Chapter 9 – Into Savage Borneo begins with von Horn standing at the edge of despair, his mind torn between Virginia’s abduction and the treasure he still hopes to recover. The Ithaca, now overtaken by Dyaks, slips away under a makeshift mast, leaving von Horn and a loyal lascar with little choice but to return to camp. Believing the danger has passed, they find Professor Maxon and Sing still alive. Upon arrival, von Horn delivers grim news, revealing Virginia’s capture by pirates—led, he claims, by the very creature designed to be her future companion. The professor, overwhelmed with guilt, regrets not ending the experiment earlier. Von Horn, sensing opportunity, promises to act, offering comfort and confidence in the face of overwhelming odds. In exchange for Virginia’s return, Maxon offers not only his blessing but also his wealth, binding his trust to von Horn’s willingness to face a jungle of enemies.

While investigating the laboratory and surroundings, von Horn and Maxon discover no signs of a struggle. This detail raises unsettling questions. Von Horn suggests that Number Thirteen may have betrayed them, using the chaos of the pirate attack to flee with both the girl and the hidden wealth. Though the theory lacks solid proof, it fits the circumstances too well to ignore. Maxon, torn between belief and doubt, begins to consider the horrifying possibility that his finest creation turned against him. The lab’s state, undisturbed but emptied of key items, adds weight to this suspicion. Von Horn fuels this narrative, hoping it grants him more control over the outcome. The idea of a sentient creation acting on emotion and ambition disturbs Maxon deeply, challenging his moral and scientific foundations.

In the untamed wilderness of Borneo, the real Number Thirteen, known now as Bulan, presses forward. His loyalty to Virginia drives him onward, joined by his fellow creations, each strange yet determined. Together, they fight through ambushes and threats, growing more cohesive with each test. Despite their monstrous appearances, they display empathy and unity—a stark contrast to the ruthless pirates they pursue. The jungle, alive and perilous, becomes their proving ground. Bulan’s strength and resolve turn fearsome creatures into allies and skeptics into believers. Though untrained, these creations adapt with surprising agility, hinting at something more human within them than their makers ever imagined. Their mission, centered on Virginia, gives them purpose beyond their intended design.

Held captive, Virginia endures the uncertainty of her future with quiet resilience. Rajah Muda Saffir, brutal and confident, underestimates her courage. He sees her as a prize to be bartered or broken. But Virginia’s mind clings to the image of Bulan—his defiant strength and unspoken care. Though he remains a mystery, she senses something noble within him. Her thoughts give her strength as she endures the suffocating heat, the harsh journey upriver, and the looming fear of what might come. In her stillness, she prepares. She does not break. Though powerless, she does not surrender her will.

The contrast between von Horn’s manipulations and Bulan’s simple heroism sharpens with every passing moment. Von Horn moves pawns, spins lies, and grasps for rewards. Bulan, with no promises and no name, acts on instinct born from something pure. While Maxon and von Horn chase myths and treasure, Bulan closes in with a force that is honest, even if born of science. Virginia’s fate, caught in the crosshairs of greed, love, and experiment, becomes the heart of this unfolding struggle. The wilds of Borneo become the battleground not just for bodies, but for ideals.

Here, Burroughs explores a raw theme: the measure of a man not by birth but by actions. The jungle tests this belief at every turn. With every step Bulan takes toward Virginia, he reclaims something human. His mission becomes more than a rescue—it becomes a declaration. Through darkness, deception, and danger, a creature born of a lab walks like a man, choosing purpose, choosing love. And that, above all else, reshapes the meaning of humanity in this savage land.