A
little boy, aware of his Destiny, sure of his determination to fulfill it …
a
youngling lad, far from home so that he can master the knowledge and skills he
will need in order to succeed, surrounded always by those from whom and with
whom he is taught, yet alone always, alone with the demands of his Destiny …
a
young man developing ties which will further his career, ties that will prove
vital as the motion of his Destiny carries him ever onward along that path …
a
man grown, gathering into his own fists the lines of control, sure of his
direction, confident in the strength of those ties and of the lines of
authority which carry the strength to his own hands …
a
man, solitary, whose supports are one by one by one knocked from beneath him
until when finally, in death, he can say the words “We did it” most of the
companions, the ‘WE’ to which he refers, have gone on ahead of him into death.
They
say we all die alone … but … maybe not.
One
man.
One
Destiny.
Not
to rule but to break forever the power of ‘Comply or Die’.
Not
to force his own will, but to force the Peoples of Europe to find, forge, fight
for, and follow their Own Will.
One
man.
One Destiny.
A
continent at his command.
Hear
the command of Ricimer:
‘Think
or Sink!’
‘Fight
or Fall!’
‘If
not now, when? If not you, who?’
One
man.
One Destiny.
Ricimer
opens the maw of the smelter – and some call it hell – whose fire already
burns, shoves in the raw ore, works the bellows, and steps away.
‘Think
or Sink!’
‘Fight
or Fall!’
‘Choose
or Lose!’
‘Freedom
belongs to you. Where now your Faith? Who cares for your Family but you? Choose
wisely your Friends lest they become your foes. You hold in your hands, today,
the Future of generations not yet even conceived.’
Such
is the message of Ricimer to all of the Peoples he encounters.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
He
tells the Peoples until his throat is raw, his voice hoarse.
‘You
have now, today, the Freedom to Choose,’ he tells them. ‘Find the Will to do
so.’
The
maw is open.
‘Now
CHOOSE!’ he shouts.
And
shoves the Peoples of Europe into the gaping maw of the smelter from which will
emerge the Iron Will of the Peoples.
One
man.
One
Destiny.
A
mother weeps for her son, who must do what no other can or will, no matter
what.
