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Back The Ring of Wind
Chapters (71)
  1. CHRIS BRADFORD
  2. Contents
  3. Map: The Japans – 17th Century
  4. The Letter
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. Notes on the Sources
  69. Ninja Pirate Ship Competition
  70. Japanese Glossary
  71. Acknowledgements

The raiding party silently entered the harbour. Captain Wanizame’s unit broke off and headed for the castle. As Jack’s boat glided past the first of the atake-bune, a group of Captain Hebi’s Wind Demons slipped into the water and dived beneath the surface. Another boat came to rest behind the shelter of a seki-bune’s rudder and the crew immediately set to work dismantling it.

Captain Kurogumo’s five boats pulled alongside the shuinsen, while the remaining Wind Demon force glided past to the other Sea Samurai vessels. Skullface was in charge of Jack’s unit. With a gloved hand, he signalled for them to scale the Red Seal ship’s hull. Bringing their rowing boat as close as they dared, they reached up and grabbed hold of the planking. Each of them wore shuko, the steel claws digging easily into the wood. Jack’s sailing experience enabled him to climb the sides without fear. But the surface was slimy and he had to take great care with his footing. Slowly and soundlessly, the ninja pirates crawled up to the top of the gunwales.

Peering over the lip, Jack caught sight of several samurai guards patrolling the main deck. One was directly in front, his back turned to him. More were stationed on the stern-castle’s upper deck, where black shadows clung just below handrails, waiting for the signal to pounce.

Jack had a horrific sense of déjà vu. Once again he was back on the Alexandria, the night of the fateful attack by Dragon Eye. Except this time, he was one of the ninja pirates preparing to slaughter an innocent crew. But what choice did he have? If he didn’t obey Tatsumaki’s orders, she would kill his friends. Besides, the Wind Demons would be stealing the ship, with or without him. All he could do was avoid unnecessary bloodshed.

A cricket chirped in the night, the samurai guards paying it no attention. On its second call, the Wind Demons attacked. Blades, sharp and silent, went ruthlessly to work. One by one, the samurai slumped to the deck. Jack leapt over the handrail to confront his guard. Not wanting to kill him, he hit the guard with Fall Down Fist. The blow caught the man across his neck and he dropped like a sack of rice.