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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

Captain Kurogumo had appeared on the stern’s upper deck. Behind him stood Cheng, looking anxiously up at Jack. The crew lowered their weapons.

‘What’s all this about?’ demanded the captain.

‘The gaijin was trying to escape,’ explained Skullface.

Noting the fallen Manzo, Captain Kurogumo glanced up. ‘And where exactly is he escaping to?’

Skullface’s mouth opened then closed. He struggled for a reply as the captain’s jet-black eyes bored into him.

‘H … he’s a troublemaker.’

‘He’s a gaijin,’ replied Captain Kurogumo. ‘And a samurai that shouldn’t be underestimated. Now lock him back in the cage.’

Skullface and the other pirates bowed obediently. Turning to his gang, he ordered, ‘You heard the captain. Bring him down, Snakehead.’

‘Why me?’ complained the ninja pirate.

‘Because you’re a rigger and –’

‘SUIGUN!’ cried the lookout on the foremast.

The pirates all froze.

‘Where?’ shouted Captain Kurogumo, baring his shark teeth in displeasure.

‘Sea Samurai to starboard,’ replied the lookout, pointing towards a nearby island.

From Jack’s perch atop the main mast, he too spied a fleet charging out of a hidden bay. Its flagship was an immense atake-bune with a giant golden shell emblazoned upon its mainsail. The boat was flanked by three smaller seki-bune battleships and four open-decked kobaya galleys. This had to be the patrol from Imabari. Judging by their sudden appearance and the speed of their attack, they’d been lying in wait for the pirates.

‘MAN YOUR STATIONS!’ the captain commanded.

The ninja pirates instantly forgot about Jack as the ship erupted into furious activity. The Wind Demons raced to their positions, seizing weapons, donning breastplates and raising defences. Black brocade curtains were lined along the gunwales, fire buckets lit and set upon the deck, muskets primed. In a matter of moments the unruly pirates were transforming into a well-drilled fighting machine.

The Sea Samurai surged across the waves, powered by the thrust of their oars and the wind in their sails. The insistent beat of the boats’ drums grew louder and more urgent. On the top decks, Jack saw rows of archers preparing to launch their first volley.

This was just the opportunity he and his friends had been praying for. Amid the chaos of battle they could make their escape. Jack threw himself for the rigging just as the opening salvo of arrows hailed down – some were on fire, aiming to set the sails ablaze. Jack caught hold of a rope, swinging in mid-air, before he wrapped his legs round and slid hand over hand down to the deck.

With all eyes on the attacking Sea Samurai, Jack picked his way through the pirates towards the cage. He spotted Manzo’s kumode lying beside him and snatched it up. Taking the last few paces at speed, Jack rushed the guard and slammed the wooden end of the grappling iron into his jaw. Not expecting an attack from behind, the guard dropped like a felled tree.