Plague Ship · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Plague Ship by Andre Norton.
Chapter 1
I: Perfumed Planet
Dane Thorson, Cargo-master-apprentice of the Solar Queen, prepares for trade negotiations on the planet Sargol by applying scented paste to mask his off-world scent, as required by the feline-ancestored Salariki natives. The crew has inherited the trading rights of Traxt Cam, who discovered valuable Koros stones on Sargol but was killed by Limbian pirates. Dane and Cargo-master Van Rycke march to the trading center, maintaining their position in the road to assert status before a clan chieftain, and arrive at the market place under the peace shield, ready for a day of ceremonial negotiations.
Chapter 2
II: Rivals
The Solar Queen crew confronts Inter-Solar rivals over trading rights on Sargol. Captain Jellico and Cargo-master Van Rycke stand firm against I-S Captain Grange and Cargo-master Kallee, refusing their buyout offer. Meanwhile, Sinbad the cat is nightly ransomed from Salariki cubs, and one cub shows unexpected curiosity about the ship, following Dane inside.
Chapter 3
III: Contact at Last
Dane Thorson discovers that a young Salarik is intensely attracted to catnip in the ship's hydro garden. He and Mura give the native a few leaves, which the cub takes to the storm priests. The catnip is tested and approved by both Terran and Salarik medical experts, defusing an I-S accusation that the Free Traders introduced a harmful drug. Van Rycke and Jellico continue trading while I-S Cargo-master Kallee is forced to withdraw.
Chapter 4
IV: Gorp Hunt
The Terrans conclude trading with the Salariki, learning that their stock of Koros stones is limited. Van Rycke and Tau discuss the potential of catnip and anisette as superior trade goods, noting that the I-S rivals offer synthetic products while the Salariki prefer natural items. Jasper Weeks surprises everyone by revealing a collection of aromatic carvings made from lacquel bark, frosh weed, and cedar. After Paft's death, the Salariki invite the Terrans to a gorp hunt, a ceremonial event that cements kinship and trade relations. Groft, Paft's heir, selects the youngest crew members, including Dane, to join the hunt.
Chapter 5
V: The Perilous Seas
The Terrans join a Salariki gorp hunt on the reef, using fire to clear a purple scum from the water. They discover tansil wood and witness the hunt's dangers, including a gorp that breaches the reef. After the hunt, they find a wounded I-S spy on the beach and deliver him to his ship, facing hostility. Later, they are invited to Paft's funeral feast, where Groft will be elevated to clan leader.
Chapter 6
VI: Duelist’s Challenge
The Free Traders attend a Salariki funeral feast in the Great Hall, where they witness a duel between two Salariki warriors. The feast escalates when an I-S rival challenges the Terrans to produce a champion for a duel to be fought at dawn, using Salariki weapons. Captain Jellico accepts the challenge, and the chapter ends with the Traders preparing to choose their champion.
Chapter 7
VII: Barring Accident
The Queen's crew prepares for departure from Sargol under the burden of a forced contract: the Salariki priests have given them a chest of Koros stones to sell on Terra in exchange for seeds and plants, binding the Free Traders to return within six Terran months. The crew is uneasy about the tight schedule and the superstitious weight of the bargain. Meanwhile, Captain Jellico faces a duel with an I-S champion using Salariki net and knife, a contest that will determine the fate of their trade mission.
Chapter 8
VIII: Headaches
After departing Sargol, the crew of the Solar Queen faces a mysterious illness that strikes Frank Mura and Karl Kosti, causing headaches and blackouts. Medic Tau struggles to find the cause, while the crew undergoes daily inspections and speculates about their future. Dane Thorson, still recovering from his own Sargolian illness, studies old records and later suggests that Sinbad the cat might be a carrier, though the theory has flaws.
Chapter 9
IX: Plague!
