The Wrath of Silver Wolf

by Simon Higgins

  A look of dread sheened her eyes. 'Get used to it. I know my former clan. I may need to forgive them, but they don't war in time to that drum. What we just survived –' Snowhawk heaved a knowing sigh – 'was but the first caress.'

  He suddenly stared at her with wide, excited eyes, tears welling in them.

  'Oh, Moon!' Snowhawk gently took his hand. 'What's wrong?'

  'Nothing,' Moonshadow said softly. 'I just remembered something, something really big! The White Nun knows who my mother was.'

  Snowhawk studied him thoughtfully.

  'Was?' she asked, hope making her face glow. 'Or is?'

  Glossary

  Akita Matagi or Akita Pronounced 'ah-key-tah' and 'mah-tah-gee'

  A tough, intelligent, wolf-like dog. Originally bred from Japan's ancient Matagi native hunting dog in the Akita region of Japan, according to some historians, by samurai of the Satake Clan. Matagi originally hunted wild boar, elk, antelope, and the huge Yezo bear. Nowadays called simply Akita, these dogs are fast, agile, and despite their gentle temperament, fearless when hunting or defending their human family.

  bo-shuriken Pronounced 'boh-shoo-ri-ken'

  An iron or steel throwing knife with a double-edged blade at one end, a tapering handle and a circular threading eye – also a miniature club – at the other. Of the many shuriken designs used by shinobi, it is the hardest to throw as it is not 'star' shaped but linear. The threading eye enables it to be incorporated into traps or attached to a rope or chain and then whirled. See also shuriken.

  daimyo Pronounced 'die-m'yoh'

  A member of the Japanese aristocracy and a powerful feudal lord owning a fiefdom of land. The title can be translated as 'a great name' or 'one who aspires to something better'.

  Edo Pronounced 'eh-doh'

  The city also once called Yedo and now known as Tokyo. It was the Shogun's chosen capital and is now the capital city of Japan.

  Fuji Pronounced 'foo-jee'

  Japan's highest mountain, considered sacred.

  furube sutra Pronounced 'foo-roo-beh' ('The Shrugging Off' or 'Shaking Off')

  An ancient saying or prayer recited by shinobi each dawn and dusk, and just before going into action. It was intended to clear the spy's mind of distractions, calm them and ready their skills.

  geisha Pronounced 'gay-shah'

  Literally, an 'arts person'. Women trained from their youth to be skilled in social conversation, dancing and singing for the entertainment of male patrons, at first of the ruling class and, later in history, wealthy merchants too. Real geisha still exist today.

  hakama Pronounced 'hah-car-mah'

  Traditional Japanese clothing which covers the body from the waist down and resembles a wide, pleated and divided skirt, but is actually giant pleated trousers. A traditional samurai garment worn over a kimono, originally by men only.

  Hour of the Rat

  Prior to the arrival of a western time-keeping system, Japan marked time by dividing each day into two parts: sunrise to sunset, and sunset to sunrise. Each of these two long periods were then broken down into six shorter divisions (each roughly two hours long in modern western time). These twelve sections of the day were identified using the animals of the Chinese zodiac. The Hour of the Rat was approximately 11.00 pm to 1.00 am, kicking off a cycle of two-hour time segments named in this order: Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar.

  Iaido Pronounced 'ee-eye-doh'

  The samurai art of sword-drawing and duelling, which features about fifty waza (techniques or sets of skills) and reached the peak of its development around five hundred years ago. Different from Kendo, which is a full-contact sport. Modern students of Iaido use steel swords in wooden scabbards and wear the traditional clothing of medieval samurai. Iaido takes many years to master. To this day, the art's 'world titles' are held in Japan, on a mountain top near Kyoto, before a Japanese prince. Author Simon Higgins has competed in this event as well as in Australia's national Iaido titles. Many such old Japanese arts, including the tea ceremony and ikebana, were not referred to as a 'do' ('the way of . . .') until they became popular and their teaching practices were formalised.

  Iga see Koga.

  kami Pronounced 'car-mee'

  The Japanese term for objects of awe or worship in Shintoism, Japan's oldest (and native) religion. Though sometimes translated as 'deity' or 'gods', this is not strictly accurate and 'spirits' may be a safer way of describing the kami, who can be 'beings' but also simply forces of nature or 'living essences'.

