The Fever Code
Chapter 60
by Dashner, JamesThe chapter opens with Thomas encountering Randall, a former acquaintance now transformed into a feral Crank by the Flare virus. Randall’s appearance is horrifying—filthy, wild-eyed, and wielding a spear covered in blood from a slain guard. Thomas, shocked by Randall’s descent into madness, attempts to communicate with him, but Randall responds with incoherent mutterings before fleeing into the dark forest. Thomas, armed with a Launcher, fires at him but misses, leaving Randall’s whereabouts unknown. The scene sets a tense tone as Thomas grapples with the reality of Randall’s irreversible transformation.
As Thomas scans the woods, his anxiety intensifies. He reflects on the guards’ deaths, burdened by guilt for their loss. The darkness plays tricks on his senses, amplifying his paranoia. Through a mental link, Teresa urges him to stay put while help is dispatched, but Thomas remains hypervigilant, convinced Randall is nearby. The eerie silence and Randall’s sudden, whispered taunts—“I miss the tasty treats”—heighten the suspense, culminating in a brutal ambush. Randall attacks Thomas, pinning him down and nearly suffocating him, his actions driven by primal insanity.
The struggle becomes a desperate fight for survival. Thomas, overpowered and battered, manages to break free by biting Randall and leveraging a moment of weakness. He grabs his Launcher and fires a grenade, electrocuting Randall mid-charge. Even as Randall convulses in agony, Thomas delivers a final, crushing blow with the weapon, ending the Crank’s life. The violence is visceral and grim, underscoring the dehumanizing effects of the Flare and the harsh measures required to survive.
In the aftermath, Teresa finds Thomas in shock beside Randall’s corpse. The weight of the encounter leaves him physically and emotionally drained. As they return to the complex, Thomas confesses his despair to Teresa, concluding that a cure for the Flare is impossible. The chapter ends on a bleak note, emphasizing the hopelessness of their world and the moral toll of their actions. The encounter with Randall serves as a stark reminder of the virus’s brutality and the fading humanity of those infected.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter illustrate the physical and mental deterioration caused by the Flare virus in Randall?
Answer:
The chapter vividly depicts Randall’s physical and mental decline due to the Flare virus. Physically, he appears “battered and bruised and filthy,” with crusted dirt on his face, wild eyes, and mangled hair, resembling a “nightmare visage.” Mentally, he has lost his humanity, speaking in slurred, incoherent phrases like “I was a tasty treat” and exhibiting violent, animalistic behavior. His actions—such as attacking Thomas with primal fury and licking blood from his spear—highlight the complete erosion of his rational mind. The chapter emphasizes that the Flare not only drives victims to madness but ultimately shuts down their cognitive functions entirely, as seen in Randall’s irreversible state.2. Analyze Thomas’s emotional conflict during his encounter with Randall. How does this reflect his character development?
Answer:
Thomas experiences intense guilt, fear, and sorrow during the confrontation. He blames himself for the guards’ deaths, thinking, “The men were dead because Thomas needed to take a walk,” showing his tendency to internalize responsibility. His initial hesitation to shoot Randall—whispering his name as if hoping for his former self—reveals lingering empathy. However, as Randall attacks, Thomas shifts to survival mode, ultimately killing him with brutal efficiency. This moment underscores his hardening resolve; though he mourns Randall’s fate (“No one deserved an ending like that”), he prioritizes survival and protecting others, foreshadowing his role as a leader in the fight against the Flare.3. What role does the setting (the dark forest) play in amplifying the tension of the scene?
Answer:
The forest’s darkness heightens the scene’s terror and unpredictability. Thomas’s impaired vision (“his eyesight to be worthless”) forces him to rely on other senses, making Randall’s movements more threatening. The environment becomes a psychological weapon: trees seem to “float,” branches crack unexpectedly, and shadows trick Thomas into seeing threats. This disorientation mirrors Randall’s erratic behavior, blurring the line between real danger and paranoia. The forest also traps Thomas, symbolizing his isolation and the inescapable spread of the Flare. The explosive contrast of the Launcher’s “burst of electricity” against the oppressive silence further underscores the life-or-death stakes.4. How does the telepathic exchange with Teresa reveal the limitations and risks of their communication?
Answer:
The telepathy shows both utility and vulnerability. While it allows Thomas to call for help (“Teresa! Randall attacked us”), it also divides his focus—Teresa urges him to “keep talking,” but he refuses, knowing Randall is nearby. Their connection nearly proves fatal when Thomas’s mental distraction leaves him open to attack. Additionally, the exchange reveals dependence on external rescue (“Paige says she’ll send someone”), highlighting their precarious situation. The truncated, urgent dialogue (“Tom? / Yeah, okay”) mirrors their fractured circumstances, emphasizing that even their unique bond cannot fully overcome physical danger or the Flare’s horrors.5. Thomas concludes, “They’ll never find a cure.” What does this statement reveal about his psychological state and the story’s broader themes?
Answer:
This bleak declaration marks a turning point in Thomas’s hope. After witnessing Randall’s dehumanization and surviving a near-fatal attack, he confronts the Flare’s inevitability. The statement reflects despair but also grim acceptance, contrasting with his earlier determination to save friends like Chuck and Teresa. Thematically, it underscores the dystopian world’s hopelessness—even WICKED’s resources cannot undo the virus’s damage. It also foreshadows future moral dilemmas: if a cure is impossible, is survival justified at any cost? Thomas’s resignation hints at the emotional toll of his journey, setting the stage for harder choices ahead.
Quotes
1. “But this was no storybook. ‘Randall,’ Thomas whispered, as if pleading for the person who used to be Randall to come back. But that man was no more. The Crank standing before him had passed the Gone a long time ago.”
This quote highlights the tragic transformation of Randall into a Crank, emphasizing the irreversible effects of the Flare virus. It underscores the loss of humanity and the horror of the disease, setting the tone for the chapter’s tension.
2. “‘Once upon a time,’ the Crank said, his words slurred but understandable this time, ‘I was a tasty treat. Tasty as can be.’”
This chilling statement from Randall-as-Crank reveals the twisted, dehumanized mindset caused by the Flare. It contrasts his past humanity with his current monstrous state, illustrating the virus’s devastating psychological impact.
3. “More lives on his hands. How many more would there be?”
Thomas’s internal reflection captures his growing guilt and burden of responsibility. This quote represents a key emotional turning point, showing his awareness of the consequences of his actions and the weight of the lives lost.
4. “Thomas screamed, twisting his body, struggling to get out from under the monster pinning him down. An arm slipped around his face, covering his mouth in the crook of an elbow. It smelled of sweat and rot; Thomas gagged.”
This visceral description of the physical struggle with Randall emphasizes the raw, survivalist horror of the encounter. It marks the climax of the chapter’s action and the peak of Thomas’s desperation.
5. “‘They’ll never find a cure.’”
Thomas’s bleak conclusion to Teresa represents the chapter’s thematic resolution and a devastating commentary on the Flare virus. This line carries the weight of the entire narrative, suggesting hopelessness and the inevitability of the virus’s spread.