# I Am Introduced to Strong Magic explained — The Three Hostages > Chapter companion for The Three Hostages by John Buchan. ## What happens Hannay witnesses a disturbing conversation between Medina and an Eastern mage at Claridge's, where Medina seeks the secret to permanently enslaving souls. The mage explains that control can be made permanent by placing the subject back into familiar surroundings, reinforcing the unconscious memory. Horrified, Hannay realizes Medina is behind the kidnappings and is stealing souls rather than lives. After the meeting, Hannay receives a note from Sandy Arbuthnot arranging a meeting at 'The Silent Woman' inn, and he begins to formulate a plan. He contacts Archie Roylance to arrange an aeroplane for a trip to Norway, determined to follow the trail and stop Medina's evil scheme. ## Themes in this chapter ### Good versus Evil Hannay's horror at Medina's soul-stealing plans underscores the clear moral battle between Hannay's desire to protect innocence and Medina's evil ambition to enslave others. ### Psychological Warfare The mage's explanation of how to permanently control a person by manipulating their unconscious memory highlights the psychological manipulation at the core of Medina's scheme. ### The Nature of Villainy Medina's quest for absolute control over others, and his willingness to steal souls rather than lives, explores the depths of villainy and the corruption of power. ## Character check-ins ### Richard Hannay Hannay is deeply horrified by Medina's conversation with the mage, realizing Medina's true goal is to steal souls. He begins to formulate a plan to stop him, arranging for Archie Roylance to provide an aeroplane for a trip to Norway. ### Dominick Medina Medina meets with an Eastern mage at Claridge's, seeking the secret to permanently enslaving souls. He reveals his plan to control his victims forever, confirming his role in the kidnappings. ### Sandy Arbuthnot Sandy sends Hannay a note arranging a meeting at 'The Silent Woman' inn on the Fosse Way, indicating he has returned to England and has information to share. ### Archie Roylance Archie agrees to help Hannay by providing an aeroplane for a trip to Norway, showing his willingness to take risks for a friend. ### Macgillivray Macgillivray sends a note to Hannay informing him that Dr. Newhover has booked a passage on the Gudrun, which helps Hannay decide on his next move. ### Tom Machin Tom Machin is present at Claridge's, speaking with Medina about a regimental dinner and a government grievance, providing a contrast to the dark conversation that follows. ## Key lines > I listened to this conversation with feelings of genuine horror. Now I saw Medina's plans, and I realised that he and he alone was at the bottom of the kidnapping. I realised, too, how he had dealt with the three hostages, and how he proposed to deal. Compared to him a murderer was innocent, for a murderer only took life, while he took the soul. Hannay is horrified as he understands that Medina is the mastermind behind the kidnappings, and that his method is far worse than murder—he steals the souls of his victims. _This moment reveals Hannay's full comprehension of Medina's evil and sets the stage for his determination to stop him._ > Take him or her whom you govern into the same life as they have been accustomed to live before, and there, among familiar things, assert your control. Your influence will thus acquire the sanction of familiarity—for though the conscious memory has gone, the unconscious remains—and presently will be a second nature. The mage advises Medina that to make his control permanent, he should place his victims back into their familiar surroundings, where the unconscious memory will reinforce his influence. _This explanation provides the key to Medina's method and gives Hannay insight into how to counteract it._ > I managed to get Archie suitably impressed, and even to interest him in the adventure, for he was never the man to lag behind in anything that included risk and wanted daring. Hannay convinces Archie to help him by appealing to his love of risk and adventure, securing his promise to provide an aeroplane for the Norway trip. _This shows Hannay's resourcefulness and the loyalty of his friends as he prepares to take action._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters/ix-i-am-introduced-to-strong-magic - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_hostages_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_three_hostages_se/chapters