  Kappa Pronounced 'kap-pah'

  A yokai and water monster featured in Japanese folklore, sometimes depicted with a turtle-like beak. The Kappa is said to love cucumbers. The top of its skull is apparently shaped like a bowl and filled with water. Signs warning children to 'beware of the Kappa' still appear beside many Japanese rivers. See also yokai.

  karma Pronounced 'car-ma'

  The Buddhist philosophy that states that deeds or actions create cycles of 'cause and effect'. Thus, good thinking and good deeds produce good outcomes, now or at some time in the future.

  ki Pronounced 'kee'

  The life force common to all living things. The internal or spiritual energy, which in traditional Asian martial arts is harnessed to increase a warrior's power and stamina. Using ancient sciences like sight-joining can quickly deplete a shinobi's ki.

  Koga Pronounced 'ko-gah'

  Like Iga (pronounced 'ee-gah'), a name associated with a mountain region of Japan in which 'shadow clans' trained highly skilled contract spies and assassins whose powers of stealth and disguise became legendary. Author Simon Higgins visited a preserved 300-year-old Koga ninja house that features a display of weapons and tools and, beneath a trapdoor, an underground escape passage. It stands near Konan railway station in farming country outside the city of Kyoto.

  Kunoichi Pronounced 'coo-noh-ee-chee'

  Traditional term for a female ninja. See also ninja and shinobi. Certain ninja skills, in particular those associated with using poisons or forcing one's target into a hypnotised state, were associated primarily with female shinobi, though a minority of male spies also excelled at them.

  kyogen Pronounced 'k'yo-gen'

  A popular Japanese school of theatre which has existed since at least the 14th century. Kyogen plays are usually short, slapstick-type satires that poke fun at religious rites or feudal lords regarded as buffoons, or offer humorous versions of folktales. Human, animal and even 'god' characters do quaint, unexpected or ridiculous things, sometimes reflecting the politics of the time when the play was written.

  Moonshadow See tsukikage

  ninja Pronounced 'nin-jah'

  Alternative term for a shinobi. Some scholars believe this term emphasises their role as assassins whereas 'shinobi' is more general, implying the inclusion of scouting and spying roles. The combined shinobi combat arts were some times called Ninjutsu as 'jutsu' means 'art' or 'technique'. Shadow clans had many methods and weapons in common, but distinctive practices, clothing and gadgets also evolved among specific groups. See also shinobi.

  Rokurokubi Pronounced 'roh-coo-roh-coo-bee'

  One of the many Japanese yokai. Rokurokubi initially look human and unremarkable, but their necks can magically elongate. They can also disguise their faces, all in order to deceive and frighten or attack mortals. See also yokai.

  sake Pronounced 'sah-kay'

  Japanese for 'alcoholic beverage', it can refer to alcoholic drinks in general, but usually refers to the traditional Japanese drink made by fermenting polished rice. Though often called 'rice wine', sake is actually brewed, so is really more like beer than wine.

  samurai Pronounced 'sah-moo-rye'

  A member of the ruling warrior class; a warrior in a warlord's service.

  -San The 'a' is pronounced with a slight 'u' sound as in 'sun'. An honorific attached to a person's name to show one is addressing them with respect. It can be taken to mean 'Mr', 'Mrs', 'Miss' or, now-adays, 'Ms'
.

  Saru Pronounced 'sa-roo'. Japanese for 'monkey'.

  seiza Pronounced 'say-zah'

  The traditional (floor or mat) sitting position of the Japanese. The legs are folded, back kept straight, palms rested on the thighs and one literally sits on one's heels. Difficult at first, the body adapts to it within a few months. It is likely that seiza was also used in ancient times to refer to the familiar cross-legged seating posture used during meditation.

