A la fin du chapitre vous trouverez un arbre généalogique qui devrait vous faciliter la lecture.
XVIII. American Policies
New York : 23 octobre 1929
Jelila Kane
All my family was gathered in the Brooklyn Nome, the Kane family mansion, to celebrate the birth of my distant cousin. Abdias Kane the younger, we called him. The name was supposed to honor my uncle, but it pissed him off more than anything else.
Every time a Kane was born, we would throw a huge party to present him to the world, but it had been only a year since the death of my grandfather, Julius, the late head of our family. We were still mourning his loss, and so the celebrations were quite modest.
I spent time with my mother in Los Angeles, before returning to New York. She didn't want to put up with our family anymore, and refused to even set a foot in the Twenty First Nome. She and my father had started living apart even before the war in Europe, years before his death. My mother, Haruna Kane was from a wealthy traditional Japanese family. They wouldn't let her come back after she left her husband, and so she settled on the West Coast, to live a quiet and secluded life.
I always liked getting back to her. She lived in a small house, by the ocean, nearby a light house. Her house smelt of chrysanthemums and salt. She would make me red beans pastries and Jasmin tea.
"How have you been doing darling?
– Great mother. I'm so sorry, I haven't been here so long.
– You were very busy my girl, I can see that. I am so proud of you.
– I have to leave soon, for New York. Arianna and Aaron have had a baby.
– I know, I got the card. Poor choice of a name I must say.
– Won't you ever talk to them?
– Why? I won't have anything to say to them..."
All of our family had gathered under Jabari's roof. Last time I had seen all of them was for my cousin Noam's birth party. That day, all of Julius Kane's descendants were present: my uncle, his wife Alma and their two sons, Julius the younger and Amos. There was also my aunt, Zaïna Tlacaelel, Jabari's sister, with her three daughters, Inaya, Izel, Marwa, and her two-year old son, Noam. Her husband, Yaretzi Tlacaelel had been murdered in 1919, by the Hogan. Julius' widow, my grandmother Zahia, was there as well, standing in the hall, counting the children running everywhere, nodding with a mix of irritation and pride.
Old Sohan Kane's son, Aaron came with his wife, Arianna, and their sons: Salvador and young Abdias, whose birth we were celebrating. Sohan was my grandfather Julius' younger brother. He was still in good shape although he had reached six hundred and fifty years. He had come with his wife, Ingrid, sister to Lord Alvensleben, the late leader of the German Nome. Kamosis' widow, Valentina Kane, had also come with her son and daughter: Tobie and Tia. Tia was roughly six, Tobie was a bit older. Kamosis was Sohan's eldest son, he also died in the conflict between our family and house Hogan.
Satamon Huysmans, born Kane, Sohan's only daughter, came from Baton Rouge with her husband Thomas Huysmans, and their four daughters, Ruth, Mariam, Abigail and Judith. The eldest was fifteen, the youngest three. Satamon stood out from all Kane. I admired her a lot. She married for love a Dutch man of French descent when she was only but thirty, waited for two centuries before having children and was the sole ruler of the 77th Nome of Louisiana. She didn't partake in the war at first, but sheltered Jabari, Alma and their newborn son Julius in Baton Rouge, keeping them safe from Hogan killers. Her Nome's intervention was decisive in the final victory. Though she never had any sons, she named all of her daughters with Hebrew names, thus usurping the family tradition.
After them, came the Keane part of the family: Julius and Sohan's sister, Ioueseni, had married Elvis Keane, the ex-leader of the small Burlington Nome, who died of old age years ago. Their son Faustus now ruled the Nome. He had come with his wife, Harmony, his son, Harry, and his daughter, Ella. His brother Honorius was there as well, though he was trying to be discreet. Honorius' marriage to Suzy Smith was a misalliance, and she seemed to be unable to bear him any children. Suzy hadn't come to Brooklyn. Faustus and Honorius also had a brother, Samuel, who unfortunately disappeared alongside my father.
