# The Skull explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Philip K. Dick.

## What happens

Conger, a former hunter and trader, is recruited by a mysterious Speaker to travel back in time to assassinate the Founder of the First Church, a man who has been dead for two centuries. The Speaker retrieves the Founder's skull from the First Church as a means of identification. Conger travels to the past, where he encounters locals, including Sheriff Duff, and prepares to kill the Founder before he can deliver his pacifist message.

## Themes in this chapter

### Violence and Consumption

Conger's mission to kill the Founder reflects the use of violence to suppress a peaceful movement.

### Power and Authority

The Speaker and the Council manipulate Conger, using state power to eliminate a perceived threat.

### Perception and Reality

Conger struggles with the concept of killing a man already dead for centuries, blurring the lines of time and existence.

## Character check-ins

### Conger

Recruited by the Speaker to assassinate the Founder; a hunter and former trader who travels back in time.

### The Speaker

Mysterious figure who recruits Conger and retrieves the Founder's skull from the First Church.

### Sheriff Duff

Local sheriff who questions Conger about an incident at Bloom's fountain.

### Bill Willet

Troublemaker involved in a confrontation with Conger at Bloom's fountain.

### Lora Hunt

Woman caught in the crossfire of Conger's weapon at Bloom's fountain.

### The Founder

Historical figure and target of Conger's assassination mission; founder of the First Church.

## Key lines

> What is this opportunity? Conger asked. Go on. I'm interested.

Conger expresses curiosity about the offer presented to him.

_Opening of the chapter where Conger engages with the Speaker._

> The man you are after has been dead for two centuries, the Speaker said. This is all that remains of him. And this is all you have with which to find him.

The Speaker reveals that the target is long dead and only his skull remains for identification.

_Key revelation about the nature of Conger's mission._

> My God— Lora put her hands up. Conger cursed. He hadn't meant any of it for her. But it would wear off. There was only a half-amp to it. It would tingle. Tingle, and paralyze.

Conger accidentally uses a weapon that paralyzes Lora and others at Bloom's fountain.

_Incident that draws Sheriff Duff's attention to Conger._

> Then it was tomorrow! The second of December! Tomorrow! Thanks, he said. Thanks. He went up the stairs. What a fool he was, forgetting. The Founder had been taken into captivity on the second of December, according to the newspaper records.

Conger realizes the date and that the Founder's capture is imminent.

_Moment of realization that sets the stage for the assassination attempt._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_43_se/chapters/the-skull
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_43_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_43_se/chapters