The Kingdom Of This World

This chapter picks up twenty years later: Lenormand de Mézy’s second wife has died. He has met an actress, Mademoiselle Floridor, travelled back to France with her, discovered he missed Haiti, and returned with her. Ti Noël has fathered 12 children, but still travels to the Cap to shop on his behalf. There, he passes Auberge de la Couronne, owned by black master chef Henri Christophe. The slaves resent both Lenormand de Mézy and Mademoiselle Floridor for their abusiveness. Ti Noël passes Macandal’s tales—and his hopes—down to his children.

Ti Noël attends a gathering of slaves heading by Bouckman the Jamaican. The slaves have learned that France has decreed that they should be freed—and that the slavers in Haiti have not obeyed this edict. Bouckman tells the others, “The god of the whites demands crime. Our gods seek vengeance” (43). Together, they chant to Ogun, sacrifice a pig, and swear loyalty to Bouckman. Ti Noël swims back across the river to the plantation.

Lenormand de Mézy is in a terrible mood after learning his slaves should be freed. Then, the sound of conch shells resonates across the coast.