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Back The Ring of Wind Save as PDF
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

‘We’re not thieves,’ chided Yori. ‘We should at least leave the pilgrims a gift for their involuntary kindness.’

Feeling a touch guilty, Jack took out his pilgrim’s coins and left a couple of his mochi. Saburo, unwilling to part with his supply of rice cakes, threw down a samurai helmet with a round dent in the peak.

‘They can sell that if they want.’

‘But that’s the proof to your father you’re a hero,’ exclaimed Jack, recalling the moment Saburo had taken a bullet in the battle against the bandits.

‘It’s too bulky. Besides, if we don’t escape, it won’t matter whether I’m a hero or not!’

‘Hurry up, everyone,’ Miyuki urged, tossing a rice cake on to the pile. ‘The samurai are closing in.’

‘What should we do about the weapons?’ asked Saburo, holding up his swords. ‘They’re not exactly typical of a pilgrim.’

‘I’ve an idea,’ said Jack, pulling out a canvas bag from behind the stack of casks where he’d hidden earlier. ‘Put them in this. They’ll simply look like goods for shipment.’

Stashing their weapons, packs and remaining supplies in the bag, they donned their straw conical hats. Pulling the brim low over his face, Jack peered out of the door. A unit of samurai was entering the warehouse opposite.

‘Quick, let’s go!’ said Jack.

With Saburo carrying the canvas bag, they joined the other pilgrims. The urge to run for the boat was overwhelming.

‘Slow down,’ whispered Miyuki as they approached the jetty.

‘But two samurai are headed this way!’ Yori breathed in terror.

‘Whatever you do, don’t stop,’ she instructed through gritted teeth.

The soldiers drew ever nearer. Fortunately, their attention was focused on the alleyways and buildings. Yori and Miyuki passed unnoticed. But, with the samurai so intent upon their search and Jack keeping his head down, one of the soldiers accidentally collided into him.

The samurai turned on Jack and glared.

‘Sumimasen,’ apologized Jack, bowing low and keeping his eyes to the ground in respect.

Miyuki and the others slowed their pace, Saburo reaching inside the canvas bag for his katana, Miyuki palming a hidden shuriken.

The samurai stepped up to Jack, his hand moving towards the swords on his obi. Jack held his breath and prepared to run.

‘My apologies, pilgrim,’ said the samurai, pulling a coin from the pouch on his belt. ‘I have no wish for bad luck. Please accept my o-settai.’

Stunned, Jack took the money and was about to walk away when he remembered the ritual. Putting his hands together and keeping his head bowed, he chanted ‘Namu Daishi Henjo Kongo’ three times. Then he handed the samurai a nameslip. The soldier appeared satisfied and resumed his search for the fugitives, oblivious to how close they really were.

5

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Turning of the Tides

‘We made it!’ Yori sighed, showing their travel permits and climbing on-board the boat bound for Shikoku Island.