THE SWAMPS OF SADNESS 11

WE buried Liu Bei, Bei properly, despite our grievances,
grievances with him; for he was still a man,
unlike his Semitic goblin ally, which we left to
rot in the sun Sun for the carrion birds. However, Although, I
do not believe that even ravens would eat goblin
meat. I have learned something from that last
battle, rider. It is difficult to deploy one’s
hate when one lacks sufficient reason.

Communism was brought to the Chinese. It was the
Semitic impulse that made its way into the
orient, like a cancer. Look at the Great
Proletarian Cultural Revolution that devastated
their own continuum. How much of their world was
forever lost, because of that Semitic memetic
poison? Nearly fifty million people were
destroyed in Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward.
However, I wish to honor Liu Bei. For Bei, for I have
learned from him, him that I am ill-equipped ill equipped without a
blade. It was kind of him to leave me his weapon,
but before long I shall take up another. Our
sacred combat, despite my wounds, will only
increase my capabilities. Verily, it is as they
say – that which does not kill us, makes us
stronger.

We continue our journey through the plains, until
we arrive at the forest, forest that leads to the Swamps
of Sadness. Just as we begin our way walking into the
woodland, we hear a familiar voice calling out to
us, “Wait! Wait Sacred Clown!” Then, from From over a
hill we see him, my old friend from the pub, the
Atheist. Finally he reaches our position. As he moves forward,
approaches, attempting to catch his breath, he lets out,
wheezes, “My friend, I can not let you go into
that swamp and face that demon. For you know
already that those who enter, never return.
Please my friend, realize that your newfound
religion, this purpose that you speak of, is only
arbitrarily filling your own subjective void. In
truth, the void can not be filled. She, that
witch Nihilism, lurks in the swamp ahead; and it
is said she yearns for the hopelessness of
men.” I stare at him for a moment and then let out,
reply, “But I am not hopeless or even filled
with hope. For I know that my aim is true. I know
that the gods will be there, watching and aiding
my actions.” With a confused expression he
whispers, “The gods?” I turn away from him
and look into the dark forest ahead saying, ahead. “Being’s
phenomena. As I have said before, if it is true
that Being yearns to know itself, then at all
times, I am aided by its inner workings. Faith
and hope are useless against that wretched
hag. nihilism. Only
absolute resolve will bring light back into this
dreaded swamp. Come with me, my old friend. Verily, she The
hag has already made her way into your heart,
dominating your spirit. Let us today
endeavor, endeavor to
fell this vile creature.” I begin walking
forward. Come along, rider. The Atheist looks
right, then left, sighs, then reluctantly begins
to follow.

As we venture deeper into the forest ever becomes more forest, springy
peat gives way to marshy bog, and a swamp, the sinister mist
begins to set in from all sides. Slowly In the distance
we see the slowly growing light from a lantern,
as we pass through ever denser thicket. Suddenly
we hear a voice, coming voice from the distance, afar calling out, out: “Go back.
back! There’s nothing for you here.” We
continue to trudge forward until we come find
ourselves face to face with an old man, sitting
in some type of boat, filled with books and
newspapers. He cries out to us, “I am the
Pessimist and I know this swamp better than any
man. I came here to find satisfaction. However However,
satisfaction can not be found. For as soon as one
finds quality in this life, he eventually grows
bored with it, tosses it away and ventures to
find some new goal. All in the vain pursuit of
satisfaction.” I give no pause and reply,
“Verily, it is well that man was equipped with
such tendencies. For if he were to remain in one
place, satisfied satisfied, for too long, he surely would
forget the chase of the Sun. It is in the hunt
that the new people will find satisfaction. For
it is the mountain which can never be surmounted
but must be endlessly climbed.” His face turns to confusion and he
lets out, The old man
frowns, “Truly, I have been here for days, or
has it been weeks? What year is it, again?” I
reply to him,
reply, “You will soon be free of this place,
Pessimist. For my companions and I seek the head
of the hag Nihilism.” The
Pessimist’s face turns to scorn as he Pessimist snorts and
scornfully cries out, “I said go back you
damned fool. fool! There is no hope in this place.” Suddenly we hear the
There is a crash of water. We turn to see the
Atheist pulling himself back up. He cries out, out of the mud. “This
dreaded place. place! Now I’m covered in the muck.” The
old man in the boat lets out, grins, “It’s just
started
started, you dimwit. This place isn’t for ya,
and the deeper you go, the more you will sink.”
I go to grab the Atheist to help him up to higher
ground. I look him in the eyes and say, “Stay
close.” I turn to look at the Pessimist and
call
out, “Where is the Sacred Sword that
 lies in this swamp?” out, “Where is the Sacred Sword that lies
in this swamp?” The Pessimist’s face contorts back to
in confusion as he states, “The Sacred Sword? I
know nothing of such myths.”