  Sekigahara Pronounced 'seh-key-gah-ha-rah'

  A town in the Gifu Prefecture of modern Japan. Back in 1600 it was a village near which Tokugawa forces won a decisive victory against their rivals. Though not the last conflict fought in the period, it is generally held to mark the end of the lengthy civil war era and the birth of the long-lasting Tokugawa Shogunate.

  shinobi Pronounced 'shi-no-bee'

  Also known as ninja. Those adept at spying or covert scouting. Some shinobi were also hired killers. They were trained in a wide variety of secret and martial arts, said to include combat with and without weapons, acrobatics, the use of explosives, poisons, traps, hypnotism and numerous forms of disguise. Some of the most effective historical ninja were women who went 'undercover' inside well-guarded fortresses, successfully stealing in formation or carrying out assassinations.

  Shogun Pronounced 'show-gun'

  Abbreviated form of Sei-I-Tai Shogun ('barbarian- subduing general'). The ultimate commander of the Japanese warrior class who, prior to 1867, exercised virtually absolute rule (officially) under the leadership of the Emperor, who was in fact a figurehead only. Many warlords aspired to seize or earn this auspicious rank. In Moonshadow's time a member of the Tokugawa family was the Shogun. See also Sekigahara.

  shuko Pronounced 'shoo-koh'

  Iron claws worn on the hands to assist climbing. Shuko were used, usually along with ashiko (foot spikes) to scale walls, climb up trees, cross icy surfaces and were even worn during combat.

  shuriken Pronounced 'shoo-ri-ken'

  Circular or star-shaped throwing knives, usually black and made in ingots or from thin sheets of iron. They could have four, eight, twelve or more points. Each 'shadow clan' or spy group used their own distinctive style or styles of shuriken, though some also adopted designs created by their rivals or enemies. Thrown overarm, they were aimed for soft points such as the throat, eyes or temple. Their tips could be poisoned or flecked with a powerful sedative if the target was to be taken alive. Any shuriken wound disrupted and weakened an enemy. See also bo-shuriken.

  sumo Pronounced 'soo-moh'

  An ancient Japanese form of competitive wrestling where opponents try to force each other to leave a circular ring or touch the ground with anything other than the soles of their feet. Sumo is steeped in ritual and custom. Wrestlers are selected for size, power and speed and are specially fed and trained. To this day, sumo wrestlers are lauded celebrities in Japan.

  sutra Pronounced 'soo-tra'

  A 'scripture' of the Buddhist faith; teachings which were sometimes chanted or recited to focus and empower the devotee. See also furube sutra.

  tanto Pronounced 'tan-toh'

  Perhaps best described as a dagger. Up to 30 cm long, tanto are shorter than both the long and short swords worn by samurai. Samurai women often wore tanto for self-defence.

  tatami Pronounced 'tah-tah-mee'

  Usually translated as 'folded and piled', tatami are traditional Japanese flooring mats, made of woven soft rush straw and packed with rice straw. Tatami are often bordered by brocade or coloured cloth. Until the 17th century, few non-samurai enjoyed tatami, the lower classes instead placing thin mats over dirt floors.

  tetsubishi Pronounced 'tet-soo-bi-she'

  Also known as makibishi or (in Europe) caltrops. Sharp, usually triple-spiked foot jacks made from a rare seed pod, iron or twisted wire. The jacks' tips were sometimes flecked with poison. They could be painted to blend in with reed matting or a polished wooden floor. Able to penetrate sandals, tetsubishi caused unexpected injuries, stopping or slowing a pursuer.

  tsukikage Pronounced 'skee-car-geh'

  A 470-year-old sword waza of the Musou Jikiden Eishin-Ryu school of Iaido, the art of the samurai sword after which, in keeping with shinobi tradition, our hero was named. The technique employs a low, delayed turn, then rising at the attacking foe and executing a crescent strike at their raised forearms. This combination block and cut is followed by a push then a step, after which a fatal single vertical cut is unleashed. The characters making up the technique's name can be translated as 'moonshadow'. See also Iaido.

