The Chrysalids

It is a season of incomparable purity as new animals and crops are born without flaws, aside from one of Angus Morton’s fields, which Joseph blames on his choice to acquire large horses. David and Sophie take advantage of the fact that everyone is busy working to further explore Waknuk’s outskirts. They come across a stream with shrimp in it, and David decides to wade in and fish. Sophie decides to take her shoes off and follow him in, and afterward, they sit with their feet in the sun. David assures Sophie her feet do not look strange at all.

On one of these occasions, a boy named Alan comes across Sophie and David as they are fishing. He notices Sophie’s footprint in the mud and immediately demands to know who she is and where she is from. As Sophie disappears into the bushes, David tackles Alan to the ground, and the two wrestle until Sophie approaches from behind and knocks Alan out with a rock. She and David run to her home, and Sophie’s parents immediately decide they must leave forever. David is distraught to hear this and begs to go with them, but Sophie’s parents know that bringing David would cause them to be followed.