As they were licking their fingers clean and drinking their ration of water, Saburo went into spasms. They rushed to his side. His breathing was erratic and his eyes bulged.

‘What’s happening?’ asked Yori.

‘The poison must have reached his lungs,’ replied Miyuki.

She immediately resumed her Sha healing ritual. But this time it had little effect. Saburo continued to shudder in the fugu’s death grip.

‘I can’t channel enough ki,’ gasped Miyuki, a bead of sweat breaking out on her brow. ‘We’re losing him.’

Jack immediately took up position opposite her. Having been trained in kuji-in, Jack knew the hand sign and mantra for Sha. But he’d only ever practised it on himself. He just prayed that the combined power of their ki would be enough.

Saburo’s convulsions reached a peak. Then, little by little, they diminished until his body was only trembling, and his breathing became more steady.

‘Just a little longer,’ urged Miyuki, ‘and we can save him.’

‘Hey, gaijin!’ snarled an all-too-familiar voice. ‘We’ve unfinished business to settle.’

‘Later,’ said Jack, trying to concentrate on the healing.

‘Now,’ insisted Skullface.

The tip of a spear was pressed against Jack’s neck.

Jack refused to budge. His friend’s life was at stake.

‘Don’t make me push any harder,’ threatened Skullface, the spear’s iron barb now on the verge of puncturing his skin.

Yori knelt next to Jack and whispered, ‘I’ll take over if I can.’ They both knew that Yori had only studied Miyuki’s healing techniques and had never performed them before on anyone.

With the greatest reluctance, Jack stopped. Saburo’s condition worsened. As Yori took up the Sha chant and began circling his hands, Jack was pushed out of the cage. Unable to take his eyes off his immobile friend, he was manhandled by Skullface’s gang into the middle of the deck. A crowd of pirates had gathered in a circle to watch the gaijin prisoner’s punishment.

Spear in hand, Skullface confronted Jack. He advanced until they were nose to nose. ‘You’ve not only disrespected me, gaijin. You’ve upset other members of the crew.’

Four pirates stood to Jack’s right, glaring at him, their wrists ringed red with rope burns. They appeared to be itching for a fight.

Jack quickly assessed his opponents. They looked tough, but he’d defeated them on-board the Golden Tiger. And he could defeat them again. Skullface was another matter. His scar-ridden body was evidence that he was battle-hardened and no doubt a vicious fighter. Jack realized he must overcome Skullface first, while he remained strong enough, before dealing with the other pirates.

‘Let’s get this over with,’ said Jack, slipping off his sandals for a better grip on the wooden deck.

‘Oh, you’re not fighting me … or them,’ said Skullface, with a sly grin. ‘You’re fighting the ship’s champion, Manzo.’