# XIII: The Scorpion Wind explained — Brood of the Witch-Queen

> Chapter companion for Brood of the Witch-Queen by Sax Rohmer.

## What happens

During a violent khamsin sandstorm in Cairo, Robert Cairn confides in Dr. Sime about Antony Ferrara's sorcerous crimes, including the murders of a girl and Sir Michael Ferrara. Cairn becomes agitated after glimpsing a figure in a crocodile mask, later revealed to be Ferrara himself. Ferrara taunts Cairn from a window, claiming the storm follows him. Cairn collapses and wakes in a hospital, where Sime informs him he contracted plague during his delirium.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sorcery vs. Science

Cairn describes Ferrara's sorcerous murders as beyond the reach of law and medicine, contrasting with Sime's nervous-system theories.

### Good vs. Evil

Cairn portrays Ferrara as a pestilence and murderer who must be destroyed for the good of mankind.

### The Occult and Ancient Egypt

Ferrara's sorcery is linked to ancient Egyptian practices, and the crocodile mask evokes the god Set.

## Character check-ins

### Robert Cairn

Confides in Sime about Ferrara's crimes and sorcery; becomes delirious after confronting Ferrara during the khamsin.

### Dr. Sime

Listens to Cairn's accusations, follows him during the storm, and later attends to him in hospital.

### Antony Ferrara

Appears in a crocodile mask, taunts Cairn from a window, and implies he controls the khamsin.

### Dr. Bruce Cairn

Mentioned as having driven to Ferrara's rooms with a revolver, intending to kill him.

### Sir Michael Ferrara

Mentioned as having been killed by Ferrara's sorcery.

### Lord Lashmore

Mentioned as having died from heart failure caused by Ferrara.

## Key lines

> The man who removes Antony Ferrara from the earth will be doing mankind a service worthy of the highest reward.

Cairn declares that killing Ferrara would be a heroic act benefiting all humanity.

_Cairn justifies his father's intent to shoot Ferrara._

> He killed her without coming anywhere near her—and he killed his adoptive father, Sir Michael Ferrara, by the same unholy means!

Cairn claims Ferrara murdered both a girl and Sir Michael remotely using sorcery.

_Cairn explains Ferrara's method of murder to Sime._

> I only arrived from the Fayûm this evening, Cairn, and, do you know, they have the pestilence there!

Ferrara taunts Cairn by mentioning plague in the Fayûm, implying he brings disease.

_Ferrara's mocking words foreshadow Cairn's illness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters/xiii-the-scorpion-wind
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/brood_of_the_witch_queen_se/chapters