Stepping down from the veranda, Jack was greeted by Sora, his wife, and his daughter, Miya.

‘Thank you for your faith in us, Jack,’ said Sora, bowing deeply. ‘If it hadn’t been for you, we would never have seen our daughter again.’

Miya stepped forward and presented Jack with a new straw hat.

‘For your journey home,’ she said.

As Jack accepted their gift and bowed his gratitude, Kunio ran into the square shouting, ‘SAMURAI! SAMURAI ARE COMING!’

60 Koban

60

KOBAN

The celebrations came to a swift end. The villagers looked anxiously to Toge, whose expression was especially grave at the news. He issued urgent instructions to hide all the food and prepare for their arrival.

‘Daimyo Ikeda’s samurai only ever visit us to collect his rice tax,’ Sora explained to Jack. ‘But they already have this season’s. I can only think they’re looking for you!’

As the villagers hurriedly cleared away all signs of a celebration, Sora bundled Jack, Miyuki and the other young samurai into the rice store, closing the door behind him. They peered, unseen, through gaps in the wooden wall.

Toge and Yoshi were waiting on the veranda to greet the samurai, while the rest of the farmers gathered round the edges of the square, heads bowed. The sound of horses’ hooves drew nearer. Then ten fully armed samurai rode in. Dismounting, the lead samurai strode on to the veranda. Toge and Yoshi bowed deeply, keeping their eyes lowered to the ground as he approached.

‘What happened to your bridge?’ demanded the samurai.

‘It was destroyed by Akuma,’ Toge replied.

‘Where’s that troublesome bandit now?’

‘Dead.’

The samurai looked surprised. ‘Dead! Who killed him?’

‘Some ronin,’ explained Toge.

‘You hired masterless samurai,’ he said, incredulous. ‘What with?’

‘Rice. It’s all we have.’

Laughing, the samurai glanced at the submissive villagers. ‘No wonder you all look so hungry!’ He turned back to Toge, his hand upon the hilt of his sword. ‘Now, where’s the gaijin samurai?’ he demanded.

Toge swallowed nervously, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground.

‘Come on, I don’t have all day. You told us he was here.’

‘I don’t believe it!’ cried Sora. ‘Toge, of all people, betrayed you.’

Jack was equally shocked. He’d known the farmer was bitter, but hadn’t thought him a traitor.

‘That explains why Toge wasn’t around when you went to look for Akuma’s camp,’ whispered Yori, shaking his head in dismay.

‘Don’t worry, you’ll be paid,’ said the samurai, pulling four koban from a purse.

Toge’s eyes alighted on the glittering gold coins. Then he glanced towards the rice store.

‘He’s about to tell!’ exclaimed Sora.

Saburo drew his sword. ‘We won’t let them take you, Jack.’

‘I’ll distract them, while you three run for the forest,’ said Miyuki, her ninjatō at the ready.

‘No, I won’t let you sacrifice yourselves,’ said Jack. ‘This isn’t your battle.’