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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

‘Change tack!’ insisted the captain to Jack. ‘They’re headed straight for our port side.’

‘No,’ replied Jack, steadfastly keeping his bearing. The Golden Tiger was virtually nose to the wind, the telltale feathering of the canvas warning Jack of just how close they were to disaster.

‘CHANGE COURSE!’ screamed the captain, throwing his arms over his head and bracing himself for the impact.

The pirate ship drove towards their port quarter … and missed. It sailed past like a great black ghost, its menacing crew glaring over the side at their escaping quarry.

Unable to sail Jack’s line, the pirate ship was forced to tack several more times in order to make another run at them.

‘Pin that sail in tight!’ Jack shouted to the crew, seeing the canvas begin to flap again. Waves lapped over the leeside gunwale as he fought to keep the boat on its extreme bearing. The wind whipped past, sending chill sea spray into Jack’s face. The Golden Tiger groaned under the strain, its rigging threatening to snap.

‘She won’t take much more of this,’ warned the captain.

‘We don’t have any other choice,’ replied Jack, gritting his teeth as he held firm to the tiller.

The Golden Tiger was now maintaining its lead, but wasn’t pulling away. Jack needed to get even more from the boat. But at what cost? This single square-sailed rig wasn’t built for such demanding sailing.

Miyuki clambered over the heeling deck to join Jack at the stern. ‘That’s every bit of loose cargo we can shift.’

Jack considered their options. The pirate ship was relentlessly pursuing them, picking up speed for a second collision course. He had to squeeze another knot of speed from the Golden Tiger.

‘Get everyone aft and on the windward side,’ ordered Jack.

Miyuki ran off to collect Yori, Saburo and the crew. They gathered on the stern deck beside the port quarter.

‘Now sit on the guardrail and lean out,’ instructed Jack.

‘Are you crazy?’ said Saburo, glancing fearfully with Yori at the rushing sea beneath them.

‘We need to counterbalance the wind and keep an even keel,’ explained Jack. ‘The heeling of the ship is slowing us down.’

Without needing to be told twice, Miyuki jumped on the rail and, grabbing hold of a rope, hung herself over the side. The four crew slipped their feet through the gaps in the bamboo latticework and leant back as far as they could. With great reluctance, Saburo took hold of two ropes and did the same. Drawing in a deep breath, Yori perched on the guardrail and, closing his eyes, suspended himself above the open sea.

‘And you, Captain!’ ordered Jack.

As everyone threw their weight to port, little by little the Golden Tiger righted itself.

‘Please tell me, we’re going faster?’ Yori begged, unwilling to open his eyes.

‘Yes! Yes! We’re losing the Wind Demons!’ shouted a crewmember in delight.