# I explained — The Black Star Passes > Chapter companion for The Black Star Passes by John W. Campbell. ## What happens Robert Arcot and his friend Morey discuss the mysterious 'Pirate' who has been robbing airliners. They devise a plan to catch him by taking a flight to San Francisco with a hidden camera and gas sample bottles. During the flight, they fall unconscious as expected, and upon waking, they learn their camera and luggage have been taken, though Arcot had arranged for their safe retrieval. ## Themes in this chapter ### Scientific Progress and Innovation Arcot's inventions, including the multiple calculus and molecular controller, highlight the theme of scientific advancement and its practical applications. ### Exploration and Adventure The flight to San Francisco and the attempt to catch the Pirate represent a daring adventure into the unknown. ### War and Conflict The ongoing conflict with the Pirate, who repeatedly robs airliners despite the Air Guard's efforts, introduces a theme of struggle and confrontation. ## Character check-ins ### Robert Arcot A brilliant physicist who plans to catch the Pirate by stowing a camera and gas sample bottles on a flight. ### President Arthur Morey Mentioned as the president of Transcontinental Airways and father of Morey junior, who is grateful for Arcot's inventions. ### Wade Mentioned as Morey junior's first name; he is Arcot's friend and collaborator. ### John Fuller Chief designer for Transcontinental Airways who consults Arcot on theoretical details and is later invited to a meeting. ## Key lines > The taller of the two seemed to be doing most of the talking. In the positions they had assumed it would have been rather difficult to be sure of which was the taller, but Robert Morey was a good four inches taller than Richard Arcot. Robert Morey, who appeared taller, was actually four inches taller than Richard Arcot, though their lounging positions made it hard to tell. _Introduces the two main characters and their physical contrast._ > Arcot had to suffer under the stigma of 'runt' with Morey around⁠—he was only six feet tall. Arcot was jokingly called a 'runt' by Morey, despite being six feet tall. _Highlights the friendly banter between the two friends._ > Had he collected the royalties his inventions merited, he would have been a billionaire twice or thrice over. Instead he had made contracts on the basis that the laboratories he owned be kept in condition, and that he be paid a salary that should be whatever he happened to need. Arcot could have been extremely wealthy from his inventions, but he chose contracts that only covered his laboratory expenses and a flexible salary. _Emphasizes Arcot's focus on science over personal wealth._ > It was the great Transcontinental Airways that had suffered most repeatedly. Sometimes it was the San Francisco Flyer that went on without a pilot, sometimes the New York- St. Louis expresses that would come over the field broadcasting the emergency signal. Transcontinental Airways was the primary target of the Pirate, with flights like the San Francisco Flyer and New York-St. Louis expresses being attacked. _Describes the pattern of the Pirate's attacks._ > I have a vague idea,” Arcot answered. “I was going to ask you today, if your father would let us take passage on the next liner carrying any money. Arcot had a plan to catch the Pirate and wanted to travel on a money-carrying flight. _Sets up the plot to investigate the Pirate._ > The other day several men came into Dad’s office, to charter a plane to San Francisco, and Dad naturally wondered why they had been referred to the president of the company. It seems the difficulty was that they wanted to hire the ship so they could be robbed! Some men wanted to charter a plane specifically to be robbed, which puzzled Morey's father. _Reveals a strange request that leads to the plan._ > Suddenly Arcot realized he was unbearably sleepy. He glanced drowsily toward Morey who was already lying down. He found it a tremendous effort of the will to make himself reach up and close the switch that started the little camera whirring almost noiselessly. Arcot felt an overwhelming drowsiness and, with great effort, activated the hidden camera before losing consciousness. _Shows the moment the Pirate's gas takes effect and the camera is activated._ > A white uniformed man was bending over him as he opened his eyes. To one side of him he saw Morey smiling down at him. Arcot woke to find a doctor attending him and Morey nearby. _Indicates the aftermath of the attack._ > No, it may not have gone to sleep, but the doctor here tells me it has gone somewhere else. It wasn’t found in our room when we woke up. I think the Pirate found it and confiscated it. The camera was missing, likely taken by the Pirate. _Reveals the camera's disappearance._ > That’s all right. I arranged for that. The ship was brought down by an emergency pilot and he had instructions from father. He took care of the luggage so that no member of the pirate’s gang could steal it. Arcot had prearranged for the emergency pilot to secure their luggage, preventing theft by the Pirate's accomplices. _Shows Arcot's foresight in the plan._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_black_star_passes_se/chapters/i - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_black_star_passes_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_black_star_passes_se/chapters