At last, Melody Powers, Elvis' only daughter was there as well, with her young dashing husband, Arthur Powers, leader of the 167th Nome of Florida. They had brought their triplets: Nebamon, Iseri and Melchior. Melody had played her cards well: last child of a modest yet noble family, not particularly beautiful or smart, she had caught a talented husband, who soon became a son leader, and had given him son. Her position inside the family was quite secured.
Amir Mazrui, Jabari's brother in law was there as well. He ruled over the noble and rich 37th Nome of Sarapion, now called Mogadishu, and was in America for business. So was aunt Rahma, my grandmother's old aunt, an old hag, who would just sit there and criticize everything we did.
And then, of course, there was me: Jelila Kane, daughter of the infamous deceased Abdias Kane. No husband, no children, no wealth. Just a small rent, and my bloody name.
I missed my grandfather. He was always kind to me, always had a smile or an old story to share. My uncle Jabari didn't seem moved at his funeral. He always hated him. Not that I could blame him for that of course. My own father and I always had a strained relationship. He resented me for being a girl, just as he resented my mother for not being able to bear him a son.
My father wanted to make a healer out of me, but my mother opposed him. I always suspected my father to have married my mother because she was Japanese. Japanese women were said to be shy and modest. This was my mother's case. But she was also strong-willed, devoted and cunning. She helped me when I decided that I would be spell caster against my father's wishes. I trained at the First Nome, with the greatest masters. I was good at what I was doing, no, actually I was brilliant, and fuck what my father and uncle said (that it didn't fit my rank, blah, blah…). I was just as good as any Kane boy, as deserving of attention and praise. It took years for my father to take notice that I was the best spell caster of my generation.
After that, he kind of recognized me as his daughter, and we started to sort of mend our relationship. After the war broke out in America, he arranged a wedding between me and Giacomo Bellini. Bellini was a bit older than me, but not much. He was a good match actually, handsome, talented… Though he was only a fourth son, he was said to be Lucrezia Bellini's favorite golden grandson, which gave him some kind of influence. He had no real fortune though. My father explained to me that he was the kind of man who would help me to defend my birthright.
After his disappearance, Jabari renewed my father's promise to the Italian great house. But Bellini dumped me, and ran away with some greasy commoner, for his family's greatest shame. Getting dumped for a man, what a joke…
And yet… How convenient for you, uncle… My uncle dead, I, humiliated, you, the new head of the mighty house Kane. . The secret of father's death was probably buried in the old continent, somewhere between Italy and France. Where? Who? Why? How? Bloody hell!
After the lunch together, it had gotten to the point where I just wanted to murder every single person in the room. Of course, I was sited in front of my bloody aunt Rahma who would just go and criticize every single aspect of my life. "Why haven't you brought your mother? Is she hiding from us?" or "the Jerusalem Nome is not what it used to be anymore" and of course the now traditional "This girl should get married. That's enough of depravation in our house!"
The adults then went to the terrace to have some coffee, and the children were allowed to play in the house. They were running absolutely everywhere! All the women in the family had apparently decided to give birth in the same decade! When I was their age, I was the only child in the family. Now there were dozens of them. Ten year old Julius seemed to be the leader of the game. He was dragging after him, like a potato bag, a very dissatisfied Amos, who clearly would have preferred to be somewhere else. Just as bossy as his father.
My grandmother came over to me, as we were having coffee: "Long time not seen, Jelila. I've heard that you've been quite busy."
I was. I couldn't stay in New York, not while my uncle was there, so I used my great uncle Sohan's connections to join the Spanish Nome for a time (both of his sons had married a Borja). I stayed there for two years, until the beginning of the strikes, and Lindor de Borja's sudden death (again, how convenient). I applied then to join the 4th Nome of Jerusalem, and surprisingly got accepted.
"I heard you've been studying at the 4th Nome. This is a great honor the House has bestowed upon you."
