Dec 12, 1997

An excerpt from the graphic novel V for Vendetta, written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd.

"My name is Adam Susan. I am the leader. Leader of the bst, ruler of the ruins. I am a man, like anyother man. I lead the country that I love out of the wilderness of the twentieth century. I believe in survival, in the destiny of the nordic race. I believe in fascism. Oh yes, I am a fascist. What of it? Fascism ... a word. A word whose meaning has been lost in the bleaths of the weak and the treacherous. The Romans invented fascism. A bundle of twigs was it's symbol. One twig could be broken. A bundle would prevail. Fascism... strength in unity.

I believe in strength. I believe in unity. And if that strength, that unity of purpose demands a uniformity of thought, word and deed then so be it. I will not hear talk of freedom. I will not hear talk of individual liberty. They are luxuries. I do not believe in luxuiries. The war put paid to luxury. The war put paid to freedom.
The only freedom left to my people is the freedom to starve, the freedom to die, the freedom to live in a world of chaos. Should I allow them that freedom?

I think not.
I think not.

Do I reserve for myself the freedom I deny others? I do not. I sit here within my cage and I am but a servant. I, who am master of all that I see. I see desolation. I see ashes. I have so very much. I have so very little.

I am not loved, I know that. Not in soul or body. I have never known the soft whisper of the endearment. Never known the peace that lies between the thighs of a woman. But I am respected, I am feared. And that will suffice. Because I love. I, who am not loved in return I have a love that is far deeper than the empty gaps and convulsions of british coupling.
Shall I speak of her?
Shall I speak of my bride?

She has no eyes to flirt or promise. But she sees all. Sees and understands with a wisdom that is God-like in its scale. I stand at the gates of her intellect and I am blinded by the light within. How stupid I must seem to hear. How chidlike and uncomprehending. Her soul is clean, untainted by the snares and ambiguities of emotin. She does not hate. She does not yearn. She is untouched by joy or sorrow, I worship her though I am not worthy. I cherish the purity of her disdain. She does not respect me nor does she fear me.

She does not love me.

They think she is hard and cold, those who do not know her. They think she is lifeless and without passion. They do not know her. She has not touched them. My love, I woukd stay with you forever, would spend my life within you. I could wait upon your every utterance and never ask the merest splinter of affection.

Fate...
Fate...

I love you."