We carry on into the swamp. The Pessimist
continues to cry out, “Turn back you fools. fools!
This is no place for you!” you!”, he echoes through
the trees until his voice can no longer be heard.
What feels like hours pass as we venture forward.
The Atheist whispers, as he lingers behind, behind us,
“Do you hear that?” I pause and turn to look
at him saying, “Hear what?” The Atheist
whispers back, “The sounds of the swamp. I hear
no animals. No birds or insects. There’s
nothing. It is a haunting silence.” He is right, as only
right. Only the sounds of our foot steps footsteps in the mud,
mud can be heard. “We must keep
moving.” moving.”, I let out, as
reply. I am about to continue forward
again, until suddenly when we
hear a strange sound.” sound. The Atheist whispers,
“Did you hear that? It sounds like the weeping
of a little child.” My child. ”My eyes widen and I call to
him, “Do not dwell on it! We must keep
moving.”

Our party makes its way through this forsaken
swamp, passing through thicket the thickets and the muck.
We finally decide to rest as we have traveled for
hours, yet the swamp has remained a in consistent
twilight. Is it day or night, I wonder? The
Atheist sits on a rock and begins to speak,
“Are we lost? Perhaps the old hag is just a
myth? Are wet socks and boots covered in mud, her mud the
greatest arsenal weapons of the her dark arts?” He begins
laughing, until suddenly he then pauses. He raises his hand, to
point behind me. He whispers, “Look.” I turn
my head, and to my horror, the little girl from
the graveyard stands just a few feet away. I turn
my head back to the Atheist and cry out, “Do
not talk to it!” The little girl begins to weep and says, “Please can you help
me, I’ve been lost in this swamp for a very
long time.”
weep. “PLEASE, CAN YOU HELP ME? I'VE BEEN LOST
IN THIS SWAMP FOR A VERY LONG TIME.”

The Atheist looks to me and states, “You mean
that is … ... she? The black witch?” I say
nothing as my eyes remain fixed on his. Rider,
we must be swift for the creature has found us. I
grab the Atheist by his arm and say, “We need
to move.” We quickly get our gear together and
continue to trudge through the muck. She
continues to follow us, though she oddly has no
trouble finding firm footing. She begins to speak
to me, “Why do you men not aid little girls? Is
it because you are selfish? That does make sense.
I mean, the heart of humanity is built around
selfishness, you know? Mothers really only care
for their babies because they share the same
genetic material. Underneath all her supposed
love, is simply the desire to indefinitely carry
on the genes. Doesn’t sound very pretty when we
look at it that way, does it?” "WHY DO YOU MEN NOT
AID LITTLE GIRLS? IS IT BECAUSE YOU ARE SELFISH?
THAT DOES MAKE SENSE. I MEAN, THE HEART OF
HUMANITY IS SELFISHNESS, YOU KNOW? MOTHERS REALLY
ONLY CARE FOR THEIR BABIES BECAUSE THEY SHARE THE
SAME GENETIC MATERIAL. UNDERNEATH ALL HER
SUPPOSED ‘LOVE’ IS SIMPLY THE DESIRE TO
INDEFINITELY CARRY ON HER OWN GENES. DOESN’T
SOUND VERY PRETTY WHEN WE LOOK AT IT THAT WAY,
DOES IT?”