  Yamamba Pronounced 'ya-mam-bah'

  In traditional Japanese ghost stories, a witch, living in mountains, who lures men into her hut or cave and eats them. Naturally, Yamamba can disguise themselves but their real appearance is generally terrifying.

  yokai Pronounced 'yoh-k'eye'

  Apparitions, spirits, imps and demons of Japanese folklore. They vary from terrifying ghostly monsters to cute and amusing sprites who want to be friends or offer help to humans. Most yokai were originally specific to regions, landmarks or particular activities. They are often depicted in art, songs, folk festivals and plays.

  zengogiri Pronounced 'zeng-go-gi-ree'

  A waza still learned by many schools of Iaido, designed to enable a swordsman to overcome two simultaneous attackers, one coming at him from the front, the other from behind. Though this technique was actually devised and spread much later in Japanese history than the Tokugawa era of Moonshadow, in the story Mantis is identified as the originator of the waza and author of a duelling manual. Zengogiri is regularly displayed in modern Iaido competitions, and author Simon Higgins has performed it in the art's 'world titles' in Japan.

  Author's note and acknowledgements

  The Moonshadow stories are fantasy tales set in a romanticised historical Japan. Though they reflect certain key events of the early Tokugawa era, and include many facts and details about the sword art of Iaido and Japanese warrior culture in general, they remain adventure yarns, not histories. Despite the many liberties I have taken, I hope these stories inspire readers of all ages to investigate the saga and customs of fascinating Old Japan, a world which still has so much to teach us.

  My heartfelt thanks to my multi-talented wife Annie, for her great ideas and fantastic support in developing the Moonshadow tales. My gratitude also to Anita Bell, another creative polymath, for her guidance, business savvy and insight. A very special thanks to the team at Random House Australia, especially Linsay Knight for instantly believing in Moonshadow, Kimberley Bennett for her fabulous, inventive editing, and to Nerrilee Weir for all her hard work. Moon and I are in your debt. My thanks also to Catherine Drayton for her brilliant representation and astute ideas. A warm thanks to my kind friends 'Iron Chef' Hibiki Ito, and to tea person and tokonoma advocate Margaret Price, for all their wonderful support and knowledge. A special tribute to resident of Japan, Doctor Glenn Stockwell, Kancho (Chief Instructor) of Seishinkan Iaido Dojo, for his expert coaching and for so devotedly preserving the beautiful Iaido of his teacher, Kimura-Kancho, in the twenty-first century. My personal gratitude also to Yasuhisa Watanabe, Fuku-Kancho (Deputy Chief Instructor) of Seishinkan Iaido Dojo, for translating the furube sutra and leading me to sites of historical significance to shinobi culture while in Japan. My thanks also to Yasu and to instructors Matt Andrew and Nathan Nilsen, and to my friend Nobutaka Tezuka of our Tokyo dojo, for training me in Iaido. To any readers wishing to learn or know more about this graceful five hundred-year-old art, please visit:

  www.seishinkan-iaido.org

  About the Author

  Simon Higgins's employment history reads like a novel. He's worked as a disc jockey, laboratory assistant, marketing manager and even as a monster on a ghost train. He also spent a decade in law enforcement; as a police officer, state prosecutor and as a licensed private investigator.

  Simon is proudly a student of Eishin-Ryu Iaido, a 470-year-old style of swordsmanship which
prizes traditional techniques and medieval samurai etiquette and courtesy. He has trained in Japan and participated in Taikai (contests) before His Imperial Highness Prince Munenori Kaya. Simon placed fifth in the 2008 Iaido World Titles and in 2009 he was awarded a black belt by masters from the All Japan Iaido Federation.

  As well as conducting professional development sessions for educators, Simon runs writing workshops for kids and adults, in Australia and overseas.

  To read more about Simon and Moonshadow, go to: www.simonhiggins.net

  MOONSHADOW 3

  The Twilight War

  Attacked by the powerful Fuma clan, young Moonshadow and the agents of the Grey Light Order fight for their lives. In the heat of battle, Moon's friend Snowhawk, herself once a Fuma ninja, disappears.

  Was Snowhawk abducted or did she leave willingly? Was she really a defector to the Shogun's side, or a double agent?

  Moonshadow and Groundspider are ordered to the Fuma's mountain fortress, said to be impregnable. Their mission: discover the truth, then act accordingly.

  Will their dangerous quest end in

  Snowhawk's rescue?

  Or will Moonshadow be forced to destroy

  his best friend?

  Coming soon!