Swinging the massive weapon in a lethal series of arcs, he forced Jack on the retreat. Realizing the axe could shatter his katana’s blade, Jack had to hope for a gap in Nakamura’s attack before retaliating. But his foot slipped from under him. As he tried to regain his balance, Nakamura chopped down with all his might. The axe head skimmed past Jack’s face and chest to hit the ground with an ear-splitting crack. Fissures in the snow snaked their way out from where they stood. Water spurted up and the ground shifted beneath their feet.

Jack dived away. But Nakamura, too slow to realize what was happening, dropped through the ice and disappeared with his axe into the freezing depths of the pond.

Jack lay as still as he could, spreading his weight to prevent the pond’s surface breaking up any more. But all around he heard ominous cracking. He saw Yori leave Hayato and come running over, quickly followed by Yuudai and Miyuki who’d witnessed the brutal fight.

‘Stop!’ cried Jack. ‘No closer.’

Throwing his katana clear, he began to ease himself away from the hole and towards the bank.

‘I’ll get a spear!’ cried Miyuki.

A moment later she was back, lying on the ground, the spear outstretched towards him. Jack grabbed the shaft and she began to haul him in.

All of a sudden, a hand seized Jack’s ankle, dragging him the other way into the ice hole.

‘Not s-s-so f-f-fast,’ spluttered Nakamura, his scarred face turned blue.

Jack slid into the freezing waters, pulling Miyuki off the bank. Half on the ice, half in the pond, he lashed out at Nakamura. But the bandit refused to let go.

Fighting the cold and Nakamura, Jack felt his fingers slipping off the spear.

58 End of a Nightmare

58

END OF A NIGHTMARE

‘I can’t hold on much longer!’ yelled Jack.

Yuudai reached for Miyuki to pull them all in. But Nakamura yanked on Jack’s leg, seemingly determined to drown them both.

‘Let Jack go!’ Yori shouted, throwing a snowball at the bandit.

But Nakamura kept tugging Jack into the hole. Jack’s grasp slid to the very end of the spear. Gritting his teeth, he clung on for dear life. Nakamura began to crawl up his back, trying to prise him away from his lifeline. At the same time, the frigid waters of the pond lapped at Jack’s waist, chilling him to the bone and sapping his strength.

He was about to give up all hope when an arrow shot past his shoulder and struck Nakamura. Jack heard a pained groan followed by the slosh of water as Nakamura lost his grip and slipped beneath the surface. Looking up, Jack saw Hayato propped up against the little farmhouse, bow in hand, Kunio holding his quiver. The effort of firing the arrow, however, had proved too much. Clutching his wounded stomach, he collapsed to the ground.