The Fever Code
Chapter 10
by Dashner, JamesThomas, recovering from a mysterious brain operation, resumes his isolated routine in the WICKED facility, attending classes alone and hearing distant voices of other children. He struggles with loneliness and questions why he’s kept separate, though Dr. Paige reassures him it’s for his safety in a world ravaged by the Flare. Despite occasional headaches and the lingering scar from his surgery, Thomas accepts his solitary life, finding solace in books and entertainment provided by Dr. Paige. Yet, his curiosity about the other kids, especially Teresa, lingers, leaving him eager for interaction.
One day, Thomas wakes with a severe headache and grogginess, only to be surprised by Dr. Leavitt, who announces a planned meeting with Teresa. Overwhelmed by déjà vu, Thomas agrees eagerly, hopeful for companionship. The encounter is arranged in a sparse office, where Teresa waits shyly. As they sit together, Thomas is struck by an intense sense of familiarity, as if they’ve met before, though he dismisses it to focus on their conversation. The awkwardness fades as they bond over shared experiences of isolation and bland food.
Their dialogue reveals similarities in their lives—both are kept separate from other children, fed in their rooms, and constantly praised for their intelligence. Teresa speculates their isolation relates to the Flare, hinting at a deeper purpose behind WICKED’s experiments. Thomas, however, grows uncomfortable when she asks about his parents, abruptly shutting down the topic. Despite this, their connection deepens, offering Thomas a rare moment of camaraderie and relief from his loneliness.
The chapter ends with Teresa’s probing questions about their pasts and the Flare, leaving Thomas unsettled but intrigued. Their interaction hints at a shared history and a possible role in WICKED’s plans, though many questions remain unanswered. The encounter leaves Thomas with a mix of joy and unease, as the familiarity between them suggests their connection may be more significant than either realizes. The chapter sets the stage for further exploration of their bond and the mysteries of the facility.
FAQs
1. What physical and psychological effects does Thomas experience after his brain surgery, and how do the doctors explain these effects?
Answer:
After the surgery, Thomas notices his head heals quickly, with a bumpy line above his ear where he was cut open, though his hair soon covers it. He occasionally experiences deep, resounding aches inside his skull, as if being squeezed. The doctors, particularly Dr. Paige, dismiss his concerns by reiterating that the implant is “analyzing his system” and emphasize that he requires fewer tests now. They use this as proof of progress, while avoiding detailed explanations. This lack of transparency leaves Thomas uneasy, though he appreciates the reduced testing. The psychological toll is evident in his isolation and growing frustration about being kept separate from others.2. How does the chapter portray Thomas’s isolation, and what clues suggest it might be intentional rather than incidental?
Answer:
Thomas’s isolation is stark—he hasn’t seen Teresa, Minho, or Newt since the surgery and only hears distant voices of other children. Dr. Paige justifies this by claiming the outside world is dangerous (mentioning “radiation and Cranks”) and insists Thomas is a “special case.” However, the deliberate nature of his isolation is hinted at when Teresa reveals she’s also kept alone, fed in her room, and hears other kids. Their shared confinement suggests WICKED is segregating certain children for unknown purposes, possibly related to their intelligence or resistance to the Flare, as implied by Teresa’s question about their parents having the disease.3. Analyze the significance of Thomas’s recurring déjà vu during his reunion with Teresa. What might this suggest about his past or the experiments?
Answer:
Thomas experiences intense déjà vu when Dr. Leavitt announces the meeting with Teresa and during their interaction—the room, her smile, and even their conversation feel eerily familiar. This suggests these events may have happened before, possibly erased from his memory. The repetition implies WICKED could be cycling Thomas through controlled scenarios, either to test his reactions or to reinforce certain behaviors. The déjà vu also hints at suppressed memories, raising questions about how many times he’s been manipulated without recall, deepening the mystery of WICKED’s true motives.4. How does Teresa’s dialogue reveal both her intelligence and the manipulative environment of WICKED?
Answer:
Teresa demonstrates sharp perceptiveness by noting the oddity of their isolation (“There must be something different about us”) and connecting it to the Flare. Her sarcastic remark about food tasting “like a toilet” shows wit, while her blunt question about Thomas’s parents reveals her analytical, if tactless, approach to uncovering truths. WICKED’s manipulation is evident in how both children parrot the phrase “they keep telling me how smart I am,” suggesting the organization conditions them to believe in their exceptionalism—a tactic to secure compliance with experiments while keeping them docile and isolated.5. Why might the authors have chosen to end the chapter with Thomas’s abrupt refusal to discuss his parents? How does this moment impact the reader’s understanding of his character?
Answer:
The cutoff mid-conversation highlights Thomas’s trauma and defensiveness, revealing his parents as a painful subject. This refusal underscores his emotional fragility beneath his curiosity about WICKED, suggesting his memories of them are tied to loss or betrayal (hinted at by his vision of a drunk, angry father). The abrupt ending leaves readers questioning what WICKED has erased or exploited in his past, deepening suspense while humanizing Thomas—he’s not just a test subject but a child with unresolved pain, making his trust in Dr. Paige and Leavitt more unsettling.
Quotes
1. “Sometimes he got a deep, resounding ache inside his skull, as if a magical hand had reached in there and squeezed.”
This quote vividly captures Thomas’s physical and psychological discomfort after his mysterious brain surgery, symbolizing the invasive nature of WICKED’s experiments and the lingering effects on his body and mind.
2. “Dr. Paige constantly reassured him that there were reasons he was so isolated for now, that they wanted to take good care of him, keep him safe. The outside world was a scary, scary place, radiation and Cranks everywhere.”
This reveals the manipulative tactics WICKED uses to control Thomas, blending apparent kindness with fear-mongering to justify his isolation and experimental treatment.
3. “It had been a long, long time since Thomas had felt anything like what burned inside him at that moment. He wanted to meet Teresa more than anything else in the world.”
This moment marks a significant emotional turning point for Thomas, showing his deep longing for human connection after prolonged isolation, and foreshadowing his important relationship with Teresa.
4. “Everything about the episode—the room, Teresa, the lighting—felt so familiar that it seemed impossible that it was happening for the first time.”
This powerful description of déjà vu hints at suppressed memories and the possibility that Thomas and Teresa’s meeting isn’t actually their first, suggesting WICKED’s manipulation of their memories.
5. “There must be something different about us… Don’t you think?”
Teresa’s insightful question represents a key moment of realization for both characters, as they begin to question why they’re treated differently from other children and what special role they might play in WICKED’s plans.