The Vatican, Jerusalem, Katmandou, and of course the First Nome were the greatest Nomes devoted to theory studies and magical research in the House of Life. To serve in those Nomes was deemed a great honor, as well as a live opportunity to train among the greatest masters.
"I know, I am very much aware of it.
– Are you planning to stay there for a long time?
– As long as I can. I have just finished mastering biblical Hebrew and Aramaic.
– Still, you could have told me.
– I was planning to.
– Really? Did you think I would disapprove of it?
– Do you?
– Being knowledgeable is the duty of every high born girl. Not too much, of course?
– What do you mean by that?
– Jelila, dear, you are making things complicated.
– Jelila can make her own choices, I'm sure."
Satamon Kane had come to my rescue. Zahia narrowed her nose. She had never really gotten along with her niece by marriage. She muttered something about having to check on Alma, and left us.
"How are you really?
– Tired of people wanting to marry me off." Satamon gave me a warm smile.
She was not exactly beautiful, but there was a kind of wild charm in her. She wore a cream and yellow dress. Her skin, lighter than Jabari's, had a deep warm brown tone. Her hair was braided with beads and seashells. She had mismatched eyes, one black and one brown, her hands were used my manual work. She stood very straight, like a royalty.
"This family is a nightmare", I whimpered, though I immediately felt shame. Satamon wasn't the kind of person you would complain to.
"As is every single family in the world. You have to put up with people you wouldn't even talk to if they weren't tied to you by blood. Maybe it's what makes it beautiful though, the diversity.
– It's easy for you to say so. You are married. You also have your own Nome.
– In the end, we only get what we deserve. I have the house and the husband I fought for. I chose them, although I almost had to sacrifice all the rest of my family for it. Guess what? In the end it didn't happen. Because everyone understood it wasn't worth it.
– But they are still looking down on Thomas. Calling him effeminate.
– A little humiliation once in a year, for centuries of internal stability and prosperity. A little sacrifice for freedom the rest of the time. I think it's worth it." She gave me a large grin. "This art of compromise is maybe what your uncle lacks the most.
– Did you two fight again?
– He would like me to support him in a financial reform at the Nome's assembly that would be a lot of trouble, and isn't really conform to my political views. But if he wants me to join him, he will have to put up with my claims, and I can be much of an old hag when I want to."
I laughed at the thought of my uncle and Satamon having a fight at the Nome's Assembly.
"You should come to Louisiana more often. We could make good use of your talents.
– I will then.
– Good."
She then left me with grace. The children were running wild in the background. Two-year-old Noam bit his cousin Tia who shouted at him. Ruth went to check on them, and in the meantime, for no reason, one of the triplets hit little Amos, who started crying. Gods, I hate children. A few minutes later, Julius was fighting with Tobie, Inaya was yelling at them, while eleven-year old Mariam was trying to steal a khopesh from the wall. They are just like animals.
At some point they all went upstairs, and it was quiet again. Until of course, my grandmother came to me: "Jelila, could you watch a bit over your cousins please?" she asked.
Embarrassment washed over me. I was almost forty and I still had to put up with babysitting duties. But it was a thing with the magicians. The longer you live, the longer they consider you as a child. Compromises, I remember. We all need them. Fortunately, Valentina went with me, so I wouldn't be alone. The children's rooms were a mess. Ruth, Inaya and Izel were chatting by a window, and had taken little Noam with them. All the rest of the imps had gathered in the middle of the room:
"We are going to reenact the unification of Egypt, bossy little Julius declared. You Salvador, are going to be the last king of Lower Egypt. You, Tobie, are going to be the god Horus granting victory to Narmer's Army.
– Yes, yelled Tobie.
– I shall play Narmer, and you Sal, can chose whoever you like for your army.
– But I don't want to be the villain!
– You're a sissy then yelled Mariam. I am going to be the priest of Set and raise an enormous sandstorm over Narmer's army!
– Amos here shall be my second in command", continued Julius.