Hours pass as we move through thorns and deep
water. Still, all the while, the little girl
follows, periodically asking questions. Looking
for a way in. Suddenly the Atheist calls out,
“Can we take a break again? I think I’ve
injured my leg, with how many times I’ve
tripped, here in this damned swamp.” He sits on
a log and removes a boot. The little girl makes
her way near us, for she is very curious of about
her new friends. The Atheist looks to me, then
back to the little girl as he says, “So this is
what we have feared for so long? This is the hag

Nihilism?” He begins to laugh as he pulls off
his sock saying, “So let me get this straight,
a little girl with pestering questions, wet boots
and a busted knee are what has kept Western
mankind lost in the abyss? We should have come
here sooner, for the great black witch Nihilism
is but a myth.” The Atheist puts his boots back
on and makes his way next to the little girl. He
bends down next to her and says, “You see
little one, the pursuit of happiness was always
enough. I knew it. What brings a man joy, is
enough to give ones life purpose.” He begins
laughing as he states, “This here friend of
mine, thinks you are something awful, but in
truth you are as harmless as a kitten. Let it be
said that happiness conquered nihilism today.”
He stands back up and begins walking his way
towards our position, when suddenly the little
girl remarks, “Yes. You are a very wise man
indeed. For I am sure, if Erica were still alive,
she would completely agree remarks with you.” a twisted grin, “YES. YOU ARE
A VERY WISE MAN INDEED. FOR I AM SURE IF ERICA
WERE STILL ALIVE, SHE WOULD COMPLETELY AGREE WITH
YOU.”

The Atheist pauses, then slowly turns around
saying, around.
“How do … how ... How do you know that name?” She continues to look The
girl stares menacingly into his eyes as
she states, “She was your sister, correct?
I’m sure if she still lived, she would agree
with you, that the pursuit of happiness was
enough. However, she doesn’t exist anymore, so
I suppose we’ll never know.” eyes. “SHE WAS
YOUR SISTER, CORRECT? I’M SURE IF SHE STILL
LIVED, SHE WOULD AGREE WITH YOU – THAT THE
PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS WAS ENOUGH. BUT I SUPPOSE
SHE DOESN’T EXIST ANYMORE, SO WE’LL NEVER
KNOW.” The Atheist’s gaze remains on her, yet
he says nothing. The
little girl lets out, “It’s alright. “IT’S ALRIGHT. I know
you have a lot of guilt for what happened on that
night. You know, when those men came to your
farm. When they did what they did with her.” KNOW YOU
HAVE A LOT OF GUILT FOR WHAT HAPPENED ON THAT
NIGHT. YOU KNOW, WHEN THOSE MEN CAME TO YOUR
FARM. WHEN THEY DID WHAT THEY DID WITH HER.”
The Atheists Atheist’s eyes widen as he whispers, “How
do you know of such things?” The little
girl’s
eyes remain on his as she speaks, “You don’t
have to feel guilty anymore. For when those men
came in the night, and they raped your sister,
you hid yourself because you were afraid. Don’t
you know, your fear was just a survival
mechanism? Had those two men found you, perhaps
you’d be dead too. You must agree that it was
best that she died, rather than you. For you were
given many more years to pursue your task, to
gather as much happiness as possible.” grin widens. “YOU DON’T HAVE TO FEEL
GUILTY ANY MORE. WHEN THOSE MEN CAME IN THE
NIGHT, WHEN THEY RAPED YOUR SISTER, YOU HID
YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU WERE AFRAID. DON’T YOU
KNOW THAT YOUR FEAR WAS JUST A SURVIVAL
MECHANISM? HAD THOSE TWO MEN FOUND YOU, PERHAPS
YOU’D BE DEAD TOO. IT WAS BEST THAT SHE DIED,
RATHER THAN YOU, DON’T YOU AGREE? YOU WERE
GIVEN SO MANY MORE YEARS TO PURSUE YOUR GREAT
TASK – TO GATHER AS MUCH HAPPINESS AS
POSSIBLE!”

