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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

‘Don’t make me ask you again,’ said Dragon Eye, turning his attention back to Skullface.

Incensed at seeing his fellow Wind Demon slaughtered, Manzo launched himself at Dragon Eye. The ninja merely stepped aside, letting the pirate fly past before driving the ninjatō into his back. Manzo gave a great guttural groan, then toppled over the rocky crag.

Skullface now rushed Dragon Eye, slicing his sword across the ninja’s chest. But Dragon Eye deflected the attack and countered at such speed that Skullface didn’t realize he’d lost … until his sword dropped to the ground, his right hand still attached to the hilt.

Clasping his bleeding stump to his chest, Skullface crumpled to his knees, his mouth open in a silent scream, the pain yet to register.

Dragon Eye stood over him. ‘Last chance. Who has the rutter?’

‘Go … burn in hell!’ spluttered Skullface.

Unmoved by the pirate’s insult, Dragon Eye formed his fingers into Snakehead Fist. With a sharp sudden jab, he plucked out the pirate’s right eye. Skullface now howled in agony, blood streaming down his cheek.

‘Tatsumaki has it …’ he wailed.

‘And where is this Tatsumaki?’

‘… on Pirate Island.’

‘Where’s Pirate Island?’

Despite his horrendous suffering, Skullface now held his tongue. Dragon Eye didn’t hesitate. He tore out the pirate’s other eye. Skullface’s tortured screams filled the night sky. Jack could no longer bear to watch; nor could any of the samurai. Without his eyes, Skullface’s tattooed head now became truly skull-like.

The shrieks faded into agonized sobs, but still Skullface refused to answer.

Jack heard a sickening crunch of steel on bone, then a body slump lifeless to the ground. As much as he’d loathed the pirate, Jack had to admit Skullface remained a loyal Wind Demon to the bitter end.

Dragon Eye now set his sights on Snakehead, who’d been too shocked by the sudden turn of events to react. The pirate immediately threw down his sword and surrendered. Offering the man no mercy, Dragon Eye struck a rapid combination of pressure points across Snakehead’s body.

Jack instantly recognized the lethal ninja technique of Dim Mak.

Snakehead went rigid, paralysed to the spot by the ninja’s Death Touch. Jack knew from his own bitter experience at the hands of Dragon Eye that a firestorm of pain would be spreading throughout the pirate’s body, eventually crippling and crushing his heart.

‘Where is it?’ demanded Dragon Eye.

The terror in Snakehead’s eyes was palpable, but he didn’t respond.

Dragon Eye drove a thumb into a nerve point in the pirate’s neck. Snakehead let out a scream. But uttered no words.