Amos gave him a look, and then just left the kids and joined us on the side of the room
"Hey, come back!" Shouted Julius.
I grabbed him and sat him on my lap.
"You don't play?
– This is a stupid game, he muttered."
I laughed and kissed the top of his head.
"Well, someone should stand up to Julius, shouldn't they?
– I will be your second of command, and we shall destroy the setian army, meanwhile promised Abigail.
– She can't be a general, she's a girl!" Objected Iseri.
Julius just stood there, apparently conflicted.
"I don't want to play the king of Lower Egypt, complained again Salvador, they always lose!
– They are supposed to lose, you moron, Ella rolled her eyes. They are the bad guys, that's how history works.
– Don't worry Sal, winked Mariam, we are not going to lose with my super powerful sand-storm!
– I will be a super loyal badass guard of Narmer, declared Harry, and I will die in a very tragic and heroic death.
– Good riddance muttered his sister Ella. I will be a guard too, except I won't die stupidly!
– We need soldiers too, advised Mariam. The triplets will be our army."
They didn't dare raise a voice.
"I will be a princess, and the two kingdoms shall fight for my hand declared Marwa.
– Who cares about stupid princesses answered Ella! We need more foot soldiers. Tia you are with us!
The children then proceeded to make battle plan. While Tobie was arguing with Julius ("Yes, you are the king, but I am a god, so I am the real commander here! – You are just supposed to give your blessing. – What? No, I want to fight too, besides, I am much better at combat than you are!"), Ella yelling at Harry ("You are so stupid if that if we really were in Narmer's army he would execute you for stupidity") and Abigail shouting at everyone, trying to get them in formation for a frontal attack, Mariam, Salvador and the triplets emptied a cupboard to build a massive castle with most of the chairs and clothes in the room.
We should have done something, but it was quite entertaining to watch, really. Meanwhile the game was unfolding and it was… well, wild. They were little monsters after all.
"Oh, king Salvador, quick, the traitor's troops are gathering, we need a human sacrifice!"
Mariam grabbed her little sister, Judith, three year old.
"What are you doing? Yelped Ella.
– Shh! She's the sacrificial baby." Mariam jumped on top of a chair. "Now I will raise a storm such as the world has never seen before!
– Maybe we should interfere? I feel it might soon degenerate, Valentina asked.
– Sabanon's girls are fierce, I smiled.
– Yes, they've taken after their mother."
Harry collapsed on the no man's land in front of Julius.
"My king, I have been hit! It was a deathly blow!
– Harry, complained Julius. You're not supposed to die now.
– Life is leaving this wretched body…" he started shaking and rolling his eyes in a much exaggerated way.
"Now that all the weak are dead, can we carry on with the victory my king? Asked Abigail.
– Sure general, assemble the army! We are marching on the felon Fortress!"
Marwa decided she had seen enough and left the battlefield to join her sisters and Noam. The rest of Narmer's army went to Salvador and Mariam's castle, but one of the triplets threw a water bomb at them. I stood up!
"No water!" I yelled.
Nobody cared. Little Tia, 6 year old, threw a book at Iseri (or was it Melchior?) in retaliation. She was a good aim and hit him on the lip. He started crying.
"Stop it you sissy, commanded Mariam. More water!"
Tia suddenly decided she had had enough and passed to the enemy. She grabbed a water bomb and threw it randomly. It landed on Ella.
"Treason!" Shouted Abigail.
– Well done my fellow soldier", said Salvador who was beginning to enjoy himself. Then a second bomb almost landed on us. This was getting out of hands.
"I said no water!"
What a great leader I make, I thought, watching the battle degenerate. Finally, I clasped my hand, and all the water bombs exploded in a burst of colored sparks.
"Whoa, so cool said Abigail!
– How do you do that?" Asked me Harry.
Sure, as if I was going to teach you pyrotechnics. I shrugged. Mariam took my diversion as an opportunity to flee the room.
"My King, we are overrun, let's retreat to the Nubian desert.
