminations at each other, but Emma was unable to hear what they were saying.
    â€˜Why didn’t she say she was afraid of the water? How could I know that?’ Roslyn’s voice was harsh with fright.
    â€˜She’s not afraid. She just can’t swim. Like Lion.’
    â€˜Yeah, but he didn’t go in. He’s not stupid.’
    â€˜ You’re stupid, stupid. Very, very stupid. And so are lemmings stupid. Maybe you read it wrong. Maybe they go the other way.’
    â€˜What do you mean, “go the other way”?’
    â€˜Maybe they come out of the ocean for no reason, like hermit crabs, so they won’t drown. Even you could be wrong, you know.’
    Emma carried Kate back to the chair and sat down, still holding her in her lap. She threw Caleb a towel. Roslyn and Lionel found their towels. For a few moments everyone was silent, occupied with drying off. Emma rubbed Kate so hard she began to cry. Caleb watched them. At this moment Kate seemed fragile to him, almost babylike. His throat ached as he looked at her. Then he knelt down beside her and took her hand.
    â€˜Don’t cry, Kate. It’s over. You’re okay. You didn’t