Chapter summaries The Buffalo Hunter Hunter Stephen Graham Jones

Chapter 16 Summary: April 25, 1912

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

The chapter is a diary entry dated April 25, 1912, written by a pastor serving his first and last posting. He announces that there will be no Sunday service on the Feast of St. Mark because he himself will become the feast—that is, he expects to be killed. He identifies his enemy as Good Stab and interprets the past weeks' actions as a form of counting coup, where the enemy touches him repeatedly to demonstrate power before delivering the fatal blow. The pastor reflects that all that remains is that mortal blow. He wishes to convince Sheriff Doyle of the threat, noting that Good Stab has already killed the postmaster (a Pinkerton agent) and a family from San Francisco. With his cat Cordelia in his lap, he writes this entry, stating that his tears serve as ink. He apologizes to Cordelia for the dark closet he will soon take her to again, but he fears returning to find his church on fire. He admits that he might be drawn to those flames and step into them, pulling the door shut behind him.

Key Events

  • The pastor cancels the upcoming Sunday service.
  • He interprets Good Stab's repeated actions as counting coup.
  • He acknowledges that the mortal blow is imminent.
  • He mentions the deaths of the postmaster and a San Francisco family.
  • He writes with Cordelia in his lap, using tears as ink.
  • He anticipates hiding in a closet with Cordelia but fears the church will burn.
  • He contemplates willingly entering the fire.

Character Development

  • The Pastor: Shifts from earlier hope to a resigned acceptance of death. His bond with Cordelia is highlighted as he apologizes for the confinement and darkness. He reveals a dark attraction to the fire, hinting at a possible suicidal impulse.
  • Good Stab: Portrayed as methodical, using a ritualistic approach (counting coup) rather than quick violence. His actions are designed to shame and dominate before the final kill.
  • Sheriff Doyle: Mentioned as the person the pastor hopes to convince of the threat, indicating law enforcement has not yet intervened effectively.
  • Cordelia: The pastor's cat serves as a silent companion, emphasizing the pastor's loneliness and humanity.

Themes, Symbols, or Motifs

  • Counting Coup: A Native American ritual of touching an enemy as an act of bravery and power, used here to describe the prolonged psychological torment before the kill. The pastor sees this as Good Stab's deliberate strategy.
  • Transubstantiation: The pastor plays on the Christian concept of bread and wine becoming body and blood, suggesting his own body will become a meal for Good Stab.
  • Fire: The church ablaze symbolizes both destruction and a possible escape; the pastor is drawn to it as a "proper home," raising questions about his final intentions.
  • The Feast of St. Mark: The specific date aligns with the pastor's anticipated sacrifice, linking religious martyrdom to his fate.

Why This Chapter Matters

This chapter marks the pastor’s final diary entry before his likely death. It crystallizes his understanding of Good Stab’s strategy—counting coup—and reveals his emotional state: fear, resignation, and a dark attraction to the fire. It ties together earlier threats (the Pinkerton postmaster, the San Francisco family) and sets up the climax. The cat Cordelia adds a poignant layer, showing the pastor’s humanity and his attempt to protect something helpless. The chapter’s language is poetic and self-aware, deepening the Gothic horror of the narrative.

Study Questions and Answers

  1. Why does the pastor cancel the Sunday service?
    He believes Good Stab will finally kill him during the service, making the pastor himself the "feast" rather than the Eucharist. He sees this as the conclusion of the counting-coup ritual.

  2. What is the significance of counting coup in this chapter?
    Counting coup is a practice where a warrior touches an enemy as a show of dominance before killing him. The pastor reasons that Good Stab has been doing this each Sunday, demonstrating power over him for weeks, and now only the fatal touch remains.

  3. What does the pastor fear will happen to the church, and how does he react to that possibility?
    He fears the church will be set ablaze. He admits he might be drawn to the flames, recognizing them as a "proper home," and could step into the fire and shut the door, suggesting a suicidal surrender to the destruction.

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