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Back The Ring of Wind
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

As they pulled away, the rim of the crater came into view. Black smoke and flaming ash rose up from the caldera, the extinct volcano now looking dangerously active as Pirate Town burned. On its western side, a few Wind Demon ships had made it out of the lagoon and were fleeing into the distance. Jack spotted the distinctive armoured roof and dragonhead of the Koketsu. He just hoped that Li Ling would be able to outrun the Sea Samurai.

‘Which way are we heading?’ asked Miyuki, pulling out the sea chart.

Jack studied the map. He plotted a course that would take them across the wide expanse of the Seto Sea, through the Kanmon Straits and on to their final destination, Nagasaki. Having got his bearings, he pointed over the starboard bow.

‘West,’ he said, striking a course towards the setting sun.

Feeling the fresh sea breeze on his face, Jack smiled at his friends. ‘And we’re in luck for once. The wind’s in our favour!’

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Notes on the Sources

The following quotes are referenced within Young Samurai: The Ring of Wind (with the page numbers in square brackets below) and their sources are acknowledged here:

  1. [Page 277] ‘A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for.’ By William Shedd, theologian (1820–1894).
  2. [Page 296] ‘Ten soldiers wisely led will beat a hundred without a head.’ By Euripides, Greek playwright (484–406 BC).

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Ninja Pirate Ship Competition

A Young Samurai competition was held in the Young Times section of The Times newspaper to name the Ninja Pirate Ship that would feature in The Ring of Wind.

The winner was:

JONATHAN HARPER

for his suggestion of the Koketsu, which means Jaws of Death (or Tiger’s Den, or dangerous place).

Out of the countless excellent entries, this one stood out immediately. It fitted the image of my ninja pirate ship perfectly, since the vessel has a dragon-shaped battering ram on its prow to sink other ships.

Congratulations, Jonathan!

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Japanese Glossary

Bushido

Bushido, meaning the ‘Way of the Warrior’, is a Japanese code of conduct similar to the concept of chivalry. Samurai warriors were meant to adhere to the seven moral principles in their martial arts training and in their day-to-day lives.