Private Investigator Katsu entered the chamber.
Silver Wolf motioned for him to sit. 'Have you spent the bribe money I gave you?' The warlord folded his arms into his silken sleeves.
Katsu nodded. 'It was required, Lord. Yes, sadly, it is all gone.'
'Then, for your sake, Detective, I hope it produced results. Someone's going to pay for this . . . failed operation. It's been expensive in every way. Plans gone. Akira and Jiro each left useless, at least for the foreseeable future. My top swordsman badly hurt. His sidekick too. Both out of action for months. Most incredible of all, I'm told that The Deathless himself is missing, presumed slain! Now, who exactly has done all this to me? You had better know, Detective.'
'I've tried to make sense of scraps of information from useful, though expensive, informants, and also to draw conclusions from certain things witnesses – an old local watchman for example – were able to tell me. It's my unhappy duty to confirm your worst suspicions, Lord.' Katsu gave a little bow. 'I believe the nuisance who did this indeed hails from the Grey Light Order. It seems, in the end, he either somehow recruited the support of that female spy your men trailed, or possibly took her prisoner after Jiro had wounded her. Some of the accounts are conflicting, some a little confused. But the boy, the one who cut Akira quite badly, appears to be GLO. These dogs of the Shogun train in a monastery in Edo. As my Lord may have heard, they are an independent force, with, it is said, members from both Iga and Koga shadow clan training backgrounds. Like many spy groups, they accept suitable orphans for training as agents.'
'Very well!' Silver Wolf closed his fist. 'So he is a Grey Light creation!' He took a deep breath, barely hanging on to his self-control. 'Now the greatest question of all. What is the name of my number one target from this day on?'
Katsu gave a triumphant smile. 'The nuisance is called Moonshadow, Lord.'
'Moonshadow?' Silver Wolf raised one eyebrow. 'Like the sword move?'
'Yes, Lord. Apparently such namings are a custom among the shinobi.' Katsu took a folded page of notes from his jacket. Silver Wolf rolled his eyes as Katsu studied it at length. 'Ah, yes, here's another example, Lord: one of my informers mentioned a spy whose name was Great Downward Rushing Wind, also the name of a complex sword move.'
'Yes, yes! Fascinating!' The warlord wagged a finger irritably. 'But tell me this! Why was the little insect, a mere orphan boy after all, so effective?'
'I learned that, young as he is, he employs the eye of the beast, that Old Country skill, thought – until recently – to have died out forever. He can influence animals, my Lord, bend them to his will, use them as his spies. Or so the lost art was described to me.'
'Nnng,' Silver Wolf gave a resigned sigh. 'Good job . . . as usual.' He dipped in his lavish jacket then threw Katsu a small purse. 'That's the balance of your fees, plus the standard advance on your next assignment. I need you to return to your native Edo. Learn all you can about the Grey Light Order.' His voice thickened with hatred. 'They want a shadow war? They will get it! I'll crush them. I swear I will. Now, one final, tactical question. Who hates them more than anyone else? Even more than I do at this moment!'
The detective consulted his interview notes. 'Their arch enemies are the oldest shadow clan, Lord. The House of Fuma.'
Silver Wolf stood up and stared at the window, turning his back on the investigator. 'I'll be writing a sealed letter to them, seeking an alliance. Come back and collect it tomorrow before you set off. On your way to Edo, there's a certain tea-house on the highway where you need leave it.' He waved a dismissal. 'That is all!'
Katsu stood and bowed low before leaving. 'As always, it's an honour to serve you.'
As the doors closed behind his visitor, Silver Wolf snatched up his sake cup and hurled it at the window. The cup hit the sill and shattered into tiny pieces.
'Moonshadow?' he snarled. 'I'll break him like that! I will have his head!'
TWENTY-ONE
Oath of
loyalty
Gently rubbing his shoulder bandage, Moonshadow limped through the sunlit garden of the Edo safe house. It was hidden at the end of a quiet, leafy street, far from the fortress-like walls of the Grey Light Order's monastery.
Snowhawk sat on a flat stone bench that offered an ideal view of the large carp pond. Moon smiled as he watched her stare dreamily at the water. Maple and cherry trees ringed the deep pond. Gold and red fish bobbed to the surface, quietly hunting insects. It was a scene of peace and harmony. It was the opposite of how they lived.
She glanced up and smiled. He sat down beside her. They looked at each other and Snowhawk blushed. Moon gave a silly grin.
