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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

Tatsumaki gave a half-apologetic smile as the lift rose into the air. ‘It’s everyone for themselves now, Jack. Remember, we’re pirates … not samurai!’

58

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Cursed

So much for the Wind Demons being forever in my debt! thought Jack as his eyes scanned the lagoon for an escape boat.

But the only ones docked at the jetty were those that had survived the battle – and they were far too large for a four-man crew to handle, and were already taken. The lookout’s rowing boat was also gone, having returned to the hidden fort with news of the Wind Demons’ immediate withdrawal. Jack just had to hope that, following the conflict, he’d find a suitable vessel washed up on the island’s rocky shores. Otherwise, he’d be asking Tatsumaki for passage on-board the Koketsu – and that no doubt would come at a price.

But Jack realized his first priority was to free Miyuki, Yori and Saburo. Turning to run up the gangway into Pirate Town, he bumped straight into Li Ling coming the other way.

‘Sorry, Jack!’ she gasped, dropping the sack of rice that she’d been lugging. ‘I didn’t see you. Where are you going anyway?’

‘The citadel. I have to release my friends, then somehow find a boat off this island.’

‘Aren’t you coming with us?’

Jack shook his head. ‘No, a pirate’s life isn’t for me.’

Li Ling looked saddened by the news.

‘You could join us,’ suggested Jack, not wishing his Chinese friend to die at the hands of the Sea Samurai … or become a bloodthirsty pirate.

‘And miss all this excitement?’ she replied, glancing round at the chaos. ‘This is what I dreamed of, Jack. I’m a Wind Demon now and always will be.’

‘Then take care,’ he said, realizing that her fate was her own choosing and it wasn’t for him to change her mind. ‘But don’t ever lose that kind heart of yours.’

Helping to lift the rice sack on to Li Ling’s shoulder, he turned to go. He’d only taken a few steps when she suddenly said, ‘I know where there’s a boat.’

She pointed to a small iron gate beyond the jetty at the base of the cliff.

‘I shouldn’t be telling you this, but that passage leads to a hidden sea cave. Tatsumaki has a boat stowed there for emergencies.’

‘You’re a life saver, Li Ling. What sort of boat?’

‘A skiff. Tatsumaki asked me to check its supplies before we went into battle with the Sea Samurai. But you’ll need the key for the gate.’

‘No, we won’t,’ replied Jack confidently. ‘Miyuki can pick locks.’

‘Not this one. It’s a Chinese double lock.’

‘So where’s the key?’ asked Jack.

‘That’s the other problem,’ she replied, biting her lip awkwardly. ‘It’s attached to Saru’s collar.’