– After them", immediately yelled Julius.
They all ran away in the corridor. Valentina followed them. I could still hear the yelling:
"My King, they have taken the sacrificial baby to their temple in the desert.
– Catch them!
– How vast is this red sand desert!
– Hahaha, you now enter my territory, prepare to face my wrath. Melchior, ready the sacrificial altar and the holy knife!
– My King, we have run out of water. I will give you the last drop.
– You can't die a second time Harry, you are already dead!"
Amos had fallen asleep on my lap in the midst of this, clutching a torn pink fabric that might have been red one day. "What have you been doing all night, hmm?" He didn't answer. We stayed there some time. I was feeling bored, but going back to the conversation meant to either watch drunken relatives bicker at each other, either endure the endless comments about my marital status.
After some time, I stood up and went downstairs, Amos still asleep in my arms. The house was a bit quieter, though you could hear my uncle's angry shouting. Julius and Mariam were being scolded by Jabari. Especially Julius.
"She drew a khopesh at me.
– But it was only because he tried to cause a stone rain on my sacrificial altar!
– You what Julius?"
Several pieces of furniture had been literally blown up by a horde of little Kane magicians. I let my cousin have the time of his life and went looking for Alma. In the distance, I heard Satamon's angry voice "Mariam Huysmans, là tu vas recevoir la fessée de ta vie!"
I couldn't find Alma. She had a special talent for disappearing when needed. I never really liked her. She might come from the great and noble house Mazrui, still, she was a weak woman. She never stood up for herself, never really took charge of her life. So there she was now, stuck with us in this so perfect model of a family.
Jabari was done with Julius. He looked quite worried still. When he saw us, his face relaxed immediately.
"Oh, here you are, thank gods, we couldn't find him. I was already afraid that Julius would have trapped him somewhere, during one of his idiotic games."
Alma appeared by his side, and took sleeping Amos from my arms, as if he was a precious package. We watched her walk away.
"They are restless youth, I cheered him.
– I swear, this kid will be the end of me someday. Where does he get all his brilliant ideas, this is what I would like to know! It is a good thing that he is trained." Julius was sent to Cairo when he was only but six.
"Alma didn't like the idea of sending him to Cairo, Jabari continued his rant, but truth is, I didn't really have a choice. He would have ended up burning the house to the ground.
– So will Amos be off too next year?
– I'm not sure. He's much quieter than his brother, not the kind to destroy the house. And a bit shy. We might keep him here a bit longer."
Well, surely, Alma wouldn't like to let him go. She'll try to keep him with her as long as she can.
"I should be off, I said, It'll get dark soon.
– It's still early."
I didn't answer.
"You are always welcome in this house, you know that. The kids like you."
Which make things even more complicate.
"Studying takes up a lot of time, I'm afraid. The level of expectations is very high in Jerusalem.
– What is it that you study exactly?"
Summoning, spells, divine words, execration, necromancy… anything really.
"Genealogy mostly, blood magic.
– A noble kind of magic.
– I believe so, yes."
Jabari sighed.
"You are still so very young, Jelila, and yet, you're already a full-blown woman. I know it was difficult for you, what happened, and yet… Maybe it's time to think of marriage again?"
Don't know where to put me? Oh, wait, I became the poor relative: please dear Jelila, watch over the kids, give me a hand…
"It would be convenient for you, wouldn't it?
– Please, Jelila, you know it's not about that.
– Really? Yet you were all ready to sell me off like a broodmare when the times were difficult.
– I was against this betrothal. Should your grandfather have listened to me, it wouldn't even had happened. It was a parody of an engagement. We knew the rumors, but chose to ignore them. He was a disgrace.
– Or a direct threat to your advancement?" I snapped.
He stared at me, with a look of disbelief.
"Jelila, I would never have… I watched you grow, I sheltered you, taught you…
– I know all of that, uncle. And suddenly, that gives you the right to steal my inheritance?"