'Congratulations,' he said, looking away quickly, 'I just heard the good news. They have accepted your oath of loyalty. So, having given it, you can stay.'
'I still have a final test to pass, involving an interview with someone called the White Nun. But whatever happens, to have come even this far . . . I owe it all to your support.' She bowed. 'It's the reason they've given me this chance.'
'No,' he said firmly. 'They've taken you in because of your great skills.'
'It was hard, you know, a few days back,' Snowhawk hung her head. 'As part of proving my new allegiance to the Grey Light Order, I had to divulge everything about the clan who reared me, my former clients, my missions. All of it! To speak of such things goes against a spy's nature, but I made myself tell them what they wanted to know.' She smiled coyly at him. 'As you did for me, back in that chalk cave.'
'Mantis said it was Clan Fuma who sent you to Fushimi.'
'Yes. They intended to auction the plans to the highest bidder among the rebel warlords. Silver Wolf is not the only malcontent. The Shogun has many enemies.' She looked at him with tears in her eyes. 'Fuma train suitable orphans, just as Grey Light do. But take it from me, they are nowhere near as kind to them.'
'That's all behind you now,' Moon said. 'They do things properly here. Brother Eagle will have you schooled in certain methods only we use, then he'll assign you to somebody. You'll work with them for a few missions, kind of as an apprentice.'
Her nose creased over a cheeky smile. 'Any idea who they might put me with?'
Moon shrugged. Then his face reddened. 'I know who I hope it is . . .'
The pair looked round. Heron entered the garden carrying a basket covered with a rug. Snowhawk and Moonshadow stood up and bowed to her.
Heron flashed her gentle, stately smile and patted the basket. A weak meow came from under the leaf-patterned rug. 'Your report mentioned a certain friendly temple cat. An ideal sight-joining subject, you wrote, with a tail its kind don't usually possess.'
She uncovered the basket and the cat sat up, mewing excitedly.
'Imagine our surprise,' Heron went on, 'when a sopping wet animal of just that description turned up at our Tokaido safe inn near Fushimi. I'm told the poor creature was badly bruised and appeared to be half-drowned.'
'Were you looking for me?' Moonshadow asked the cat. He gently took it from the basket and held it against his chest. It immediately started purring. 'I don't even know if it's a boy or a girl, but I owe this cat my life.' He looked to Snowhawk.
Snowhawk nodded. 'We both owe it a debt, for the destruction of The Deathless.'
Moon frowned at her words. Could anyone be sure The Deathless had been slain? He stared down at the temple cat. After all, it had somehow survived the river.
'It seems she wants to be your mascot.' Heron's fingers glided along the cat's spine. The animal arched its back against her touch and its tail gave a satisfied flick. 'Or perhaps, simply another new friend.' She smiled warmly at Snowhawk. 'Our Moonshadow seems to have a talent for bringing home great prizes and making new friends . . . in your case, one might say, both at once.'
Snowhawk beamed at Heron. 'You are too kind.'
Moon stroked the cat's neck and its purring grew louder. Suddenly he put it back into Heron's basket and folded his arms.
Heron studied him then spoke sof
tly. 'Moon-Kun. How I know that look and stance! It means something weighs heavily on your mind.' She put down the basket.
Moonshadow slowly shrugged. 'Before I went on this mission, my first real mission, I often thought of myself as one who'd forever be alone. Fate has been kind. It has shown me that I'm not.' He glanced from Heron to Snowhawk and back. 'I have both family and friends. And you know what? It doesn't matter if one's family or friends are unusual, few, or as unique as this cat. Those who truly care for you are the great stones of your castle's wall.'
'Ever true, and well said,' Heron sounded proud of him. 'So why the storm clouds in your eyes?'
'Because now I also have an enemy.' Moonshadow glanced at Snowhawk. 'A man with ambition, wealth and power. A man who won't forget either of us.'
'A man,' Heron patted both their shoulders, 'you will never face alone.'
Glossary
Amida (as in Lord Amida) Pronounced 'ah-me-dah'
Buddhist spiritual being revered by many in feudal Japan. Amida is known as Amita–bha in other parts of Asia.
Ashiko Pronounced 'ah-she-koh'
Detachable foot spikes, usually used along with shuko (pronounced 'shoo-koh') or climbing claws, they helped spies climb trees, cross ice, scale walls and even defend themselves.
Bo Pronounced 'boh'
A hard wooden quarterstaff used in both Japan and Okinawa for close combat.
