Where the Axe Is Buried

by Ray Nayler

Once the regimes had been emptied of ideology—once power became about power alone—there was no breaking them. They had no morality. They did not become disgusted with themselves and turn away from killing. Their will did not break, no matter how many protesters they had to arrest, beat,

or kill. They had no conscience, and so they were not stung by guilt. The only thing they feared was the loss of their own power. They understood the simple rule, proven time and again: to hold on to power, never give up power.