Tintin Forums

In "The Blue Lotus" when Tintin is in his cell awaiting execution he tries to pull up one of the floor stones, but only succeeds in breaking his nails. Then, suddenly, the very stone rises and a man tells him to climb down.

Tintin looks rather hesitant and even wonders if it is a trap, but decides that he has nothing to lose and climbs down. There he meets his ally Wang.

What kind of a trap would be a means to escape? After all, if it was an enemy then it would in their interests to keep Tintin in his cell rather than giving him the slightest chance of getting out. One should not look a gift horse in the mouth and yet Tintin seems more suspicious than relieved. What kind of trap could he be imagining?

That's all true, but I suppose by this point in the two-book story, Tintin has been through a lot of confusing situations where rescuers have turned out to be enemies and supposed attackers have turned out to be friends. The captain of the dhow who saved him from drowning turned out to be a gun runner. The last time he was saved from execution it turned out to be the Thom[p]sons, wanting to arrest him. And conversely, when he was rather violently kidnapped on board the ocean liner, and transported against his will in a packing case, his assailants turned out to be goodies. (Why didn't they just introduce themselves for a private chat in his cabin?) And there are other examples, such as the life-saving "attacks" by Didi.

I'm not saying that any of these incidents have a direct, logical bearing on his wondering whether the situation you describe might be a trap, but it's understandable that poor old Tintin's become a bit paranoid about accepting help and knowing whom to trust, even if he is being illogical.

Illogical logic! Makes sense. And your examples show that he might be excused for being a little paranoid. Cheers.

There could have been a torture-chamber or immediate execution down there for all Tintin knew. Perhaps he was recalling the dreadful scene of torture in "Soviets."