CHRIS BRADFORD

PUFFIN

Contents

Map: The Japans – 17th Century

The Letter

1 Ambush

2 Trapped Like Crabs

3 Pilgrims

4 O-settai

5 Turning of the Tides

6 School of No Sword

7 Seasickness

8 Pirate War

9 Omishima Island

10 Warrior Spirit

11 Wind Demons

12 Close-Hauled

13 Sea Dragon

14 Shark Bait

15 Captain Kurogumo

16 Fugu

17 Dying

18 Pirate Boy

19 Fist Fight

20 Sea Samurai

21 Repel Boarders

22 A Pirate’s Punishment

23 The Bilge

24 Hulled

25 Raft

26 Adrift

27 Albatross

28 White Death

29 Stay of Execution

30 Kamikaze

31 Sea Anchor

32 Pirate Island

33 Tatsumaki

34 Saru

35 Deception

36 Octopus

37 The Life of a Pirate

38 Cutting Out

39 Sitting Ducks

40 Sea Fog

41 A Pirate’s Share

42 Target Practice

43 Heaven and Earth

44 Pirate Town

45 Wind Witch

46 Kidnapped

47 A Ghost from the Past

48 Old Wounds

49 Flying Fan

50 The Koketsu

51 Nihon Maru

52 Fire Ships

53 Smoke Bombs

54 Spike

55 Weak Spot

56 Tug-of-War

57 Second Wave

58 Cursed

59 Collapse

60 The Key

61 Freefall

62 Imposter

63 A Favourable Wind

Notes on the Sources

Ninja Pirate Ship Competition

Japanese Glossary

Acknowledgements

PUFFIN BOOKS

Praise for the Young Samurai series:

‘A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end. The pace is furious and the martial arts detail authentic’

– Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl series

‘Fierce fiction … captivating for young readers’

– Daily Telegraph

‘Addictive’

– Evening Standard

‘More and more absorbing … vivid and enjoyable’

– The Times

‘Bradford comes out swinging in this fast-paced adventure … and produces an adventure novel to rank among the genre’s best. This book earns the literary equivalent of a black belt’

– Publishers Weekly

‘The most exciting fight sequences imaginable on paper!’

– Booklist

Winner of Northern Ireland Book Award 2011
Shortlisted for Red House Children’s Book Award 2009
School Library Association’s Riveting Read 2009

Chris Bradford likes to fly through the air. He has thrown himself over Victoria Falls on a bungee cord, out of an aeroplane in New Zealand and off a French mountain on a paraglider, but he has always managed to land safely – something he learnt from his martial arts …

Chris joined a judo club aged seven where his love of throwing people over his shoulder, punching the air and bowing lots started. Since those early years, he has trained in karate, kickboxing, samurai swordsmanship and has earned his black belt in taijutsu, the secret fighting art of the ninja.

Before writing the Young Samurai series, Chris was a professional musician and songwriter. He’s even performed to HRH Queen Elizabeth II (but he suspects she found his band a bit noisy).

Chris lives in a village on the South Downs with his wife, Sarah, his son, Zach, and two cats called Tigger and Rhubarb.

Books by Chris Bradford:

The Young Samurai series (in reading order)

THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

THE WAY OF THE SWORD

THE WAY OF THE DRAGON

THE RING OF EARTH

THE RING OF WATER

THE RING OF FIRE

THE RING OF WIND

(available as ebook only)

THE WAY OF FIRE

For the Moles,

Sue, Simon, Steve, Sam and all the cousins!

Map: The Japans – 17th Century

The Letter