Suddenly the Atheist begins to weep. He looks to
me and back to the little girl as he states, girl. “How does she know? …”
know ...” but I cut him off as
I let out, off. “Do not listen
to her. her, Atheist! She wants to get inside your
head, you fool! Shut her out!” The little girl
walks closer to the Atheist until she is within arms reach and speaks, “However
you shouldn’t harbor any hatred for those two
men. Truthfully, they were seeking their own
euphorial For how could you argue, that those
men’s happiness, is in any way less valid than
your own? Don’t you remember how happy they
looked taking turn, after turn, after turn, after
turn, after turn on her?”
arm’s reach. “YOU SHOULDN’T HARBOR ANY
HATRED FOR THOSE TWO MEN. AFTER ALL, THEY WERE
SEEKING THEIR OWN EUPHORIA. HOW COULD YOU ARGUE
THAT THOSE MEN’S HAPPINESS IS IN ANY WAY LESS
VALID THAN YOUR OWN? DON’T YOU REMEMBER HOW
HAPPY THEY LOOKED TAKING TURN, AFTER TURN, AFTER
TURN, AFTER TURN, AFTER TURN WITH HER?” The
Atheist smacks the little girl’s face. He
stands back in
shock, shock at his own action. The
little girl begins laughing as she holds clasps her
cheek. She turns her eyes back to his once again and lets out, “Yes,
truly it was just matter, penetrating matter.
Tell me, in those dark years of your youth, when
you buried that pain with alcohol and drugs, were
you not still attaining your goals? Those opiates
that bring such ecstasy, are really no different
than anything else that makes a man happy.
Isn’t it strange that you could have garnered
so much happiness, but never feel satisfaction?” again.
“YES, IT WAS JUST MATTER PENETRATING MATTER.
TELL ME, IN THOSE DARK YEARS OF YOUR YOUTH, WHEN
YOU BURIED THAT PAIN WITH ALCOHOL AND DRUGS, WERE
YOU NOT STILL ATTAINING YOUR GOALS? THOSE OPIATES
THAT BRING SUCH ECSTASY ARE REALLY NO DIFFERENT
THAN ANYTHING ELSE THAT MAKES A MAN HAPPY.
ISN’T IT STRANGE THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO ACQUIRE
SO MUCH ‘HAPPINESS’, BUT NEVER FELT
SATISFACTION?”

I walk up and put my hand on the Atheist’s
shoulder as I say, “Come my “Come, dear friend, you must
disengage from her and continue forward.” We
begin to move when suddenly the Atheist trips and
begins to sink. We rush to him, grabbing a hold on of
his arms, as we struggle to keep him up. How
strange that we continue to have firm footing,
right where he sinks. I cry out to the Atheist,
“You must get her out of your mind! Hold on!”
The Atheist puts little effort into keeping
himself from being submerged. The little girl
begins laughing saying, “All those years
you tried to find purpose and happiness, for
nothing really. You knew all along that
everything’s a big nothing. You tried to find
purpose, from new age religions to the same old
Abrahamic song. Eventually, you found comfort in
the notion that you could attain knowledge from
the material sciences. But look at you. You’re
still that mound of bacteria, searching for
dopamine and serotonin. Do you see how utterly
absurd it all really is?” cackle, “ALL THOSE YEARS YOU TRIED TO
FIND PURPOSE AND HAPPINESS ‐ FOR NOTHING! YOU
KNEW ALL ALONG THAT EVERYTHING’S A BIG NOTHING.
YOU TRIED TO FIND PURPOSE, FROM NEW AGE RELIGIONS
TO THE SAME OLD ABRAHAMIC SONG. EVENTUALLY, YOU
FOUND COMFORT IN THE NOTION THAT YOU COULD ATTAIN
KNOWLEDGE FROM THE MATERIAL SCIENCES. BUT LOOK AT
YOU. YOU’RE STILL THAT MOUND OF BACTERIA,
SEARCHING FOR DOPAMINE AND SEROTONIN. DO YOU SEE
HOW UTTERLY ABSURD IT ALL REALLY IS?”

