‘How’s it going?’ asked Jack.

‘Honestly?’ replied Saburo. ‘Pretty slow. The ground’s frozen solid.’

Jack inspected the shallow ditch that ran part-way along the village’s southern boundary. ‘Any chance you’ll finish this before the black moon?’

‘At this rate, unlikely,’ Saburo admitted. ‘We’re using the excess dirt to shore up the bank on this side, but I can’t see us digging all the way round the village.’

‘We need every advantage we can get over Akuma,’ insisted Jack. ‘We must complete this moat. I’ll ask Hayato to put his men on to the task as well. They’ve already finished preparing the fields for flooding.’

‘But what about the bridge?’ asked Saburo.

Although Junichi had been able to provide Miyuki with charcoal and suggest a nearby hot spring for sulphur, the village had no saltpetre and their dunghill was too poorly maintained to produce any. Miyuki’s plan, therefore, had been set aside in favour of Hayato’s strategy, much to his gratification.

‘Junichi insists on access to the mill, and his mother still hasn’t moved out,’ sighed Jack. ‘So we’ll have to take it down nearer the time.’

Saburo raised his eyebrows in concern. ‘Let’s hope Akuma doesn’t decide to attack early then.’

‘Let’s pray he doesn’t attack at all!’

Skirting the village, Jack worked his way up to the forest. Compared to the feverish activity in the village, there was no sign of Miyuki or her team. Apart from a wooden barrier on either side of the main track, she appeared to have done nothing. Jack stepped through the narrow gap in the barrier and went to look for them.

‘Stop!’ came a cry.

Halted in his tracks, Jack looked up to see Miyuki hanging from a tree branch.

‘What are you doing?’ asked Jack.

She smiled teasingly at him. ‘If I told you, it would spoil the surprise.’

Neko appeared out of the bushes. She weaved between the trees, taking a circuitous route to them. Grinning up at Miyuki, she nodded.

‘Good work, Neko!’ said Miyuki, signing to her.

‘You can communicate?’ asked Jack, pleased to see Neko looking so content.

‘Easily,’ Miyuki replied. ‘She has her own signs, but I taught her some of the ninja hand signs we use on missions. I can teach you a few tonight, if you want.’

Miyuki made some more gestures and Neko ran off eagerly into the forest. Working alongside Miyuki, Jack saw she was clearly in her element.

‘Neko would make a perfect ninja,’ agreed Miyuki, reading Jack’s thoughts. ‘She’s silent, quick and, with training, she’d be deadly.’

Jack laughed. ‘Well, let’s survive Black Moon before you recruit her into your clan!’

Hearing footsteps in the snow, Jack turned to see Hayato walking up the track.

‘So while everyone’s slogging their guts out, our ninja is hanging about in the trees!’