The two of them headed down the ladder to below deck, leaving Jack and Akiko alone. Akiko nestled up to Jack, the chill wind making her kimono flutter like a sail. ‘I’m glad you’re coming back to Japan with me,’ she said softly. ‘If I’m honest with you, I couldn’t live in England. But I couldn’t live without you either.’

Jack gazed into her eyes, peering deep into her soul. ‘And I would die without you by my side.’

Closing their eyes, they kissed as the first stars twinkled in the heavens above their heads.

All of a sudden, Akiko went rigid, her whole body seeming to freeze as if in crippling pain.

‘Akiko! What’s wrong?’ asked Jack. But Akiko could only let out a feeble moan as she slumped against the ship’s rail. Then a shadow from behind materialized into a hooded ninja.

‘It looks like she’ll die with you by her side instead!’ rasped the assassin, laughing at his own joke.

‘What have you done to her?’ demanded Jack.

‘Dim Mak, of course –’ The ninja broke into a coughing fit. It was so bad that he had to pull back his hood for air.

‘Kazuki!’ gasped Jack, stunned to see his enemy alive and aboard their ship. But he barely recognized his old rival. Kazuki’s face was pale and sweaty, his eyes watery and bloodshot, his skin peppered with oozing spots and his neck swollen with black buboes.

‘A curse on your filthy country!’ spluttered Kazuki, spitting up bile. ‘I was right … your kind are a pestilence!’

With stark horror, Jack realized Kazuki had contracted the plague. He must have got it from his infected wound or the plague doctor’s clothes he’d been wearing, or a combination of both. However he’d caught it, his rival was now a walking corpse.

Kazuki drew a tantō from his obi with a trembling hand. ‘I’ve been w-w-waiting … until you t-t-two were alone,’ he stuttered. ‘Three … long … days … but now I will have my revenge!’

Kazuki lunged at Jack with the knife. The attack was desperate, fierce and wild. Jack nimbly dodged the blade, jumping aside to avoid any possible contact with the plague-ridden Kazuki. He then swept Kazuki’s legs from under him. Having put all his strength into the strike, Kazuki fell forward and crashed into the gunwale. He lost his balance and tumbled over the rail.

As his enemy plunged headfirst into the churning wake, Jack dropped to his knees and cradled Akiko in his arms. Her breathing was rapid, her face purple and strained, her body shuddering. Jack shouted at the top of his voice for help. A moment later, he heard the soft pad of feet on the deck and Yori was at his side.

‘What happened?’ he asked, kneeling down and examining Akiko’s stiffened form in the darkness.