# XIII explained — The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu

> Chapter companion for The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer.

## What happens

Petrie recounts a strange dream of being in a vast hall with Dr. Fu-Manchu, then awakens to find himself and Nayland Smith chained in a dark vault. Fu-Manchu taunts them with his deadly pets and declares that Graham Guthrie will die at half-past twelve, accompanied by the eerie 'Call of Siva.'

## Themes in this chapter

### Fear and Paranoia

Petrie's dream and awakening are steeped in terror and helplessness, amplified by Fu-Manchu's threats.

### Science and Occultism

Fu-Manchu's laboratory combines scientific instruments with occult imagery, and his 'pets' include both natural and supernatural elements.

### East vs. West

Fu-Manchu represents a sinister Eastern threat to Western civilization, as Smith explicitly states his existence endangers the white race.

## Character check-ins

### Dr. Petrie

Narrator; experiences a hallucinatory dream and awakens chained alongside Smith.

### Nayland Smith

Chained with Petrie; recognizes the 'Call of Siva' as a death omen.

### Dr. Fu-Manchu

Appears in Petrie's dream and in the vault, taunting his captives with threats of death.

### Karamanèh

Briefly glimpsed in Petrie's dream as a figure with bangles and gold bands.

### Graham Guthrie

Fu-Manchu declares he will die at half-past twelve.

## Key lines

> I dreamed that I lay writhing on the floor in agony indescribable. My veins were filled with liquid fire...

Petrie dreams of excruciating pain as if his blood is on fire.

_Describes the onset of his hallucinatory vision._

> You would have warned Mr. Graham Guthrie? Tonight, at half-past twelve, Mr. Graham Guthrie dies!

Fu-Manchu announces that Graham Guthrie will be killed at 12:30 AM.

_Fu-Manchu taunts Smith and Petrie with the impending murder._

> It was the Call of Siva! ... I don't know what it is, Petrie, nor who utters it. But it means death!

Smith identifies the eerie cry as the 'Call of Siva,' a harbinger of death.

_Smith explains the significance of the sound they heard._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/chapters/xiii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_insidious_dr_fu_manchu_se/chapters