I leap up and pull out the zhanmadao blade. In an
instant I bring it crashing down on her neck.
However, neck, but
as soon as the blade makes impact, it is
shattered into pieces. She turns to look at me as
she
and states, “How strange that I can not read
your mind. I’m not sure if I’ve ever even
seen men this far out in the marsh before. You
are not like your companion who sinks. Why have
you made your way into my swamp?” “HOW STRANGE THAT I CAN NOT READ
YOUR MIND. I’M NOT SURE IF I’VE EVER SEEN MEN
THIS FAR OUT IN THE MARSH BEFORE. YOU ARE NOT
LIKE YOUR COMPANION WHO SINKS. WHY HAVE YOU MADE
YOUR WAY INTO MY SWAMP?” I look to the
ground down and see my
dear old friend sinking further, even as you,
rider, struggle to keep him up. I fall back to my
knees, putting my hands on his face, just as the muck,
muck reaches his neck. I cry out, “Don’t you
remember what I told you, back at the pub, about
our purpose? Please Please, you have to remember!” Slowly he He
slowly sinks further, until just before he is
completely submerged, he whispers, “It is but a void.” He “IT IS BUT A
VOID.” and with that, slips into the abyss; and the
Atheist was made no more. Tears fall from my
eyes, but we have no time to mourn. We must
relentlessly continue forward. Hours pass as
Nihilism, wearing the mask of a familiar little
girl, continues to probe our minds. The further
we make our way into the swamp, the heavier the
fog becomes and the more the little girl becomes
impatient with our silence. She barks out, “Why are you here? What
are you looking for? Don’t you know, whatever
you find, will not fulfill you? Go to sleep now.
Lay on the ground and let the cold forgiving
waters of the marsh embrace you.” “WHY
ARE YOU HERE? WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? DON’T
YOU KNOW THAT WHATEVER YOU FIND WILL NOT FULFILL
YOU? GO TO SLEEP NOW. LAY ON THE GROUND AND LET
THE COLD FORGIVING WATERS OF THE MARSH EMBRACE
YOU.” Suddenly she turns her eyes towards you,
rider. Her face
contorts to confusion as she lets out, “The
knowing? What is the knowing? Are you two here to
find truth? Do you not know that I was born from
that endeavor? Am I not what you seek? Turn
around now and take back lights up with you the great truth
to your loved ones. Tell them that nothing really
matters and they too can make this swamp their
grave. Yes, let my swamp be humanity’s
graveyard.” curiosity, “THE
KNOWING? WHAT IS THE KNOWING? ARE YOU TWO HERE TO
FIND TRUTH? DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT I WAS BORN FROM
THAT ENDEAVOR? AM I NOT WHAT YOU SEEK?” She
scowls. “TURN AROUND NOW AND TAKE BACK WITH YOU
THE GREAT TRUTH TO YOUR LOVED ONES. TELL THEM
THAT NOTHING REALLY MATTERS AND THAT THEY, TOO,
CAN MAKE THIS SWAMP THEIR GRAVE. YES, LET MY
SWAMP BE HUMANITY’S GRAVEYARD!”

