The Fever Code
Chapter 64
by Dashner, JamesIn Chapter 63 of *The Fever Code*, Thomas is preparing to join the Gladers, but his nerves are palpable. Dr. Paige offers him a calming tea, which he drinks while attempting to conceal his distrust and plans for rebellion. Their conversation is tense, as Paige avoids sharing details about the Maze Trials, emphasizing the need for secrecy to maintain the integrity of WICKED’s experiments. Thomas senses her evasiveness but plays along, unaware that the tea is laced with a sedative. As the drug takes effect, Paige reveals her betrayal, admitting she poisoned Chancellor Anderson and his staff to ensure the trials continue, leaving Thomas helpless as his consciousness fades.
Thomas awakens on an operating table, paralyzed and terrified, realizing WICKED has deceived him. A robotic mask prepares to erase his memories through the Swipe, and he grapples with the anguish of losing his identity and the betrayal by those he trusted. His thoughts turn to Teresa, recalling their final words with painful clarity, knowing they will soon forget each other. As the Swipe begins, Thomas resists but is overpowered by the inevitability of his fate, succumbing to unconsciousness with a sense of profound despair and betrayal.
In a dreamlike state induced by the Swipe, Thomas finds himself in a serene, surreal landscape where his memories play out in shimmering bubbles. Each bubble contains a fragment of his past—joyful moments with his father, childhood outings with his mother, and other vivid recollections. Despite the tranquil setting, Thomas fights to hold onto these memories, pleading internally for them not to be taken. The bubbles pop one by one, their remnants lingering like suspended droplets, as Thomas struggles against the encroaching oblivion.
The process intensifies as memories flood in rapidly, blurring faces and distorting voices. Thomas’s resistance wanes as the bubbles multiply, overwhelming him with sensory input. The once-clear recollections dissolve into confusion, and he forgets why he was upset. A violent wind swirls the remnants of the bubbles into a cyclone, symbolizing the final erasure of his identity. The chapter ends with Thomas on the brink of losing everything, his past slipping away as WICKED’s manipulation reaches its cruel conclusion.
FAQs
1. How does Dr. Paige betray Thomas in this chapter, and what does this reveal about WICKED’s methods?
Answer:
Dr. Paige betrays Thomas by drugging his tea under the pretense of calming his nerves, which actually incapacitates him for the Swipe procedure. She admits to infecting Chancellor Anderson and his staff to prevent them from ending the Maze Trials, revealing her ruthless dedication to WICKED’s goals. This highlights WICKED’s manipulative and unethical tactics—using deception, emotional manipulation (e.g., calling Thomas her “favorite”), and coercion to maintain control. The chapter underscores WICKED’s prioritization of their mission over individual autonomy, as Paige justifies her actions by claiming the ends (“what we’re trying to achieve”) justify the means.
2. Analyze the significance of Thomas’s dream sequence during the Swipe. How does it reflect his internal conflict?
Answer:
The dream sequence juxtaposes beauty (vibrant fields, blue skies) with horror (losing memories), mirroring Thomas’s dual reality—WICKED’s false promises versus their cruelty. The bubbles represent fragmented memories, from joyful moments (reading with his dad) to traumatic ones (his father succumbing to the Flare). Thomas’s panic and silent screams reveal his desperation to retain his identity, emphasizing the inhumanity of forced memory erasure. The sequence also foreshadows his later struggles in the Maze, as residual emotions (like his anguish over Teresa) persist even as specifics fade, suggesting memory is tied to core identity.
3. How does the chapter portray the theme of trust, and why is it central to Thomas’s arc?
Answer:
Trust is framed as both a vulnerability and a strength. Dr. Paige exploits Thomas’s innate trust, praising it while betraying him (“your incalculable ability to trust others… I’m sorry to have taken advantage”). This betrayal cements Thomas’s disillusionment with WICKED, reinforcing his resolve to rebel. Yet his trust in Teresa (symbolized by his regret over “See you tomorrow”) remains a emotional anchor, hinting at its future role in their rebellion. The chapter positions trust as a double-edged sword—essential for human connection but dangerous in a manipulative system like WICKED.
4. What literary techniques does the author use to convey Thomas’s physical and emotional state during the Swipe?
Answer:
The author employs sensory imagery (“cotton candy filled his ears,” “tingly, floaty”) to depict Thomas’s drugged disorientation. Metaphors (“lightning storm” for panic) and kinetic language (“unbearable anguish filled him”) amplify his helplessness. The dream sequence uses surreal visuals (bubbles, swirling dew) to mirror memory fragmentation. Short, abrupt sentences (“Betrayed.”) punctuate his realization, while stream-of-consciousness narration captures his fading thoughts. These techniques immerse readers in Thomas’s visceral experience, heightening empathy for his psychological trauma.
5. Why might the author choose to reveal Dr. Paige’s confession to Thomas even though he won’t remember it?
Answer:
This narrative choice serves multiple purposes: (1) It reinforces WICKED’s arrogance—Paige admits her crimes because she believes her control is absolute. (2) It provides dramatic irony for readers, who now understand the depth of WICKED’s corruption while Thomas remains unaware. (3) It seeds future tension, as residual emotions from this betrayal may subconsciously influence Thomas’s actions in the Maze. (4) It underscores the tragedy of the Swipe—Paige’s apology is meaningless because Thomas’s erased memories prevent accountability, mirroring WICKED’s cyclical abuse of power.
Quotes
1. “Don’t fight it, Thomas. Everything will be all right in the end.”
Dr. Paige delivers this ominous line as Thomas begins to succumb to the drugged tea, hinting at the manipulation and betrayal to come. This quote encapsulates WICKED’s recurring justification for their cruel experiments—claiming a greater good while stripping individuals of autonomy.
2. “It was me, Thomas. I know you won’t remember this, but I want to say the words to you anyway. Explain myself. It was me who infected Chancellor Anderson and his senior staff.”
Dr. Paige’s chilling confession reveals her direct role in the Flare pandemic and WICKED’s ruthless agenda. The quote underscores the moral corruption of WICKED’s leadership and Thomas’s tragic powerlessness in that moment.
3. “WICKED had played them both to the very end.”
As Thomas loses consciousness before the Swipe, this realization highlights the systemic deception faced by him and Teresa. It frames the chapter’s central tragedy: even their rebellion was anticipated and exploited by WICKED.
4. “Please don’t take this away. I’ll do anything. Please don’t do this to me.”
Thomas’s desperate plea during the Swipe process, as he clings to a memory of his father, humanizes his suffering. This quote emphasizes the cruelty of memory erasure and the personal cost of WICKED’s experiments.
5. “He had forgotten what he’d been so upset about.”
The final line of the excerpt marks the culmination of Thomas’s forced memory loss. Its understated delivery contrasts with the preceding emotional turmoil, underscoring the horror of his identity being systematically dismantled.