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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

Jack shook his head. A small flame of hope in his heart had just been extinguished. ‘Because … because it means Yamato is dead too.’ He grieved once more for his loyal friend and brother, the pain of loss as raw as the first time.

Yori rested a hand upon Jack’s shoulder. ‘Yamato lives on through you, Jack. In everything samurai that you do. His spirit is your spirit. Forever bound to one another.’

Jack wiped his eyes, comforted by Yori’s wise words.

Miyuki knelt beside him. ‘I can’t bring your friend back, but I did manage to recover these.’ She handed him his Shizu swords. ‘I realize you can’t be a samurai without them.’

Smiling gratefully, Jack stood and sheathed the blades into their sayas. He felt strengthened by their presence, but even more so by the support of his friends at his side.

‘Let’s go,’ he said, turning in the direction of the gated tunnel. ‘We’ve got a boat to catch.’

63

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A Favourable Wind

Leaving the dead ninja behind, Jack and the others headed towards the gate. But, as they approached, they heard a low rumble and felt the ground start to tremble.

‘RUN!’ screamed Miyuki, realizing what was happening.

The four of them charged along the lagoon’s shore. But it didn’t look as if they were going to make it. Pirate Town was collapsing like a deck of cards. Roofs cascaded on to one another, walkways crumbled and buildings toppled. An avalanche of flaming wood, broken beams and loose rocks poured down the crater walls.

As they sprinted for their lives, Jack caught a glimpse of Li Ling urging the last surviving Wind Demons on-board the Koketsu, before giving the order to cast off. He couldn’t see Tatsumaki among them, though. But, when he glanced up to check the state of the landslide, he spotted a lone figure standing on the lip of the citadel’s broken balcony.

Like a true captain, thought Jack. She’s going down with her ship.

The citadel, finally surrendering to the inevitable, began to tumble piece by piece into the lagoon.

‘FASTER!’ urged Jack as the first of Pirate Town’s wreckage and rubble splashed into the lagoon. A huge boulder ploughed into the Jade Serpent, taking all on-board with it.

Saburo stumbled and Jack dragged him to his feet. They threw themselves the last few paces to the iron gate.

Yori fumbled for the key.

‘Come on!’ begged Miyuki as more rocks and debris rained down on them.

In his haste, Yori dropped the key. Groping on the ground, he snatched it up and rammed it into the lock. He turned the key and pushed.

‘It’s stuck!’ he cried.