Translator: Timtaoucine Abla
The novel Autumn of the Throne, translated by Bahraini novelist Ahmed Juma, published by Dar Al Ameer for Publishing and Distribution – Paris. : Translator: Timtaoucine
Autumn of the Throne”
About the Novel
In an ancient past, hidden behind a dusty legend, a dictator named Imam Khurdala bin Sama’a al-Nabhani established his mythical kingdom. He ruled with fire and steel, without a constitution or customs like other countries, even bloody ones. He surrounded it with laws and restrictions that were shocking to witness. He ruled that kingdom, located in a geography now embroidered with an unknown geography. He seized power from his father in a bloody coup and removed it from his brother, the Crown Prince. He then seized control of his fiancée, resided in the Sultan’s palace, and appointed himself Imam of the kingdom, ruling in the name of God. His power reached its absolute peak when he established mythical rules based on his being both the representative of heaven and the executor of judgments, leading to a mythical rule that surpassed medieval dictatorships. The Imam’s brutality was fueled by his command, and his brutality increased with the flow of his doubts like the mouths of a resurrection. The Imam, God’s representative on earth, formulated divine laws and decrees, embroidered with verses of his own blood, against all those who circled around him and glorified his kingdom, over which the sun shines by day and darkens by night. If it were in his power, he would prevent the sun’s rays from rising. He sees the darkness of the universe as a divine means to make the inhabitants of the kingdom completely blind so that they cannot see each other. He forbade the lighting of lamps at night… curfew… banned the wearing of sunglasses… issued a caravan of Imami decrees that included the prohibition of singing, holding parties, listening to music, and owning books, except the Qur’an and books by Salafis. He entrusted them with managing the affairs of the inhabitants… everyone who dared and had the courage and desire to read lost his life. A group of those who smuggled books secretly risked their lives. The punishment for reading was death…
A clip from the novel Autumn of the Throne
The weather was relatively warm, with hints of summer heat softened by dewdrops and a gentle breeze that scattered bits of feather-like down from the eternal trees, indifferent to seasons. The droplets touched the gray stone tiles, derived from brown mountain rocks at the kingdoms farthest reach, some imported from neighboring states. Pools of water formed where yellow leaves floated lazily. At the edges of these stagnant puddles, birds quarreled, drinking, diving, and fluffing their soaked feathers repeatedly.
“No butterflies here?” the queen asked as Maysam massaged her shoulders from behind, the sound of rain pattering against the umbrellas. “Creatures as delicate as butterflies can’t survive in a world deprived of freedom by Khardalah,” she scoffed. The African aide chuckled. “Don’t laugh. Khardalah even oppressed nature itself. Why do you think everything around us has died, except you and me?” The queen grew serious. “Maysam, do you think my illness took root in me like a poisonous weed? Oppression kills, Maysam. The butterflies are gone because nature is dead, and only Khardalah lives. Can you believe that?”
Just then, as if summoned by her words, Khardalah appeared like a shooting star, accompanied by two doctors and an attendant. His sudden arrival silenced Maysam, who stepped back to make way. The queen’s voice, though faint, rang with authority. “Dismiss them first, Khardalah, before you approach me.” With a quick gesture, he signaled the others to retreat.
“Marianna, I—”
“Wait,” she interrupted, pointing to the distance. “There was a green lemon tree there once. Where has it gone?” He hesitated, rain misting his clothes. Taking shelter under the umbrella, he pondered her question. Mariana motioned for Maysam to join her beneath the canopy. Reluctantly, Maysam complied, shielding herself from the drizzle. “You haven’t answered me, Khardalah. Where is the lemon tree?” He shivered, feigning a cough. “It was infected with tree blight. We removed it to protect the others. That’s my answer, Mariana.”
“خريف العرش”
نبذة عن الرواية
في زمنٍ ماضٍ عتيق يكمن وراء اسطورة غباريّة، أقام دكتاتور يدعى الإمام خردلة بن سماعة النبهاني مملكته الخرافية، مكث يحكم بالنار والفولاذ، بلا دستور أو عُرف مثل بقية الدول بما فيها الدموية، أحاطها بقوانينٍ وقيود يندى لها الجبين. حكم تلك المملكة الواقعة في جغرافيا المنطقة الموشاة اليوم بجغرافيا مجهولة، سلب السلطة من والده بانقلابٍ دام ونزعها من أخيه ولي العهد ثم استحوذ على خطيبته وأقام في قصر السلطان ونصَب نفسه إمامًا على المملكة وحكم باسم الله…بلغت سلطته أوج المطلق عندما أرسى قواعد خرافيّة تقوم على أنهُ ممثل السماء وبالوقت نفسه منفذ الأحكام، ما أدى إلى حُكم خرافي يفوق دكتاتوريات القرون الوسطى…
بسقت وحشيّة الإمام بأمرهِ منذ تولّي الحكم بمقتبلِ عمره، بلغت عنان السماء، كلما نمت سنواته راح يتنامى مع الموت، زادت وحشيّتهُ بتدفُق شكوكه كفوهات قيامة، صاغ الإمام، وكيل الله بالأرض، قوانين وفرمانات إلهية طرّزها بآياتٍ من دمهِ تجاه كلّ من يطوفون حوله، ويُسبِّحوا بمملكتهِ التي تُشرق عليها الشمس نهارًا وتُظلم ليلًا، فلو كان بيدهِ لمنع أشعة الشمس من البزوغ. يرى ظلام الكوّن وسيلةً ربانية لجعل سكان المملكة في عمى شامل حتى لا يرى بعضهم بعضًا، منع ايقاد القناديل في الليل… حظَر التجوال…منع ارتداء النظارات السوداء…أصدر قافلة فرمانات إماميه شمِلت تحريم الغناء وإقامة الحفلات وسماع الموسيقى واقتناء الكتب، إلا القرآن وكتبًا لسلفيين، أوْكل لهم تدبير شئون السكان… كل من تجاسر وحاز جرأة ورغبة بالقراءة، يفقد الحياة، زمرة ممن هرّبوا الكتب سرًا، غامروا بأعناقهم، كانت عقوبة القراءة الإعدام…إنه زمن الخريف الأبدي كُتب على سكان مملكة ياروبا – الخليج الآن – أن يتعايشون معه، ومع شرذمة وزراء شؤم نصّبهم في وزارات صورية. هو من يُشرِّع وينفِّذ القوانين، أما أهم الوزراء السياديين الذين ذيّلهم بصلاحياتٍ مستمدّة من بصمتهِ، وزوّدهم بخواتمٍ تدل على هيبتهم التي يستقونها منه، كوزيرة السحر غير المرئية، لا تجتمع أو ترى أحدًا ولا يُشَمُ لها رائحة إنما تُصْدِر قراراتها وتعلن اجراءاتها دون ارتداد، تحريم كل ما يتحرك، بذريعة إشاعة البدع وتغريم كل من يعصي القواعد بسلبهِ خصيتيه لإبطال سحره…هذا عصر الإمام خردلة بن سماعة النبهاني.
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