7 THE BULL WHIP

In Chapter 7 of “The Monster Men,” tension escalates as Dr. von Horn attempts to convince Virginia Maxon to leave her father and escape with him to Singapore, underlining his obsessive desire to have her voluntarily, or by force if necessary. Virginia, despite acknowledging the danger she’s in, resolutely refuses to abandon her father on the isolated island amidst the savage lascars and her father’s grotesque creations. She sees leaving as akin to murder, given her father’s vulnerable state, especially since Dr. von Horn suggests Professor Maxon’s mind is severely affected.

Von Horn’s more sinister side is revealed when he privately resolves to take Virginia by force, blaming the delay on his accomplice, Bududreen, for not appearing on time. Their conversation is cut short by distant war cries, which von Horn dismisses as possibly their men’s mutiny, hinting at his involvement in some underhanded plan. Virginia, driven by concern for her father amidst the chaos, rushes back to the camp, getting separated from von Horn in the process.

The chapter then shifts to Virginia’s harrowing experience as she unintentionally moves away from the camp. Bududreen finds her, manipulating the situation by fabricating a story about the camp being attacked and her father waiting at the ship, convincing her to follow him to what she believes is safety. Meanwhile, von Horn, separated from Virginia, encounters a scared lascar, learning about an attack and falsely assuming all at the camp are dead except for the lascar. Von Horn sees an opportunity to rid himself of perceived rivals and to gain control of Professor Maxon’s fortune through Virginia.

The plot thickens as von Horn devises a plan to unleash the creatures as part of his larger scheme, demonstrating his manipulative and ruthless nature. Sing Lee, Professor Maxon’s loyal servant, discovers the creatures have been freed and rushes to warn the others, showcasing the growing chaos von Horn has ignited. Amidst a brewing storm, Sing Lee and Number Thirteen (one of the creatures with a higher sense of reasoning and loyalty) prepare to defend Professor Maxon against the other creatures driven by revenge and confusion, instigated by von Horn’s manipulation.

The chapter concludes dramatically with Professor Maxon recovering consciousness, expressing a sane remorse for his actions and horror at what he has created. He vehemently rejects Number Thirteen, showing the deep divide his experiments have created between him and his “monster” creations, setting a tense and ominous tone for the narrative to follow.