‘But those chains were rusted!’ Yori exclaimed in panic.

Seeing their prey pinned and powerless, the four figures took their time crossing the marketplace, one in front, the other three behind. Their long cloaks hid their feet so that they appeared to glide across the puddle-strewn square like wraiths.

Jack struggled more and more wildly, desperation threatening to overwhelm his reason. Then he stopped dead and a chill ran through his bones. The leader was drawing a long, curved blade, the hamon along its steel glinting like the lightning in the storm.

24: Plague Doctors

Immobilized by the pillory, Jack was helpless. In one easy swipe of the sword, the plague doctor could sever his head from his torso, along with both his hands for good measure. Jack had no idea who was behind the white-beaked, glass-eyed mask – and had no desire at this perilous point to find out. But the presence of a second katana in England both puzzled and disturbed him. How have these plague doctors acquired a samurai sword?

As the four ominous figures drew nearer, Jack noticed Yori gulping in several deep breaths, preparing to repel them with his kiai-jutsu. Jack knew, however, that each and every kiai strike took a great deal of effort to generate, and Yori would not have enough energy to deal with all four attackers. Jack, meanwhile, had nothing but his legs to defend himself with, and his movements were severely restricted. All he could do was clumsily shovel a mound of mud at his feet in readiness.

Then a loud clanging broke through the monotonous thrum of rain. The town bell was ringing frantically, sounding an alarm that would wake even the dead. The four plague doctors stopped in their tracks as lanterns appeared and the townsfolk were roused to action.

The bell’s ringing stopped and out of the darkness ran a familiar flame-haired girl.

‘ROSE!’ cried Jack in shock and relief. As she sprinted across the marketplace, Jack heard a jangle of keys. Spotting the would-be rescuer, the plague doctors advanced on Jack and Yori once more. But Rose reached them first.

‘Sorry,’ she panted. ‘Had to wait for the bailiff to fall asleep ’fore I could steal ’em!’

Her hands shook as she tried a key in the pillory’s padlock.

‘Where did you go? Are you all right?’ asked Jack, overjoyed to discover his childhood friend hadn’t betrayed him after all.

‘Save the questions for later!’ Rose replied as the first key failed and she tried a second – but that one wouldn’t fit either.

The plague doctors’ leader bore down on them, sword raised high above his masked head. Both Jack and Rose were directly in line of the blade’s lethal path. Jack kicked out with his boot, flicking a clump of mud into the plague doctor’s face. It splattered across his glass eyes, blinding him and halting his attack.