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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’s going on here?’ The captain, a burly man with a face weathered as old leather, strode down the steps from the stern’s upper deck.

‘A duel!’ cried one of the merchants excitedly.

‘I won’t have fighting on-board this ship,’ ruled the captain.

Unwilling to lose face, the ronin stepped forward. ‘The challenge has been set. My honour is at stake. We must duel.’

‘My ship, my rules,’ said the captain firmly.

‘I’m a samurai,’ said the ronin. ‘Do what I say.’

‘I’m the captain,’ he shot back, unfazed by the ronin’s belligerent attitude. ‘At sea, you do what I say.’

A tense stand-off occurred between the two men and the ship fell silent.

Coughing for their attention, Yori bowed to the captain. ‘Perhaps you would be kind enough to lend us the rowing boat? Then we can duel on that island over there without injuring any of your passengers.’

Yori pointed to an uninhabited outcrop of rock, crowned with trees and ringed by a small beach. The captain regarded Yori thoughtfully, his curiosity roused at the prospect of a fight between a samurai and a pilgrim.

‘That’s acceptable,’ agreed the captain, giving the order to drop anchor.

A couple of his crew lowered the rowing boat over the side. The ronin climbed down the rope ladder and waited impatiently for Yori to join him.

‘Let me come with you,’ suggested Saburo.

‘It’s best that I go alone,’ Yori replied, taking a grip of the swaying ladder.

‘Don’t you want to carry a knife at least?’ asked Miyuki, offering him her hidden tantō.

Yori shook his head and descended into the rowing boat. The ronin took the oars and began to paddle. Powerless to prevent the duel now, Jack, Saburo and Miyuki stood by the guardrail, watching their friend bob across the water towards the island.

‘That ronin will cut him into eight pieces,’ sighed Saburo mournfully.

By now, all the passengers and crew were gathered along the gunwale, eagerly awaiting the start of this unusual match. Jack noticed the merchants and court nobles were placing bets on the outcome of the duel – and the odds weren’t favourable for Yori.

As the rowing boat approached the little beach, the ronin shipped the oars and leapt on to the sand. Within the blink of an eye, he’d drawn a bloodstained sword and assumed a battle stance.

‘Time to prove yourself, pilgrim!’ he snarled.

Jack’s heart was in his mouth as he saw Yori stand up to follow his opponent ashore. All of a sudden Yori snatched up an oar and pushed the rowing boat back out to sea. The ronin stared in outrage and utter bewilderment as his adversary left him stranded.

Rowing calmly away, Yori cried out, ‘There’s your demonstration in defeating the enemy … with no sword!’

7

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