Extrait du livre The cedar and the dove
The cedar and the dove By Pascale Vignali Illustrated by Justine Cunha Le Regard Sonore Editions
Once there was a small country at the crossroads between two worlds : Lebanon. Bordered by sparkling blue waters, its snow-capped mountains are as white and as soft as milk... Far and yonder, the air is sweet as honey, and scented with orange blossoms... Far and yonder, a thousand tales are told by the wind that whispers through the leaves of the cedar trees to lift the hearts of those with ears to listen ... Far and yonder ...
Lebanon was ruled by a wise and gentle emir. His wife had passed away many years ago, and the joy of seeing their two sons grow up had been his only consolation. They were born on the same day, but yet did not look alike : Wael was golden-haired with eyes of the deepest blue whilst Issam’s hair was dark and his eyes were as black as night. The old emir proudly said that heaven had given him two wonders : a prince of the sun and a prince of the moon, two treasures he held most dear ...
When he had an important decision to make, the emir would take leave of the palace to meet an old friend. A very very old friend ... a three thousand year old cedar tree. One day he found himself thinking under the benevolent shadow of his old companion. EMIR : I'm tired of ruling, my friend. According to tradition, my eldest son is to succeed me. But Wael and Issam were born on the same day! And they are both worthy successors. So then how should I choose ?
The leaves of the old cedar tree softly rustled: CEDAR TREE : Why choose ? Aren't two heads better than one? Mount Lebanon has two sides, and yet they join at the summit L’EMIR : You are right! They will rule together ! They will be able to rely on each other which is a good thing.. because the throne can be a lonely place ...
The Emir asked his two sons to join him : L’EMIR : My children, my youth is far from me now.. and I look forward to joining my beloved wife in the gardens of the sky ... You shall take my place. Issam, I entrust you with the North of our beautiful country. Wael, you shall have the South. Be good and fair. And above all, never forget that you are brothers, like the two sides of our beloved Mount Lebanon ... The old emir made them promise to make council once a year in the shadow of the cedar to remember their solemn promises. With this done, he finally felt ready for his final journey ...
To begin with, Wael and Issam faithfully respected the promise they had made to their father. But then, little by little, busy in their own separate ways, they drifted further and further apart. They still met once a year under the old cedar tree, but eventually, mistrust usurped confidence. Each brother feared that the other wanted to take his half of the country for his own ... Until one day ...