Now it was said. My mother was right. Damn you all, Kane. I stormed out of the mansion, unable to carry out this conversation. Not caring about the weird looks that some people were giving me, I just ran as fast as I could, until I reached Manhattan. They won't come after me, here. I gave myself some time to breath. Now if I wanted to come back, I would probably have to apologize. Great. But no. I had a better idea. An hour later I was off to Boston, to yet another family mansion.
La famille Kane en 1929:
1. La branche ainée :
Julius Kane (Julius l'ancien), ancien chef du 21ème Nome, New York (décédé)
– – – Zahia Kane, (née Eltayeb) femme de Julius
– – – Abdias Kane, premier fils de Julius (décédé)
– – – – – – Haruna Kane (née Iwasaki), femme d'Abdias
– – – – – – Jelila Kane, leur fille
– – – Jabari Kane, deuxième fils de Julius, chef du 21ème Nome, New York
– – – – – – Alma Kane (née Mazrui), femme de Jabari
– – – – – – Julius Kane, leur premier fils (10 ans)
– – – – – – Amos Kane, leur deuxième fils (5 ans)
– – – Zaïna Tlacaelel (née Kane)
– – – Yaretzi Tlacaelel, ancien chef du 39ème Nome, Mexico, époux de Zaïna (décédé)
– – – – – – Inaya Tlacaelel, leur première fille (15 ans)
– – – – – – Izel Tlacaelel, leur deuxième fille (13 ans)
– – – – – – Marwa Tlacaelel, leur troisième fille (9 ans)
– – – – – – Noam Tlacaelel, leur fils (2 ans)
.
2. La branche de Chicago et de Louisiane :
Sohan Kane, frère de Julius l'ancien, chef du Nome de Chicago, Illinois
– – – Ingrid Kane, femme de Sohan, née Alvensleben
– – – Kamosis Kane, leur premier fils (décédé)
– – – – – – Valentina Kane (née de Borja), femme de Kamosis
– – – – – – Tobie Kane, leur fils (11 ans)
– – – – – – Tia Kane, leur fille (8 ans)
– – – Aaron Kane, son deuxième fils
– – – – – – Arianna Kane (née de Borja), femme d'Aaron
– – – – – – Salvador Kane, leur fils (9 ans)
– – – – – – Abdias Kane, leur fils (quelques mois)
– – – Satamon Huysmans (née Kane), sa fille, chef du 77ème Nome de Bâton Rouge, Louisiane
– – – – – – Thomas Huysmans, époux de Satamon
– – – – – – Ruth Huysmans, leur première fille (14 ans)
– – – – – – Mariam Huysmans, leur deuxième fille (11 ans)
– – – – – – Abigail Huysmans, leur troisième fille (7 ans)
– – – – – – Judith Huysmans, leur quatrième fille (3 ans)
.
3. La branche Keane :
Ioueseni Keane (née Kane), sœur de Julius
– – – Elvis Keane, époux d'Ioueseni, ancien chef du Nome de Burlington, Vermont (décédé)
– – – Faustus Keane, leur premier fils, chef du Nome de Burlington, Vermont
– – – – – – Harmony Keane, (née Chase), femme de Faustus
– – – – – – Harry Keane, leur fils (10 ans)
– – – – – – Ella Keane, leur fille (5 ans)
– – – Honorius Keane, leur deuxième fils
– – – – – – Suzy Keane (née Smith), son épouse
– – – Samuel Keane, leur troisième fils (décédé)
– – – Melody Powers (née Keane), leur fille
– – – – – – Arthur Powers, son époux, chef du Nome 167, Floride
– – – – – – Nébamon Keane, leur premier fils (8 ans)
– – – – – – Iséri Keane, leur deuxième fils (8 ans)
– – – – – – Melchior Keane, leur troisième fils (8 ans)
.
Nahum Kane, frère de Julius, Sohan et Inéni, (décédé)
.
Rahma Eltayeb : tante de Zahia Kane