Jana Carnifex, also known as Contessa Jana Carnifex, was a member of the Millenaria secret society and sister of its head, Ugo Carnifex. The character served as a minor antagonist in Charlie Higson's 2006 Young Bond novel, Blood Fever.
Biography[]
Jana Carnifex was one of three children born to a poor family in the Supramonte mountains of Barbagia, Sardinia. Her brother Ugo plundered a treasure trove during the First World War and returned a wealthy man; adopting the title "Count". Jana, likewise benefitting from his status, fashioned herself as "Contessa". In stark contrast to her pale brother, she was described as having dry, dead skin. Plastered with thick, orange make-up, she wore bright coral lipstick, and the heavy eyelids of her kohl-rimmed eyes were painted blue. On her head was an elaborate black wig, piled high and entwined with silver chains. She was dressed in opulent clothing and was laden down with an excessive amount of jewellery.
In August 1933[1], she crossed paths with the young James Bond at La Casa Polipo in Capo d'Orso, the coastal home of his eccentric cousin, Victor Delacroix. After Ugo's mysophobia brought the dinner to an abrupt end, she retired to his palazzo at Sant' Ugo. She later attended Carnifex's grand carnival and presided over the gladiatorial games alongside her brother. James and his rival, Tony Fitzpaine, were chosen to compete in a boxing match. After James won his bout in the arena, the Contessa tossed him a token "silver" ring (actually, tin).
During the carnival, Bond stumbled across a meeting of the Millenaria and was betrayed by his duplicitous school master, Peter Haight. Proving uncooperative, James was taken to a mosquito-infested marsh, staked to the ground and left there to be tortured by the swarm of hungry insects. To encourage the mosquitos, the sadistic Jana poured perfume over him. Bond would subsequently escape and return to the Palazzo with Carnifex's vengeful business partner, Zoltan the Magyar, who destroyed the complex by demolishing the villain's dam. With her brother dead, Jana swore vengeance and travelled to La Casa Polipo with the intent of murdering James and his family. The boy leapt into the ocean and, in her haste to get a clearer aim, Jana slipped on the rocks; plunging into a bed of sea urchins. Writhing in agony, she eventually fell backward and fatally struck her head on the rocks.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Higson, Charlie (5 January 2006). "Chapter 5: The Tombs of the Giants", Blood Fever, Young Bond (in En-UK). London: Puffin Books. ISBN 0141318600. “I’m taking an expedition there at the end of the summer, to look at some of the monuments.”