They sprinted towards the ship’s stern, passing Manzo who sat rubbing his bald head, staring in utter disbelief at the battle raging around him. Skullface and his gang were embroiled in a bitter conflict with a unit of Sea Samurai. Although they were outnumbered, they fought like wild animals, hacking the invaders to pieces.

Reaching the cabin, Cheng slid open the door and led Jack down a corridor. Inside it was dark and cool, the sounds of fighting seeming distant as they ran to the far door.

The captain’s cabin was simple and understated. There was a tatami straw bed in one corner, several seating cushions and a long, low wooden table. Light filtered in through bamboo slats and Jack could see his swords and Miyuki’s utility belt laid out across the table’s surface. Their canvas sack was beside it on the floor, along with their pilgrim bags. Jack quickly hunted through them for the rutter. But it wasn’t there.

‘What are you looking for?’ asked Cheng.

‘A logbook,’ replied Jack, his panic rising.

‘Is this it?’

Jack turned to Cheng, who stood beside the bed. There lay the rutter, its pages open. The captain had evidently been trying to decipher it, when he’d heard the commotion on deck earlier.

‘Thank you,’ said Jack, relieved, as Cheng handed him the logbook.

Wrapping it carefully in its waterproof oilskin, Jack placed the rutter inside the canvas bag along with all their other belongings. Jack slipped his swords through his belt and grabbed his straw hat. Even in the midst of the battle, he didn’t want to stand out.

‘If any of the crew stop us,’ said Cheng, helping Jack pick up the bag, ‘I’ll say you forced me at knife point.’

Jack nodded and grinned. ‘I was going to anyway!’

Above them, the sound of feet thundered across the upper deck.

‘Enemy to the stern!’ came a cry, followed by the clash of swords.

‘We’re running out of time,’ said Jack, hurrying down the corridor.

He and Cheng emerged into the sunlight. The Black Spider was swarming with samurai. Yet still the Wind Demons fought on.

‘Summon the dragon!’ ordered Captain Kurogumo, firing off his last crossbow bolt before drawing his sword to behead an unfortunate samurai.

The lookout lit the fuse of a black cylinder attached to the foremast. It sparked, then a bright red flare shot up into the sky, blazing a trail of smoke that would be seen for miles. Not wanting to be around when the sea dragon made an appearance, Jack ran as fast as he could to Miyuki and the others. He handed Yori his shakujō and Miyuki her ninjatō.

‘We can’t fight and hold Saburo,’ said Miyuki.

‘I’ll help carry him,’ offered Cheng.