Jack was about to return to the others, when he noticed an object gleaming beneath where Saru was perched. The black pearl with its twisted gold pin was here too. He couldn’t leave his sole connection to Akiko behind. But, as soon as he picked it up, Saru screeched loudly and snatched the pearl from his hand. She clasped it possessively to her chest and screeched again.

Tatsumaki spun round. ‘Jack!’ she exclaimed, taken by surprise. ‘Have you changed your mind? Are you joining us?’ But, looking at Saru and then at the chest, she realized what he was up to. ‘You’re welcome to the key you’ve stolen, but if you value your life, put the rutter back now.’

Jack shook his head. ‘It’s everyone for themselves, Tatsumaki. Remember, you’re a pirate … and I’m a samurai!’

He ran for the door. Tatsumaki flicked her wrist in his direction. The iron tessen snapped open and spun across the room.

‘Watch out!’ cried Miyuki as the razor-sharp fan swooped for Jack’s head.

At the last second, Jack dodged aside and the tessen embedded itself in the door frame.

‘After him!’ cried Tatsumaki furiously. ‘That gaijin’s stealing our future!’

Four Wind Demons chased after Jack into the corridor. But he and his friends were faster than the hulking oarsmen and had already turned the corner and were out of sight.

‘This way!’ said Jack, leading them through the citadel’s many chambers towards the main gate, where he prayed the lift would still be working.

Jack burst through a large set of double doors on to the main balcony and ran straight into Dragon Eye.

‘I’ll have that,’ said the ninja, holding out his hand for the rutter as if having expected its arrival.

In contrast, Jack was completely unprepared for the appearance of his resurrected enemy. He faltered mid-stride and didn’t know whether to turn and flee or charge right through him.

‘He’s still alive?’ gasped Saburo, already backing away.

Yori could only stare in wide-eyed horror at Dragon Eye, the metal rings on his shakujō trembling in his grasp. Even Miyuki was momentarily frozen to the spot, intimidated by the ninja’s chilling presence.

Behind them, Jack could hear the pounding of the Wind Demons’ feet getting closer. They were trapped.

‘The rutter,’ demanded Dragon Eye. ‘Don’t make me ask you again.’

Jack caught a glint of steel and the image of Tiger’s head bouncing down the hillside flashed before his eyes. With lightning reactions, Jack unsheathed his katana, the Shizu blade moving like quicksilver through the air. There was a clash of steel upon steel and the blade of Black Cloud was stopped a hair’s breadth from Saburo’s neck. Saburo managed a nervous gulp at the lethal stand-off.

‘You don’t get away with that trick twice,’ said Jack, launching a fearsome front kick at Dragon Eye’s chest.