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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

On Skullface’s command, the crew quietly went about raising the anchor and sail. The shuinsen crept through the fog, playing a fraught cat-and-mouse game with the Sea Samurai. When they heard a ship ahead, Jack had to alter course. He studied the chart, but for the most part had to navigate by instinct, guessing their progress and praying he was right. The shuinsen wove between hidden islands and rocky outcrops, the deadly obstacles looming out of the fog like monsters of the deep before diving back into the white swirling mist.

Muffled by fog and distance, they heard the crunch of wood, followed by shouts of anger.

Skullface grinned. ‘That’s one less ship to worry about.’

Jack scrutinized the chart again. ‘If I’m right, we should be far enough away from any lookout ship now and can use this island as cover, before heading south.’

Leaning on the tiller, Skullface let the shuinsen’s bow turn until the compass point hit its mark. Gradually, like a veil of smoke, the fog lifted and they left the Sea Samurai patrol behind to continue its futile search.

41

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A Pirate’s Share

‘The Sea Samurai were so close I could have spat on them!’ boasted Skullface as he described their miraculous escape to Tatsumaki. The other pirate captains rolled their eyes at his bragging, but nonetheless were delighted to see their prize intact.

The shuinsen was safely docked within the lagoon after sailing a circuitous route back to Pirate Island. The surviving crewmembers of the Great White, the Jade Serpent and the Killer Whale crowded on to the jetty, noisily celebrating its unexpected arrival. Having won the battle against the Hikari Sea Samurai, they had returned a day earlier and believed the Red Seal ship lost.

Tatsumaki regarded Skullface sternly. ‘And what made you decide to enter the fog? That was reckless …’

‘The gaijin’s to blame,’ said Skullface, quick to avoid criticism.

‘… and brilliant,’ she added, much to the ninja pirate’s dismay.

Tatsumaki turned to Jack, a smile curling the corner of her lips. ‘Another trick you learnt from your father?’

‘No,’ Jack admitted. ‘I got the idea from the Ring of Wind – evasion is far better than engagement,’ he explained, remembering his Five Rings lesson with the Grandmaster. ‘I was taught that the best move is simply not to be there.’

Tatsumaki studied him intently, her dark eyes seeming to search his soul. ‘You certainly didn’t learn that as a samurai. That’s ninja thinking!’

The Pirate Queen stopped two pirates, who were unloading one of the treasure chests, and summoned them over. For a moment, Jack thought that she was going to have him thrown overboard. Then she opened the lid of the chest and took out a generous handful of silver coin.