‘I’ll be waiting for you,’ replied Jack, holding her gaze a moment. At times, her courage and daring reminded him so much of Akiko.

Following the edge of the lake, Jack and Neko led the horses over to the treeline, tethered them, and concealed themselves behind a boulder. They watched the camp in tense silence. Beneath the pale light of the waning moon, it was hard to make out much movement. A few horses were gathered at the water’s edge drinking, but the rest had bolted. To Jack’s relief, none of the bandits had stirred – or else they were too drunk to react.

Their plan was going to work.

He saw Miyuki place the lamp on the ground. She kicked it over and there was a burst of flame. For a brief moment she was silhouetted against the intense light.

Running as fast as she could, Miyuki raced across the open ground to where Jack and Neko were hiding. Behind her, an orange glow blossomed within the storehouse, smoke billowing out of the door.

Reaching the treeline, she glanced back at her handiwork.

‘They’ll have trouble putting that out,’ she said, pleased with herself.

‘Have you seen Hayato?’ Jack asked.

Miyuki shook her head. ‘I thought he was already with you.’

They scanned the camp for him, the fire within the storehouse illuminating the bunkhouse.

‘I can’t see him,’ said Miyuki, concern edging her voice.

A moment later, a shadow bolted through the darkness. Hayato bounded over rocks and boulders without looking back once.

‘It took a while to light,’ he explained, breathless. ‘The thatch is all wet, but eventually it caught. It’ll take time to burn through, but we’ve landed our first blow against Akuma!’

They all felt a heady rush of victory.

‘Let’s go!’ said Jack, keen to escape while they could.

‘Where’s Sora?’ asked Hayato.

Miyuki and Jack looked at one another. In their haste, they’d completely forgotten about the old farmer.

‘Surely he’s freed every horse by now,’ said Miyuki.

Jack looked over to the stables, but Sora wasn’t anywhere in view. Miyuki signed urgently to Neko, but she didn’t know where he was either.

Then in the flickering firelight, Jack spotted Sora heading towards the rear of the bunkhouse.

‘What’s he doing?’ said Hayato angrily.

‘Stay here!’ ordered Jack. ‘I’ll get him.’

‘Hurry!’ said Miyuki. ‘Those bandits won’t be asleep much longer.’

Jack sprinted back to the camp, keeping his eyes peeled for the enemy. He found Sora at the back, both arms reaching through an open window.

‘What are you doing?’ hissed Jack. ‘We must leave now!’

Sora turned to him with pleading eyes. ‘But we can’t …’

He moved aside to reveal the tearful face of a young girl.

‘I’ve found my daughter, Miya!’

34 Rescue

34

RESCUE

Behind Miya were countless other girls, their faces forlorn and lost.