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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

But Jack had faced such brutal men before and overcome them: the ninja-hater daimyo Akechi, the bandit leader Akuma and, of course, his long-dead nemesis Dragon Eye. Whatever fate awaited him and his friends within the citadel, Jack was determined to fight for their lives with every ounce of strength he possessed.

The lift reappeared and Miyuki, Saburo and Cheng, along with their armed escort, joined them on the walkway. Captain Kurogumo rang a large brass bell hanging beside the entrance. A moment later, the gates parted to reveal a sumptuous hallway inside. Silk curtains lined the walls and windows, ornate lanterns hung from the beams and off to the sides were numerous soft tatami-matted rooms, filled with exquisite paintings and ornamental weaponry. They were led down the hall and out on to the balcony.

The heady view took Jack’s breath away. The entire ring of the crater was visible: a tree-lined ridge with a panorama of the rippling Seto Sea beyond. The sun rose directly in line with the balcony. Below, like an enormous eye, the crystal-blue lagoon stared back up at them, the pirate ships now little bigger than children’s toys.

A figure leant upon the balcony rail, admiring the magnificent vista.

‘You must be very relieved you’ve found them, Captain?’ said the figure, turning round.

Jack was momentarily stunned. He’d presumed they were meeting the pirate leader, so this wasn’t what he expected … not at all.

A striking svelte woman with a white painted face, red lips and a swathe of black powder across her eyes stood before them. She wore a Chinese-style blouse and flowing skirt of the finest black silk with crimson thread embroidered like swirling smoke. Her hair was long, dark and cut through with a bold streak of red on one side. The impression was one of heart-rending beauty and terrible power.

Captain Kurogumo bowed his head low. ‘I promised – on my life – that I would find them.’

‘I’m glad,’ said the woman lightly. ‘I wouldn’t have wanted to throw my favourite captain overboard!’

She gave him a teasing smile. Alluring as it was, Jack noted it was as hard as ice and the captain wasn’t eased by her barbed compliment.

The woman turned her gaze upon Jack and bowed her head respectfully.

‘I’ve been so looking forward to meeting you,’ she said, her voice smooth as velvet. ‘I’m Tatsumaki, the Pirate Queen.’

34

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Saru

Jack had never imagined that the notorious Tatsumaki would be a woman. But this was no less reason to fear her. She held sway over the fiercest of pirates and her reputation preceded her.

Not wishing to rouse the Pirate Queen’s anger, Jack bowed in acknowledgement of her greeting. ‘I’m Jack Fletcher –’