The crew of the Solar Queen is struck by a mysterious plague that leaves victims in a stupor. Dane, Ali, Weeks, and Rip, who drank a Salariki brew, appear immune. They care for the sick while Jellico and the immune few manage the ship. After a tense snap-out from hyperspace, Rip collapses from exhaustion, not the plague.
Chapter 10
X: E-Stat Landing
Dane, Rip, and Ali plan to land the Queen at an I-S E-Stat to strip and replace the hydro, suspecting it is the source of the mysterious illness. They navigate a tense landing without responding to the station's identification demands, then prepare to secure the station and disable its communications to avoid Patrol involvement.
Chapter 11
XI: Desperate Measures
Dane, Rip, and Ali, desperate to find the source of the plague, examine tri-dee shots of the hydro and discover that certain plants have been chewed, suggesting a pest. They raid an I-S E-Stat for supplies, disabling its communications and leaving a voucher. After dumping the contaminated hydro, they return to space, now branded as outlaws. Sinbad's return to the hydro hints that the danger may have passed, but the crew remains focused on identifying the true cause of the plague.
Chapter 12
XII: Strange Behavior of a Hoobat
Rip Shannon proposes a desperate plan to land the Solar Queen directly on Terra in the radioactive Big Burn to avoid Patrol quarantine and I-S pursuit. The crew debates the risks but sees no alternative. Meanwhile, the Hoobat Queex escapes its cage and pursues a mysterious creature through the ship, leading Dane to suspect it may be the source of their troubles.
Chapter 13
XIII: Off the Map
Dane, Ali, and the crew discover that the mysterious pests aboard the Queen are native to Sargol, having stowed away in the red wood cargo. Using the Hoobat Queex's siren song to lure the camouflaged creatures, they capture several with sleep rays and nets. Ali theorizes the pests' venom may be the source of the crew's illness, and Jasper Weeks deliberately infects himself to test the theory. As Weeks falls ill, Rip sets a course for Terra, avoiding Patrol detection, while the crew races to prove the ship is not plague-ridden.
Chapter 14
XIV: Special Mission
Dane volunteers to fly a shielded flitter across the radioactive Big Burn to find a medic for the plague-stricken crew. He lands near a coastal village, disguises himself as a survivor, and is led by a boy to the local medic, planning to abduct him.
Chapter 15
XV: Medic Hovan Reports
Dane kidnaps Medic Hovan at blaster-point, forcing him to don a radiation suit and fly into the Big Burn to reach the Solar Queen. Hovan, after initial surprise, cooperates and later agrees to help the crew clear their names. The crew plans a risky landing at Terraport to broadcast their story and counter the Patrol's plague ship accusations. Hovan successfully treats Craig Tau, and the crew prepares for takeoff.
Chapter 16
XVI: The Battle of the Video
Dane Thorson and the crew of the Solar Queen break into a broadcasting station to plead their case against the plague charges. After fighting their way in, they find Medic Hovan incapacitated by a sleep ray. Ali Kamil uses an H.D. O.S. device to revive Hovan, and Dane is thrust into the role of spokesman, addressing the people of Terra to ask for justice.
Chapter 17
XVII: In Custody
Dane Thorson delivers a passionate defense of the Solar Queen's crew, recounting their ordeal on Sargol and the subsequent plague infestation. He presents the creature as evidence and calls for an impartial investigation. The Patrol interrupts their broadcast, demanding surrender. The three apprentices disarm and surrender, hoping their testimony will sway opinion. They are taken into Patrol custody, fed well, and kept under observation. Meanwhile, Medic Hovan, now an ally, confronts the Patrol to return to the ship to treat the sick crew, and Dane intervenes to protect Hovan's access, resulting in a scuffle.
Chapter 18
XVIII: Bargain Concluded
The crew of the Solar Queen, still in Patrol custody, face questioning about their actions. Van Rycke negotiates a deal with Combine, losing the Sargol contract to their rival but securing a mail run and 25,000 credits. The crew accepts the terms, including a ten-year exile from Terra, and Van Rycke departs for Sargol to finalize the arrangement.
