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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

‘Most captains weren’t going that far south or were too afraid of pirates to try,’ continued Miyuki. ‘But, judging by how much this captain is charging, he’s as mercenary as any pirate!’

She slowed before a magnificent cargo ship loaded with barrels of saké. Propelled by a single large sail, it had a reinforced hull to bear the weight of the heavy barrels.

‘This looks ideal,’ said Jack, impressed. ‘Even in a storm, she should fare well.’

‘Not that ship,’ said Miyuki regretfully. ‘It’s the next one.’

Jack redirected his gaze and his heart sank. Yori stood beside a single-masted boat similar to the one they’d arrived on, but this vessel was in a sorry state. The square canvas sail was patched up, the rigging frayed, and the hull showed signs of several repair jobs. On top of that, the decks were dangerously overloaded with cargo and she sat worryingly low in the water.

Yet what choice did they have? They were on borrowed time. News of their escape from Tomo Harbour would soon reach the ears of Imabari’s samurai. A patrol was working its way along the jetty at this very moment. Yori waved them urgently on-board, the captain giving the order to cast off. As Jack ran up the gangplank, he glanced towards the stern. There was no protection flag.

9

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Omishima Island

The boat slipped out of Imabari port, its warped deck creaking and its sail flapping like a broken wing. Waves occasionally breached the gunwales, soaking crew and cargo alike. In a vain attempt to keep dry, Jack and his friends perched among the crates of pottery and bundles of bamboo. They were the only passengers on-board and Jack could understand why. Not only did the ship appear unseaworthy but the captain and his deckhands were a surly bunch. None of them smiled and, surprisingly for Japanese people, they were unkempt and unwashed.

The captain, a stout man with rough skin, a ragged beard and bald head, stood at the stern, leaning upon the tiller. His listless crew of four went barefoot and wore only the simplest of kimono or just a plain white loincloth.

‘The captain wants payment upfront,’ said Yori.

‘That’s all our money,’ Saburo complained, handing over the pilgrims’ coins and his own funds. ‘We won’t have any for food.’ Then, at the very thought of eating, he lay down and closed his eyes in a vain attempt to fend off the seasickness.

‘But it takes us all the way,’ reminded Miyuki.

‘Tell the captain he can have half now and the rest upon arrival, if we make it that far,’ said Jack, eyeing the old sea dog mistrustfully.