The Whispering Skull

The Whispering Skull

Creator: Steve Mitchell

Characters

William Clayton McCord

Brother Richolf (Monk)

Brother Martin (Monk)

            William Clayton McCord was a Universalist minister. When he joined the Army in WWI, he became an Army Chaplain, but after seeing so much death and horror, he never returned to his church after 1918. While hiking in the Austrian mountains, he tripped and fell, twisting his ankle badly. When he awakened, he was in a monastery tended by two monks.

            Discussing his faith with Brother Richolf , the monk takes him to a hidden room where a table sat with three objects: At first glance he saw a skull, then the monk brought the candle closer to the table. It was a mask, shaped like a skull, fashioned from beaten gold, with tiny red gems – rubies – studded in each tooth of the skeletal grin.

            The next object was an irregular-shaped green stone, about the size of a child’s hand, resting on a cloth of white Semite.  Emerald fire appeared to leap and dance within the stone.

            The third object was the Sword of Paracelsus, a gleaming rapier with an elaborately fashioned hilt.

            McCord’s hands reach for the skull, and the monk suggests that he try it on.

            Returning to the US, McCord brings the skull with him. It had chosen him as much as he, it. Not a vigilante, he stops crime not with weapons, but with the whispering skull that has become his mask.

            I am only aware of one story featuring this character, though there could be others.

“The Least of His Subjects” DOUBLE DANGER TALES #29