# IX: Plague! explained — Plague Ship

> Chapter companion for Plague Ship by Andre Norton.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Survival and Ingenuity

The immune crew improvises care and theorizes about the cause of immunity based on past experience.

### Corporate Power and Rivalry

I-S is suspected of orchestrating the plague to seize the Koros trade.

### Science and Medicine

The crew attempts to understand the disease and immunity without a medic, using basic first aid and observation.

## Character check-ins

### Dane Thorson

Helps care for the sick and assists during snap-out.

### Ali Kamil

Proposes the immunity theory from the Salariki brew and mans the engine room during snap-out.

### Rip Shannon

Takes charge of the hydro garden and handles astrogation; collapses from exhaustion after snap-out.

### Jasper Weeks

Assists in caring for the sick and helps in the engine room.

### Captain Jellico

Remains active, caring for the sick and piloting the ship through snap-out.

### Medic Craig Tau

Falls victim to the plague early; his notes provide no clue about the disease.

## Key lines

> If no one raises a howl Sargol will be written off the charts as infected, I-S sits on her tail fins a year or so and then she promotes an investigation before the Board.

If no one complains, Sargol will be officially listed as infected, I-S will wait a year, then push for an investigation.

_Ali explains I-S's plan to cover up the plague._

> We keep on the Old Man's course, get lost in the asteroids until we can do some heavy thinking and see a way out.

We follow the Captain's course and hide in the asteroids while we figure out a solution.

_Dane suggests a temporary escape plan._

> I wonder if we've been salted

I wonder if we've been made immune by a prior treatment.

_Ali proposes that the Salariki brew gave them immunity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters/ix-plague
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plague_ship_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/plague_ship_se/chapters