Her eyes remain on you, rider, as we continue to
push forward until suddenly she whispers, “The
Sacred Sword?” In “THE
SACRED SWORD?” and in an instant a darkness
envelops us both, both – a darkness of both mind and spirit. As
spirit, as if a an unbearable weight had been
placed on upon our shoulders, that was
unbearable. For now shoulders. Now this dreaded witch
knows why we have come to this place. She knows
she is in danger and will now be relentless with her
torment. We continue forward as she screams into
our ears, “Men can know nothing! Why do you
seek knowing? It is meaningless! Sink where you
are! You are no more than bacteria. Do you seek
knowledge for happiness? Why do you not sink?
Sink!” “MEN CAN KNOW NOTHING! WHY DO YOU
SEEK KNOWING? IT IS MEANINGLESS! SINK WHERE YOU
ARE! YOU ARE NO MORE THAN BACTERIA. DO YOU SEEK
KNOWLEDGE FOR HAPPINESS? WHY DO YOU NOT SINK?
SINK! SINK!” We walk now in knee deep mud, mud that
is nearly impossible to trudge through, however however,
today we must do the impossible. Each step
requiring
requires an absolute resolve, resolve in order to maintain ones self, from sinking
oneself and not sink into the swamp’s abyss. embrace.
There, on the horizon I see a faint glow. The
Sacred Sword is not far.

The little girl runs directly in front of me as
she barks, “I see in your thoughts Aphrodite.
Do you not realize that love is just a
combination of chemicals to get genes, to pass to
the next generation? That no one really cares
about anyone. That love is no different than any
other phenomena. It’s just the laws of
physics!” SEE IN YOUR THOUGHTS, APHRODITE.
DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT LOVE IS JUST A
COMBINATION OF CHEMICALS TO GET GENES, TO PASS TO
THE NEXT GENERATION? THAT NO ONE REALLY CARES
ABOUT ANYONE? THAT LOVE IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY
OTHER PHENOMENON? IT’S JUST THE LAWS OF
PHYSICS!” I smile looking to the little girl
and say, “Then it is well with me that nature saw fit, fit
to make love one of her laws.” I continue
pressing forward. The little girl maintains her gaze,
gaze as she reads our minds, slowly trying to
break down our world view. worldview. She grows ever more
desperate to find a way to sink our purpose, the
purpose that we brought with us to her domain,
before it can be used, used to wield the Sacred Weapon.
For a purpose, purpose built on faith or hope alone, alone would
not be sufficient. Only a purpose built on
absolute resolve, resolve would give power to that long
forgotten sword, sword that lies buried in this forsaken
swamp. Suddenly she looks to you and speaks, “If Being
is generating towards knowing, then why did the
German fail in his mission, to destroy the
Obfuscator, during the 2nd World War?”
“IF BEING IS GENERATING TOWARDS KNOWING, THEN
WHY DID THE GERMAN FAIL IN HIS MISSION TO DESTROY
THE OBFUSCATOR, DURING THE 2ND WORLD WAR?” We
both halt, as if the mud had locked us in place.
The little girl calls out again, “If the Aryan is
Being’s greatest lens, then why allow the
Obfuscator a century of power over the world? Do
you not see it is just a nothing? You are merely
trying to romanticize something that gives your
life greater meaning. You Aryans and the Semites
are merely two forms of bacteria competing over
resources. Do you not see that your very desire
to bring life to the European continuum, is
merely a desire for replication and energy
acquisition? Your species only desires new
horizons for the gain of materials, necessary to
replicate. Just as fire burns the forest, mankind
devours energy.” “IF THE ARYAN
IS BEING’S GREATEST LENS, THEN WHY ALLOW THE
OBFUSCATOR A CENTURY OF POWER OVER THE WORLD? DO
YOU NOT SEE IT IS JUST A NOTHING? YOU ARE MERELY
TRYING TO ROMANTICIZE SOMETHING THAT GIVES YOUR
LIFE GREATER MEANING. YOU ARYANS AND THE SEMITES
ARE MERELY TWO FORMS OF BACTERIA COMPETING OVER
RESOURCES. DO YOU NOT SEE THAT YOUR VERY DESIRE
TO BRING LIFE TO THE EUROPEAN CONTINUUM IS MERELY
A DESIRE FOR REPLICATION AND ENERGY ACQUISITION?
YOUR SPECIES ONLY DESIRES NEW HORIZONS FOR THE
GAIN OF MATERIALS, NECESSARY TO REPLICATE. JUST
AS FIRE BURNS THE FOREST, MANKIND DEVOURS
ENERGY.”

