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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

Yori sprinted after them, his short legs pumping furiously.

‘JUMP! I’ll catch you,’ shouted Jack, leaning over the rail.

The boat cleared the pier. Yori made a leap of faith. Legs and arms flailing, he launched himself towards Jack’s outstretched arms.

‘He’s not going to make it,’ said Saburo. Seizing Jack’s waist, he and Miyuki shoved Jack further over the side. Jack, fingers splayed, stretched for all he was worth. Yori tumbled towards him. Jack missed the left hand and Yori fell away before his eyes. But the extra reach allowed him to snatch at Yori’s pilgrim staff. He clamped down hard, gritting his teeth as the wood slipped through his fingers.

Yori cried out, desperately clinging on. He swung helpless above the water and Jack thought he was about to lose his friend, when the staff juddered to a halt. The Five Rings characters etched into the handle gave him just enough grip to halt Yori’s fall. With muscles straining, Saburo and Miyuki pulled them both to safety. They all collapsed on the deck, breathing heavily.

‘You left us on purpose!’ accused Miyuki, glaring at the captain.

‘I forgot we had passengers,’ the captain replied with unconvincing innocence.

Miyuki rose to confront him. ‘If you ever forget us again, you’ll live to regret it.’

‘What are you going to do?’ snorted the captain. ‘Throw your prayer book at me?’

Miyuki started forward, but Jack took her by the arm.

‘He’s our only passage to Nagasaki,’ Jack reminded her quietly.

Fuming, Miyuki stormed down the steps to the main deck.

‘She’s lucky you stopped her,’ remarked the captain, puffing out his chest.

No, you’re lucky I stopped her, thought Jack, wondering how the captain would have steered with a broken arm.

Jack joined the others amid the chaos of the cargo. As the boat sailed round the headland, Jack realized he’d never said goodbye to the old man on the cliff. Looking up, he could make out his silhouette against the dying light of the day. The old man was sitting upon the rock again, staring out to sea. Jack waved farewell to him.

‘Who are you waving to?’ asked Saburo.

‘The old man up there.’

Yori and Saburo both glanced up.

‘That isn’t a man,’ said Yori with an amused smile. ‘That’s Taira Rock.’

‘What?’ said Jack, eyeing the figure more carefully.