own an electric sheep. Deckard responds that this is unnecessary, but Iran insists that they can because they have nothing to hide, that this has satisfied all of their dreams. She then reaches to kiss him once more and simultaneously presses the button for the elevator. Nervous, Deckard suggests that they stay with the goat a while longer and try to feed and read its maintenance manual. Deckard offers to name it Euphemia when the elevator arrives. Iran heads inside the elevator and insists that it is their moral duty to “fuse with Mercer in gratitude” and share their happiness. She claims that her fusion today helped her overcome her depression, because everyone who fused were connected spiritually by experiencing the fusion simultaneously. This argument sways Deckard and they descend into their apartment.

Once inside their apartment, Iran heads toward the empathy box and describes her past experiences with Mercer. Iran describes sharing in the happiness of other people who had purchased an animal, as well as experiencing the sorrow that others have shared when their animals have died. Iran tells Deckard that by sharing their joy they may be able to help someone who is experiencing extreme sorrow. To this, Deckard responds that in fusing with others they will be exchanging what others are feeling and, thus, lose their own joy. Iran explains that because Deckard rarely fuses he doesn’t understand that they won’t lose what they feel. Deckard silently considers Iran’s statements, considers his own encounter with Resch earlier in the day and decides that he himself has undergone some minute change as a result. He mentions his meeting with Resch and how the day had made him realize that he has begun to empathize with androids. Deckard continues to explain that he is now able to understand how Iran suffers when she is feeling worthless and apathetic. Iran interrupts to ask Deckard about his job. When Deckard suggests that he look for a different position within the agency, Iran reminds him about the bounty money involved in his job and states that they need it in order to afford the payments for the goat.

Bryant calls on the vidphone to update Deckard on the whereabouts of two of the remaining three androids. Bryant cautions Deckard that their movement is most likely due to their knowledge of the retirement of the other androids.

Deckard silently considers that this type of escape is simply in response to their desire to live. Bryant then mentions that he’d like to come see Deckard’s goat once the final three androids have been retired. He continues to say that he’s spoken to Holden and that Holden had wanted Bryant to warn Deckard to be careful with the remaining Nexus-6 models. Deckard requests that he wait until tomorrow to retire the remaining three androids, but Bryant tells him he needs to take care of them immediately. Bryant then tells Deckard to contact him with the results. Deckard replies that he plans to purchase a sheep when he is finished with the job. Bryant reminds Deckard that he already has a sheep, which prompts Deckard to confess that his sheep is a fake.

Deckard goes to his wife, who is deep into her fusion with the empathy box. As he watches the image on the screen of the empathy box, he realizes that his struggle is worse than Mercer’s because of the requirement he has to do something that goes against his own inclinations. He removes Iran’s hands from the handles of the box and replaces them with his own. He is immediately immersed in the desolated landscape with Mercer. Mercer tells Deckard that he must go on as if Mercer didn’t exist because there is no salvation and that the only thing Mercer can do to help Deckard do what he knows to be wrong is to help him know that he is not alone in his struggle. Deckard argues that he can just quit his job and emigrate, but Mercer explains that the basic condition of life is the requirement to violate one’s own identity and thereby defeat creation, and that this will be the case no matter where Deckard goes. At this time a rock nicks Deckard on the ear. Deckard releases his grip on the handles of the empathy box to find Iran waiting for him with a handkerchief. She thanks him for replacing her on the empathy box because, she explains, she doesn’t like getting hit by the rocks. Deckard announces to her that he’s leaving and mentions that he didn’t “get anything” from holding onto the handles of the empathy box and that Mercer is “just an old man climbing a hill to his death.” Iran responds that this should be the revelation, and Deckard replies that he had already achieved that revelation.

Deckard heads to his hovercar on the rooftop and makes a call to Rachel Rosen. He requests that she join him in his final mission to retire the three remaining androids. She explains that she can’t come until morning, and Deckard replies that he must retire the remaining androids tonight. When Rosen continues to deny Deckard’s invitation to join him, he declares that she is still upset about the Voigt-Kampff test from earlier in the day. She responds that she doesn’t believe that Deckard really wants to take on the mission and that he looks very tired. Deckard then invites her to meet him at a downtown hotel. He claims that if she agrees to meet him there, he will give up on his mission and they can “do something else.” She agrees, and Deckard departs from his rooftop for their rendezvous.

Analysis
Chapter Fifteen addresses the theme of the use of animals as social commodities. The incentive for bounty hunters to earn money for retiring androids translates to the incentive to own an authentic animal for Deckard. Deckard uses the bounty money he’s earned from retiring three androids to purchase a real goat. This purchase provides Deckard with brief solace from the troubling aspects of his job and he experiences authentic joy and elation with the ownership of this animal. The warm interaction between Deckard and his neighbor over the goat suggests that acceptance amongst peers and a general feeling of adequacy is another significant advantage to owning an authentic animal.

The empathy box and its important role to provide humans with companionship is also highlighted in this chapter. After Deckard presents his new animal to his wife, she suggests that they fulfill their moral obligation to share their joy with others by using the empathy box. Rather than going inside, Deckard explains that he prefers to stay with the animal enjoy it for a while longer. Iran doesn’t agree and they turn to the empathy box. Iran’s treatment of the box as a way of sharing emotional experiences with other humans denotes her dependency upon it for companionship, but Deckard turns to the box for his own reasons.

Bryant calls to inform Deckard that two of the remaining androids have been located. Bryant then orders Deckard to take care of the androids immediately. Deckard tells Bryant about his new acquisition, but Bryant is indifferent to the news. Deckard is distressed by the fact that he must continue to take part in the destruction of androids despite his empathic response to such action. Deckard then turns to the empathy box in an attempt to resolve the issues involved in his duties as a bounty hunter. Mercer appears and informs Deckard that the contradiction inherent to his actions are just a part of the natural struggle of humans to adhere to ideological beliefs. Mercer emphasizes that Deckard is not alone in his struggle. This encounter with the empathy box doesn’t easily satisfy Deckard’s dilemma, and Deckard is left feeling isolated.