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L'dor V'dor
An Odyssey
An Odyssey
1558
Belvedere Castle, Kostantiniyye
Gracia Nasi tapped her fingers on the desk as she waited for her partner and son-in-law to enter. Joseph had been visiting the Crown Prince at the palace, likely discussing affairs of state and perhaps the latest exotic item to come from the far east. Joseph was the one who was more gregarious and suited to schmoozing nobility, especially the Crown Prince. Gracia was the diligent businesswoman who focused on the accounts and debts. Besides, she felt more at home in the company of Jews than gentiles. Here she sat in the map room, which was well stocked with cartography of every location that had been seen by European eye, from China to Mexico. The centerpiece was a large Spanish map of the entire world, especially the newly discovered lands in the West Indies.
Gracia pondered the West Indies in particular. She had read of the new continent, and talked with those who had been there. It was supposedly a virgin world, one of ignorant natives who lived in simple tribes and bountiful land. At least, it was until the Spaniards drenched the continent in blood. Now thousands lay under the whip of Christendom from the plantations of the Caribbean to silver mines of Peru. They also brought the stake and rack for the Jews that dared to escape their torment in Europe. Despite that, Gracia had heard that there were whole lands inhabited almost entirely by Anusim and Meshumad, living oblivious of their neighbor’s nature.
Gracia was examining these Indies when Joseph came in, later than he should have been. “Sorry, Selim didn't let me go ‘till I ran out,” he said with a chuckle. “What was it you wanted to discuss? Was it our ventures in Tiberias and Safed, no?” Joseph was a great friend of Crown Prince Selim and had accrued many a sweet deal for the Nasi house in both the realms of banking and commerce from this relationship.
“Yes, that’s it, I have been having some serious misgivings about the settlement project,” she replied with a sigh. “I believe that it may be doomed, for more than one reason.” For the past few months, Gracia and Joseph were attempting to secure Joseph's lordship over the city, although in ruins, and the surroundings. From this they would restore the land and attract fellow Jews to settle and restore the Jewish population of the holy land.
Joseph looked confused, with an uncharacteristic frown on his face. “Why is that? We’ve worked so far to ensure its success and we must work further to do so. It's only the start of our efforts, and although negotiations with the local sheikhs have been tough, they cannot overrule the Crown Prince. Admitting failure would harden their resolve.”
“I’m not admitting failure, just changing the plan. As of now, the holy land will be out of the reach of the Jews until G-d wills it so. We were not dispersed among the nations of the world for no reason. One day the Turks will take our land and disperse us just as the Christians before them, just as the Romans before them, just as the Greeks before them, and just like the Babylonians before them. From generation to generation we are put to the sword and exiled.”
A long pause consisting of hard stares occurred on both sides. Finally, Joseph broke the silence. “Suppose you are correct. What then could we do safeguard our people? To save us from the ravages of the gentile kingdoms?”
“We must turn to methods that have not been tried before. I have formulated an idea.” With this Gracia stood up, walked up to a map of the West Indies, and jabbed a finger at a large shape of land marked “Francesca.” “We must go to the land that G-d has shown us. A new land of milk and honey.”
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