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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

The pirate refused, so another guard forced his limbs into position. The katana’s steel blade flashed through the air; the punishment over in the blink of an eye. Two soft fleshy lumps thudded on to the deck. A second later, the pirate began shrieking in agony, clutching his bloody stumps to his chest.

‘He’s bleeding all over my ship,’ complained the captain. ‘Throw him to the sharks.’

Jack was starting to reel from the sadistic brutality of Captain Arashi. The Sea Samurai were proving as cruel and heartless as the Wind Demons. Jack held out little hope that the captain would show either him or his friends a single ounce of mercy.

A third pirate refusing to answer was pulled from the line and bound, shirtless, to the mast. A muscular samurai held a short rope of nine waxed cords, each with a small knot in the end.

‘One hundred lashes,’ commanded Captain Arashi.

Jack gasped. That number was a death sentence.

The samurai commenced the flogging and the pirate screamed as the knotted rope whipped across his bare back and tore into his skin. By the time four dozen lashes had been inflicted, the pirate’s back resembled raw meat.

Yet still the punishment continued … 49 … 50 … 51 … 52 …

The flesh became mangled and the pirate hung limp from his bindings.

… 74 … 75 … 76 …

The pirate no longer screamed. Flogged to death.

Captain Arashi approached Yori, who stood trembling before him. ‘I hope you won’t need persuasion, little one.’

Yori looked up with fearful eyes. ‘But we’re not pirates. We’re samurai!’

Captain Arashi raised an eyebrow in amusement. ‘I haven’t heard that one before.’

‘It’s the truth. We were held prisoners by the Wind Demons.’

‘I only have your word for that. Why should I believe you? My commanding officer informs me that you were fighting his men.’

‘We were only trying to escape from the pirates’ ship.’

Captain Arashi backhanded Yori across the jaw. ‘I despise people who lie.’

‘We’re not lying,’ pleaded Yori, a thin stream of blood running from the corner of his mouth. ‘We’d been on a pilgrimage to Shikoku Island when our boat was attacked …’

Captain Arashi ignored him and glanced down at Saburo. ‘What’s the matter with him?’

‘Poisoned by the pirates,’ replied Miyuki.

The captain snorted. ‘Quick answer, young girl, but don’t think that will convince me of your innocence.’ He kicked Saburo’s prone body and got no reaction. ‘Throw this corpse overboard too.’

‘NO! He’s only paralysed!’ protested Jack from beneath his hat.

Captain Arashi’s eyes narrowed. He stepped over Saburo to confront the straw-hatted pirate boy. Putting his stick’s brass tip to the brim, he pushed the hat clear of Jack’s face.

‘By all the storms in the sea, I never expected to lay eyes on you!’

23

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