literature

How Ani Suring met Duchemin

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Literature Text

Ani Suring went from place to place in her search to defeat Ankoù and end the chain of death in her community…

She arrived in the province of Lumine, the capital of Sauveterre. It was a paradise she had never seen before – a glowing skyline, lights here, there and everywhere, people moving in the air and walking on water… it seemed so futuristic. So bright. And yet, in the midst of all that light, she couldn't find anything.

She remembered how Langkoi Kaya took his sword and shield to fight a man who ran amok back in their hometown in Point-Neuf. The man was eventually slain by Langkoi, but his hatred and his will were incomprehensible. They were too strong. Days later, the entire village paid the price: the man returned, body and soul, as the bloodthirsty Ankoù, and was out to sever souls from bodies indiscriminately – every man, woman and child was put at risk. There was more meaning in the shudders and fears of the people of Point-Neuf and Sauveterre when they looked at each other, shook their heads and said :

"War ma fé, heman zo eun Ankoù drouk."

But Ani Suring was not going to just sit around and do nothing.

She came to the outskirts of Lumine – the banlieues, the slums and the backyards where the ordinary folk lived. She walked, and walked, and walked. Then, she came to a place with burnt houses. She didn't think there'd be anyone, and she was about to take a turn to the next area when she heard a faint sound.


Rum-ta-tum-ta-tum.

And again, ta-rum-ta-tum-ta-tum.

Ani Suring decided to further investigate the area and see if anyone was there. Behind the rubble, she saw a small girl, about three or four. Her hair was tied in plaits, and her cheeks and white dress were dirtied by ash. She was banging her tin drum to get attention. The poor thing looked like she hadn't eaten for days.

"Who are you ?"
"Ani Suring. What's your name ? How did you get here ?"
"I'm Aimée. My house was burnt down."
"Where's your family ? Do you know your last name ?"
"I don't know."

Ani Suring decided to take the child by the hand and lead her to a place where she would be raised in safety. As they were walking, Aimée banged on her tin drum with her free hand. A faint sound filled the air as the two walked away from the destroyed homes. Tum. Ta-tum.

She finally arrived at the house of an acquaintance of hers, Jeannette Le Sueur, and handed the child over to her.

"Take her. Don't ask."
"But why me ?"
"I have full trust in you. Point-Neuf is not a place to raise kids anymore. No place is, for that matter. And I know that your family is of a good upbringing, and that you'll raise this young girl well."
"A--- alright, if you say so."

Ani Suring bent down to talk to the child.

"This is your new home now. And this is your sister, Jeannette."

Jeannette looked at Aimée with great concern, whilst Aimée looked back with shiny eyes. But before Jeannette could thank her, Ani Suring left………
This episode, another one from my Histoires Duchemin, talks about how Ani Suring met Aimée Duchemin, the protagonist of the series, and took her to safety when she was a child. Ani Suring would eventually die because of the customs and demands of her people.

And by the way, Ankoù is the personification of Death in Breton mythology.
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CountChristoph's avatar
Lovely, again, mademoiselle TroisNyx, but I must admit, I have no idea how that line in some foreign language (Malay?) should read. Would you mind providing a translation? I must admit that I am quite curious.