Beryl by Jane Simmons

Author:Jane Simmons [SIMMONS, JANE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: JUV002090
ISBN: 9780316072304
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2010-03-01T00:00:00+00:00

THE LOST PIG

“What’s a lost pig?” asked Amber.

“It’s a terrible thing,” said Uncle Bert. “They’re pigs that are lost to the settlement. I saw one once, it couldn’t even speak. I couldn’t get near it. Luckily for me it was terrified,” he said, shaking his head. “No pig can survive like that—we all need other pigs, none of us can live alone. They stay alive, but the loneliness drives them crazy.”

“C… can’t they get well again if they move back into a s… settlement?” asked Dew.

“I’ve never heard of any doing that. You see, they would have been banished. That’s why they’re out here,” he said.

“They will probably have done something very bad to be thrown out,” snorted Aunt Sissy.

“Could they be dangerous?” asked Beryl.

“They can be more dangerous than wolves or bears!” Aunt Sissy cried.

“Yes, I think we should be careful, but there’s no need to panic,” said Uncle Bert, frowning at Aunt Sissy.

“Will my mother be crazy?” Amber asked quietly.

Uncle Bert sighed. He’d been dreading this. “I’m afraid she probably is. She’s been in the Vastness for a long time,” he said gently. “I’m afraid there is very little hope for her. I don’t mean she’s necessarily gone bad or dangerous, although who knows? Lost pigs aren’t like us. They lose their ability to communicate or even to recognize that other pigs are the same species. It’s better that you forget her. You have Aunt Sissy and me, and we’ll always be there for you. We love you very much,” he said, and nuzzled her affectionately.

That night while Beryl, Amber, and Dew slept, Uncle Bert and Aunt Sissy kept watch.

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