A Family Squabble: An Adventure Chronicles Short Story
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Jamie watched as Tang tilted his head back, using a cloth to pinch his nostrils shut.
“He has beaten you, Tang,” stated Tatsu.
“Why did he not kill me?” asked Tang.
To Jamie’s shock, the elders all looked at him. “A question that I have, as well,” asked the elder woman. “He challenged our rightful leader and deserves death.”
Jamie’s eyes narrowed at her. “For one thing, we’re in the United States and our law tends to frown on killing. And second—and more importantly—my God tends to frown on killing.”
“Then your god has no place in our clan,” returned the woman.
Jamie’s eyes took in each of the elders. Only Tatsu wasn’t staring accusingly at him. He glanced at Tang, whose nose was definitely broken. They’re all like him, he realized as he gently grasped the dove pendant that hung from his neck and examined it. It had been given to him on the day that he had completed his test of membership. It showed him to be a chunin of the Funakoshi clan.
Angrily, he yanked on it, snapping the chain. He set it gently on the elders’ table.
“What are you doing, young Raleigh-san?” asked Tatsu.
“If my God doesn’t belong in the Funakoshi . . .,” he looked at each of the elders and Tang in turn, “ . . . if the God of Kuji, Mai, Yoshika and Tanemura Funakoshi doesn’t belong in this clan, then neither do I.”
Tatsu picked up the pendant and held it tenderly. “Tanemura was so proud of you.”
Jamie sighed. “I loved him. He was a good man, the likes of which this clan will never see again. He was a man of honor, courage . . . and faith. Without his family, this clan is starting to move toward the ways of the Waruiyatsu. If any of you are going to tell me that I should kill someone who is supposed to be my ally, then I want no part of you.”
“You will dishonor your sensei by leaving us?” accused one elder. Jamie didn’t know his name.
“I will HONOR my sensei by leaving you!” answered Jamie. “I am the student of Tanemura Funakoshi. I’m proud of that fact. The Christian God, for His own purpose, brought us together. I cared very deeply for the Funakoshi family.” He sighed again, tears stinging his eyes. “Especially Yoshi.” After a ragged sigh, he said, “Without them, the moral core of this clan is gone. None of you have the heart of my teacher.”
Jamie dropped the ninja-to to the floor with a loud clang. Then, his two companions followed him from the building.
To Be Continued
in
The Quest for Yoshi
Book Four of the Adventure Chronicles
Be Sure to Check Out the Rest of the
Adventure Chronicles
Invasion of the Ninja
Jamie and Yoshi are late twentieth century members of the Funakoshi ninja clan who were trained by Yoshi’s uncle, Tanemura Funakoshi. When the Waruiyatsu, a sinister clan with an ancient grudge, attack Jamie’s high school and hold his classmates hostage in an effort to bring Tanemura and his two students into the open, Jamie and his clan sister are forced to attempt a rescue.
Going along are a close group of friends, each with his own interest in the fighting arts. From Dave, whose muscle-bound frame and love of a good scuffle are overshadowed by his cheerful personality and kind heart, to Buster, whose Bible is his greatest weapon, each of their friends has a loyalty to them and each other that is stronger than the Waruiyatsu can ever fathom.
Klandestine Maneuvers
The invasion of the Warui ninja was the biggest event that had ever happened in the small town of Sera, Missouri. Now, in the summer of 1992, something even more defining is happening. A group of racists has moved into the town, and they will use threats, extortion and violence to further their hate-filled agenda. To this end, they have targeted the Robertsons, the only black family in the tourist town. What they haven't counted on is young Louis Robertson's friendship with the members of "Adventure."
Jamie, Yoshi and their friends are joined by new faces as they face a different kind of "klan." But can they fight the effects of illogical hatred?
Gateway to Thera
Half of our heroes are missing. After a warehouse explosion, Jamie, Buster, Yoshi, Shawna, George, Deck, Max and Alex are presumed dead, leaving a more ruthless and brutal ADVENTURE to hunt down the street gang who was responsible for luring them there.
But Steve Adams was in the warehouse, too. And he knows the truth. His brother and friends are not dead. They stepped through a gateway to another world, where they have their own battle to fight. Can the genius figure a way to convince Dave and the others that their friends are alive and that they need to retrieve the two coins that open the portal to bring them home?
Also from Jeffrey Allen Davis
Lily’s Redemption
Novelist Thomas Bradford has lived with his young daughter, Melissa, in Central Missouri since the death of his wife. He is surprised when feelings begin to stir in his heart for Kassandra, a new attendee of his church. But a man from her past threatens to destroy the peaceful life that Thomas has worked to build.
The Ultimate Failure
Allen Tiernon is a new Christian and wanted to tell his atheist friend about his new faith. Unfortunately, the discussion went tragically wrong and Allen finds himself having to discuss his ultimate failure in a statement to the police. This is a free short story.