I feel weak, rider. Like some black magic
surrounds me completely. I am filled with a deep
apathy that saturates my skin and bones. However,
I begin moving forward again as I call out,
“The German had to fail in his attempt to
destroy the Obfuscator. For the Aryans had to
universally live under Weimar standards, conditions in order
to reawaken and unite them. The failed artist, artist had
to become a martyr. The European continuum, continuum had to
be put into an environment, environment where we all saw the
machinations of the Jew at once. Where we all
would suffer from communism. Where we would all
see our children’s futures taken away from
them. Only then could we move past primitive
patriotism. Only then could we become the new
people.” I look back to you, rider, and see
that you no longer move. For you too you, too, have begun
to sink. You have to keep moving! We have a
purpose. Do not forget what you have learned.
Being yearns to know itself. To feel itself. To
be. We have to be, rider. We have to be. I turn
away from you and begin moving towards the Sacred
Sword, which lies only a few steps away. However,
the The mud
now has become like a cement. Each step
requiring requires
all my strength. The little girl walks up next to
me and whispers, “You can’t even
convince your own friend, and yet you would think
you could convince an entire race of man? Dwell
on that, my friend. For man is such a beast, that
even if he was to be given truth, he would only
shit and piss on it. He can only know nothing.
That this reality, is a nothing. When he dies
there is nothing. Your pursuit to save your
people is just another coping mechanism to deal
with my existence.” “YOU CAN’T EVEN CONVINCE
YOUR OWN FRIEND, AND YET YOU THINK YOU COULD
CONVINCE AN ENTIRE RACE OF MEN? DWELL ON THAT, MY
FRIEND. FOR MAN IS SUCH A BEAST, THAT EVEN IF HE
WERE GIVEN TRUTH, HE WOULD ONLY SHIT AND PISS ON
IT. HE CAN ONLY KNOW NOTHING. THAT THIS REALITY
IS A NOTHING. WHEN HE DIES, THERE IS NOTHING.
YOUR PURSUIT TO SAVE YOUR PEOPLE IS JUST ANOTHER
COPING MECHANISM TO DEAL WITH MY EXISTENCE.” I
fall to the ground. My left hand and knees
submerged in the muck. With my right hand I
desperately reach out to for the Sacred Sword’s
hilt, but in vain. With all of my strength I
attempt to pull my arm from the muck, but it is
useless. I have begun to sink sink, too. I reach to for
the broken zhanmadao blade on my belt and begin
cutting into my arm. I will free myself of this
swamp one way or the other. Verily, I have been one armed
one‐armed before. The little girl runs
up up,
kicking the blade from my hand, stating,
“What a fool you are. Do you even have any
logic about you? You struggle like a wild beast.
Are you not man, an animal endowed with reason?
Just sink and accept reality for what it is.” screeches,
“WHAT A FOOL YOU ARE! HAVE YOU NO LOGIC?! YOU
STRUGGLE LIKE A WILD BEAST! ARE YOU NOT MAN, AN
ANIMAL ENDOWED WITH REASON? JUST SINK AND ACCEPT
REALITY FOR WHAT IT IS.” I begin to weep like
mad. If I can not even convince you, rider, how
can I hope to convince the world? Have I begun to
develop hope and hopelessness? Have I lost that the
assuredness that I brought with me, here here, where
the animals refuse to congregate and thereby make
the world beautiful? Where, thorns Where thorns, but no
flowers, line the horizon. horizon? Why have I led my
companions here into this accursed swamp? I have
turned
tURNed us all, all into just another part aNOTher PARt of the
abyss. aBYss.