Badly winded, Jack tried to suck in air and clamber to his feet. Before he’d reached all fours, Manzo seized his ankle. Jack was spun headlong through the air. He collided into the mast, pain rocketing through his shoulder.

Dazed and disorientated, Jack lay in a heap at its base. The next moment he was grabbed by the throat and wrenched upwards, until his feet were kicking helplessly above the deck. Spluttering, Jack tried to break the pirate’s hold. But it was futile. Manzo’s grip was like a vice.

Jack felt the blood pounding in his head and his lungs started to burn. He glanced over to the cage. Yori was still performing the Sha mantra. But Miyuki was now bent over Saburo, fingers clasping his nose, her mouth pressed to his. She lifted her head, took a deep lungful of air, then blew into his mouth. She repeated the process and Jack caught the look of sheer desperation on her face.

He realized both he and Saburo were fighting for their lives, neither able to breathe. Jack had to fight back. But, with his legs flailing off the ground and his breath fast running out, what could he do against a man as powerful as Manzo?

The pirate grinned triumphantly and brought up his right fist to end it all.

Black spots were dotting Jack’s vision. None of the samurai techniques Sensei Kyuzo had taught him were having any effect. He was out of ideas …

He saw Miyuki look up in horror at his plight.

‘Eight Leaves Fist!’ she cried and the day Miyuki had shown him the Sixteen Secret Fists of the ninja flashed before his eyes. He might have exhausted all his samurai skills, but he still had a ninja trick or two …

Cupping his hands, Jack used the last of his strength to clap Manzo either side of the head on his ears. Manzo reeled from the unexpected ninja attack. His legs buckled and he lurched to one side, the strike causing complete loss of balance. Releasing Jack, Manzo staggered across the deck as if the ship was in a ferocious storm.

Jack dropped to the floor, gulping in lungfuls of air. He rose back to his feet, using the mast for support. Meanwhile, Manzo had recovered from the shock of the blow. Furious at being robbed of his victory, he pushed through the pirates and snatched up a grappling iron lying against the gunwale. The three spiked hooks attached to the end of the stout wooden pole were like a vicious bear claw. Used for gaining purchase on an enemy vessel, the kumode made a deadly weapon and would rip the guts out of anyone who stood in its way.

Manzo returned to finish off his opponent, but was dumbstruck to find Jack had disappeared.

‘He’s gone aloft!’ shouted Crux.