Trigger and content warning for discussions of genocide, massacres, warfare, murder (including murder of family members) and use of chemical weapons. These are mentioned without graphic details.

A short speculative fiction audio story by L. Stephanie Tait.

Read by Kimberly Rockwell.

King Vusaad sits on his throne, in his empty kingdom, and muses on his feats, glories, and the importance of being king.

I started writing this story in 2011 when I heard about the imprisonment and torture of two young men who used graffiti to criticize the Syrian regime. It was this event that started the full scale rebellion against Al-Assad, and his eventual (and ongoing, though forgotten by the Western media) massacre of his own people.

With the deepening, vicious attempts to squash criticism of the West’s rabid, unrelenting imperialism and involvement in genocides, it seemed like now was the time to release this story in an audio format. 

People who will do anything to get into places of power will do whatever they can to maintain it once there. We see that unfolding in real time today with US, UK, German, French, and other Western countries’ tax dollars being funneled into multiple genocides, all for profit. Special mention to the UAE’s involvement in Sudan and DR Congo.

All this is happening while ignoring the cries of their own people. While people are buried under extreme weather and storms and loss due to climate change. Climate change being sped up by the amount of bombs being dropped on refugees in tents and hospitals.

This story is about them. All of them. From the beginning to now. Because they would not stop, even if they were the last person alive. They are all King Vusaad.