Outside the light was fading fast as the farmers took up position and Jack stepped on to the veranda. Junichi emerged from the farmhouse to greet him. His face was grizzled with stubble and his eyes were hollowed black rings from many sleepless nights.

‘The time of judgement has come,’ said Junichi gravely, glancing up at the darkening sky. ‘Do not fail us. Otherwise Akuma will burn this village to the ground and everyone with it. Our fate is in your hands, Jack Fletcher.’

Jack felt the weight of responsibility fall heavily upon his shoulders.

Yoshi tottered out. ‘Ignore Junichi’s doomsaying. He’s afraid, like all of us,’ wheezed the old man, waving his walking-stick at the gathered villagers. ‘Whatever happens, young samurai, know that your answer to our cry of help is all that matters. Win or lose this battle, as long as there is good like that shown by you in this world, evil can never conquer.’

Jack bowed his head. ‘I appreciate your faith in me. I will not fail you.’

But turning to the row upon row of terrified farmers’ faces, Jack seriously questioned whether he’d made a promise that he couldn’t keep. The farmers shuffled nervously on the spot, their fear intensifying as the sun dropped below the horizon. Barely a handful of stars lit the night. The moon was nowhere to be seen and the invasive darkness fuelled their fright.

‘Words are needed to reassure them, however,’ Yori whispered urgently.

‘Any suggestions?’ said Jack, out of the corner of his mouth.

‘I’m not Sensei Yamada!’ replied Yori with uncharacteristic sharpness. ‘I don’t have all the answers on the tip of my tongue.’

Jack was taken by surprise with his curt reply and realized he’d put too much pressure on his friend. ‘Sorry, I was only asking for your wisdom, not his.’

Yori bit his lip, thinking hard, determined to help Jack. He made to speak, then stopped himself. Eventually he said, ‘The farmers’ fear is greater than ours … That makes us brave and courageous in their eyes, so you must appear strong in whatever you say and they’ll gain strength from you.’

‘That’s all I needed,’ said Jack, his friend’s advice triggering a memory from the Niten Ichi Ryū.

Jack took a breath and addressed the petrified farmers.

‘When I first trained as a samurai,’ he began, ‘I was told: Courage isn’t the absence of fear but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear.’

Jack let the lesson sink in.

‘I know you’re afraid, but this village, your families, your rice and your fields are all more important than your fear of Akuma. So tonight … fight like samurai … so that tomorrow you can be farmers once again!’

Roused by his heartfelt speech, they raised their weapons as one and gave an almighty battle cry that echoed across the plain.

42 Night Watch

42

NIGHT WATCH