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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

‘What in the name of –’ cried Captain Kurogumo, losing his footing as the balcony rocked wildly.

Another salvo blasted Pirate Town. A cannonball struck the supports of Captain Kurogumo’s house and the building started to sheer away from the cliff face. In the chaos of the moment, Jack spun round, knocking the tantō from the geisha’s grasp with his elbow. Then using a palm-strike to her chest he sent her crashing into the balcony rail.

As the bamboo house pitched violently, Jack snatched up his swords and dived for the door. He managed to grab hold of the walkway’s supporting post, just as the building completely broke away. He hung suspended in the air, watching Captain Kurogumo and the geisha flailing among the falling wreckage of their house, the pirate’s precious weapons cascading out like lethal jewels into the lagoon far below.

As their screams spiralled away, Jack thought that perhaps he really had cursed the Wind Demons – or at least Captain Kurogumo – for capturing him and his friends in the first place.

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The Killer Whale continued its bombardment of Pirate Town. Jack could only presume that the Sea Samurai had taken over the ship, cunningly using it to masquerade as Wind Demons and fool the lookouts. Cannonballs tore into the town’s lower levels and ripped through the main street. Daejon fire arrows embedded themselves in the walls, setting the bamboo buildings ablaze. Pirates, screaming and on fire, plunged to their deaths. Many fled in blind panic. Some managed to reach the jetty and their ships, but others, trapped by the fires, had to leap into the lagoon for their lives.

Jack tossed his swords on to the walkway, then hauled himself up. Without a moment to lose, he sprinted for the citadel. The gates were wide open and he charged straight in. Two oarsmen were dragging a treasure chest brimming with silver and gold towards the lift. They ignored him as he flew past and headed down the corridor to where his friends were imprisoned.

A blast rocked the citadel and Jack was knocked off his feet. Lanterns clattered to the floor. Scrambling back up, he staggered round a corner and dashed towards the room. The guards were gone, but the door was still barred. He heard frantic hammering on the other side.

‘Yori! Miyuki! Saburo!’ cried Jack, yanking the bolt free. He flung the door open and was greeted by the familiar faces of his friends. He felt as if he hadn’t seen them for months. As they exited, he embraced each of them in turn.

‘Good to see you too,’ said Saburo, smiling at Jack’s unreserved emotion.

Yori was too overcome to say anything, tears of relief welling up in his eyes.