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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

Again, Jack noticed the Korean slave was keeping silent, despite appearing the most starved among them. None of the other prisoners were jumping at the opportunity for food either.

Skullface became impatient for volunteers. ‘The plump one then,’ he said, pointing to Saburo.

‘And who’s going to be the fourth?’ asked Tiger, his eyes raking over the wretched prisoners.

‘What about the gaijin?’ the crucifix pirate suggested.

Skullface shook his head. ‘No, Crux, he doesn’t deserve food. Besides, I have other plans for him.’ He looked round the cage. ‘That miserable captain looks like he could do with cheering up.’

As the guard opened the cage to let the chosen diners out, Jack nodded to Miyuki. She made a move to rush the guard. But out of nowhere a spearhead blocked her path.

‘Not so fast, my pretty one,’ snarled Snakehead, keeping the spear’s barb to her chest.

One by one, the four prisoners stepped out of the cage. Saburo, wary and reluctant to move, was forced out by spear tip. Skullface politely invited them all to sit in a circle facing one another.

He looked round the deck in irritation. ‘Where’s that new cabin boy got to?’

The young pirate appeared a moment later, carrying a large plate. Skullface snatched it from him before clipping the boy round the ear. ‘Be quicker next time, or I’ll invite you to lunch too.’

The pirate boy bowed apologetically, then hurried away.

With a flourish, Skullface presented the plate upon which lay four translucent slices of fish.

‘Fugu sashimi!’ he announced.

Miyuki gasped. Jack saw the look of horror on her face. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘Fugu is highly toxic,’ she replied. ‘It’s the most deadly poison a ninja can use. We put it on blowdarts. You can eat fugu, but it must be prepared properly. Otherwise you’ll die.’

The four prisoners were clearly aware of the lethal nature of the dish before them. The captain of the Golden Tiger got to his feet.

‘Thank you,’ he blustered, ‘but I’m not that hungry.’

The pirate Crux shoved the captain back down. ‘Don’t you know it’s rude to leave the table before you’ve finished.’

Skullface leant over the prisoners and, with a twisted grin, announced, ‘Only one slice of the fugu is poisonous. Enjoy your meal!’

17

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Dying

The four prisoners glanced at each other in wide-eyed panic. On the plate, death awaited one of them. But the four slices looked identical. No one wanted to make that first choice.

‘Eat up!’ encouraged Skullface, holding a knife to Saburo’s throat. ‘Or die …’

Faced with no alternative, Saburo extended a trembling hand. Undecided, it hovered over the plate of fugu.

‘Don’t do it, Saburo!’ cried Jack, shaking the bars of his cage in impotent rage. He couldn’t believe the pirates were gambling with his friend’s life like this.