‘What right have you to judge these young samurai? When you can’t even fight as men yourselves! This village doesn’t deserve to be saved.’

The crowd fell into a disgraced silence.

Then the old woman cried, ‘You can’t allow children to fight our battles!’

‘Who else has stepped to our defence?’ challenged Yoshi.

No one answered.

‘These young samurai have skills we don’t. They are brave and willing to make a stand for us. We should respect them.’

‘I can really see Akuma respecting them,’ shouted a farmer sarcastically. ‘He might just laugh himself to death!’

At this the crowd began to disperse, realizing the futility of battling bandits with a pitiful army of children.

‘It appears we’re not wanted, after all,’ said Hayato, turning angrily to leave.

‘This is simply a misunderstanding,’ said Jack, exasperated by the farmers’ short-sightedness. Unwilling to give up on them, he added, ‘Let me explain the plan to them.’

‘No, the situation is perfectly understood. The farmers don’t want our help. Come on, Yuudai.’

Bowing farewell to Jack, Yuudai followed Hayato back in the direction of Okayama.

‘I have to agree, Jack,’ said Miyuki. ‘We’re wasting our time here.’

‘But how will the farmers survive without us?’ said Jack, thinking of poor Neko and the fate of her parents.

‘You can’t help those who won’t be helped,’ responded Yori with a reluctant sigh.

Heading back down the track, Saburo asked, ‘What about food and lodgings tonight?’

Jack was about to answer, when an alarm suddenly clanged.

The faces of the villagers became taut with terror. ‘Bandits!’ cried a farmer and everyone fled in wild panic. A few desperately gathered their belongings, others ran for their lives, but most rushed after the departing young samurai.

‘Save us! Save us! You must help us!’ they implored.

‘Now they want our services,’ called back Hayato. Nonetheless, he unslung his bow and dashed into the square, Yuudai at his side.

Jack, Saburo and Miyuki unsheathed their swords and prepared for the surprise attack. Yori gripped his staff, his hands trembling at the thought of the forthcoming battle.

‘Which direction is Akuma coming from?’ demanded Hayato, running up to the main farmhouse.

‘I don’t know,’ cried Junichi, his eyes darting fearfully in all directions.

‘Well, who rang the alarm?’

‘It wasn’t me,’ he said, as if the raid was his fault.

‘Then who did?’

‘It was her!’ shouted Kunio, pointing to the roof of the blacksmith’s hut.

Neko was standing upon its ridge, an iron bar and hammer in hand. She pummelled it again and grinned in delight as the villagers scattered like startled mice.

‘So where are the bandits?’ questioned Miyuki, scanning the deserted horizon.

It was then Jack realized Neko’s ploy. ‘There are no bandits!’

Smiling with relief, Yori said, ‘She’s just proving to the farmers they really do need us.’