‘In Buddhism, white is the colour of purity and death. It symbolizes a pilgrim’s readiness to die as they set off on their pilgrimage. And the risk is real. They have to cross high mountains, deep valleys and rugged coastline to reach all the temples. The journey takes at least two months and the pilgrims depend upon charity for all their needs.’

‘That’s very admirable,’ replied Jack, ‘but it means we’ll be easily spotted by the samurai in the crowd.’

‘Not if we’re pilgrims too,’ said Miyuki, with a cunning gleam in her eyes. ‘Have you forgotten everything you learnt as a ninja, Jack?’ She gave him a teasing smile. ‘Shichi Hō De – “the seven ways of going”.’

Jack remembered how he’d once dressed as a komusō monk to avoid detection on a mission. ‘Of course! A ninja must be a master of disguise and impersonation.’

‘But where will we get matching outfits?’ asked Saburo.

‘From other pilgrims,’ replied Miyuki, as if the answer was obvious.

Yori pursed his lips, uncomfortable at the suggestion. ‘It’s against my vows to steal.’

‘We’ll just be borrowing them,’ she explained kindly. ‘I presume these pilgrims accept o-settai?’

Yori nodded. ‘Custom dictates they can’t refuse any gift.’

‘Excellent,’ said Miyuki, snatching up a ceramic jug that sat beside the lamp and hurriedly filling four cups with saké. ‘A long pilgrimage must be thirsty work.’

4

O-settai

The tinkling of bells alerted them to the arrival of more pilgrims.

‘We’re in luck,’ said Jack, spotting four walking down the alleyway next to their warehouse.

‘You should hide,’ instructed Miyuki.

Jack positioned himself behind a stack of casks in the corner.

Checking there were no samurai in sight, Miyuki slid open the door. ‘Now remember what I told you, Yori.’

Yori nodded somewhat reluctantly. He didn’t agree with the methods of Miyuki’s plan but realized there was little other option. He scampered out of the brewery and into the pilgrims’ path. Bowing low, he announced, ‘Our master wishes to offer you o-settai. A cup of his finest saké in return for your blessings upon his brewery.’

Unable to refuse yet equally happy to accept, the four pilgrims followed Yori to the open door, where Saburo greeted them and beckoned them inside. The first two were weather-beaten old men who appeared to be brothers, the third was a middle-aged woman and the fourth a young man, tall and bony as a bamboo stem.

Jack watched as Miyuki presented each pilgrim with a full cup. They gratefully received the offering and drank the contents. The brothers downed their saké in one go and smacked their lips with satisfaction. According to tradition, the four pilgrims then put their hands together in prayer and began to chant the mantra, ‘Namu Daishi Henjo Kongo …’