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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

Putting Yori’s staff under Saburo’s arms, Yori and Cheng managed to lift his inert body off the ground. Jack and Miyuki drew their swords and began to fight their way through the confusion of combat. Pirate or samurai, they didn’t care – just as long as they edged closer to the barrels.

They were almost to the bow, when a fresh unit of Sea Samurai boarded the Black Spider, forming an impenetrable barrier of swords and armour. The unit’s commander confronted Jack, blocking his path with his katana.

‘There’s no escape … pirate boy.’

22

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A Pirate’s Punishment

Jack stood, head bowed, on the deck of the atake-bune flagship. His friends were by his side, Saburo at his feet, immobile but breathing steadily. The surviving Wind Demons, bloody and beaten, were next to them – including Captain Kurogumo, with Skullface and his gang. They were all held in check by a contingent of samurai guards, armed with spears.

Their situation had gone from bad to worse. Not only had the Sea Samurai captured them but they believed Jack and his friends to be ninja pirates!

The guards parted to let through a samurai in blue ceremonial armour. The man’s face was stern and his stare as cold as stone. His cheeks were pinched and he had a pencil-thin moustache that drooped either side of a downturned mouth. On his head, he wore an ornate helmet with a large golden shell-crest set upon its peak. And in his right hand, he held a short stick with a hard brass tip, storm-tossed waves decorating its surface.

‘I’m Captain Arashi, commander of daimyo Mori’s naval forces.’

At this news, there was a sharp intake of breath from several of the pirates. Captain Arashi preened his moustache between finger and thumb, apparently satisfied with the response. ‘I’m glad you’ve heard of me – or at least, my reputation. If you cooperate, it’ll make your punishment far swifter … although no less painful.’

He planted the tip of his stick under the jaw of the nearest Wind Demon, Crux, forcing the pirate to look him in the eye.

‘Where’s your pirate base located?’

Crux remained tight-lipped. With crippling speed, Captain Arashi rammed the brass tip into Crux’s throat. The ninja pirate staggered backwards, choking loudly and gasping for air.

‘I only ever ask a question once,’ stated Captain Arashi. ‘And I expect a truthful answer.’

Crux glared at the samurai before spitting blood at the man’s feet.

Captain Arashi shook his head with disappointment. He turned to two of the guards. ‘Keel-haul this one.’