Bokken Pronounced 'boh-ken'
A Japanese training weapon, carved from heavy wood in the shape of a samurai sword. Some bokkens even come with a matching carved (or in modern times plastic) scabbard.
Ezo Pronounced 'eh-zoh'
One of many former names for Hokkaido, the second largest and northernmost of Japan's main islands.
Furube sutra Pronounced 'foo-roo-beh' ('The Shrugging Off' or 'Shaking Off')
An ancient saying or prayer of preparation, 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. The furube sutra's parts could be described as the Preparation Verse, the Facing Self Verse and the Verse of One Resolved. Each 'verse' translates as a single line in English. The text of the sutra can be interpreted in a number of ways when translated from Japanese. Below is one possible rendering, kindly translated by Iaido expert and scholar Yasuhisa Watanabe and reworded by the author for tonal and dramatic purposes.
See also Sutra.
Gather, tidy and align your doings and their karma.
Cleanse any lies made this day, scatter not one grain of life.
To end this path in happiness, make still your mind.
Go
'Five' in Japanese. Pronounced as it reads, it can also be a name, part of a name, or a nickname.
Hachiman (as in Lord Hachiman) Pronounced 'hah-chee-maan'
Shinto god of war, divine protector of Japan and its people, whose symbolic animal and messenger, perhaps ironically from a western viewpoint, is a dove, the Biblical symbol of peace. According to legend, Emperor Ojin, a mortal, became the divine Hachiman. After Buddhism's arrival in Japan, Hachiman was also associated with the Buddhist deity Daibosatsu. Both peasants and samurai worshipped Hachiman in medieval times, and to this day there remain over 30,000 shrines to the war god throughout Japan.
Iaido Pronounced 'ee-eye-doh'
The samurai art of sword-drawing and duelling, which features about fifty different waza (techniques) 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. See also Tsukikage.
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'.
Kan Pronounced 'can'
A traditional Japanese unit for measuring mass. One kan equals about 3.75 kilograms.
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. Brother Mantis, Moonshadow's duelling coach, is particularly wary of actions which may bring 'bad karma'.
Ki Pronounced 'kee'
The life force common to all living things. 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.
Kimono Pronounced 'kee-mo-no'
Literally means 'something worn'. T-shaped, ankle-length robes worn by men, women and children of all classes. Recognisably the traditional clothing of the Japanese.
Kirishima Pronounced 'ki-ri-shee-mah'
The Japanese name by which the country's colourful native azaleas were first known. It derives from the flowering plant's home locality: Kirishima is a mountain in Kagoshima Prefecture in Southern Kyushu.
Koga Pronounced 'koh-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 three-hundred-year-old Koga ninja house that features a display of weapons and tools and, beneath a trap door, an underground escape passage. It stands near Konan railway station in farming country outside Kyoto.
-Kun
When pronounced, the u takes on an 'oo' sound. An honorific used by seniors when addressing their juniors. Also used as a term of affection. See also -San.
Mochi Pronounced 'mo-chee'
Traditional Japanese sweets. Attractively wrapped in special paper, mochi vary in size, colour and style throughout Japan. They may contain unusual textures and flavours derived from plums, chestnuts or various vegetables. Author Simon Higgins became addicted to mochi on his first trip to Japan in 1982.
Moonshadow See Tsukikage
Naginata Pronounced 'na-gi-nah-ta'
A weapon consisting of a long pole fitted with a curved, single-edged blade. Sometimes used by spies, the short naginata was also a favourite weapon of high-born samurai women, being ideally suited for self-defence indoors.
Ronin Pronounced 'ro-nin'
Literally 'wave men' – unemployed samurai, warriors who had lost their ruling lord through military defeat, death or some other disbandment of his fiefdom. Many roamed the country, duelling or taking work as bodyguards, mercenaries or assassins.
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 'sa-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, nowadays, 'Ms'.
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' in
side well-guarded fortresses, successfully stealing information 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. Most warlords aspired to seize or earn this auspicious rank.
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 and climb up trees, cross icy surfaces and even 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. 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.
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.
Temple cat (also called Kimono cat)
A patterned cat, respected in Japan for centuries, whose back markings are said to resemble a woman in a kimono, hence their other name. Considered sacred, these cats usually have a stumpy, triangular tail. They are still found in many parts of Japan. Author Simon Higgins has photographed Kimono cats in the temples of central Tokyo (known in Moonshadow's time as Edo).
Tengu Pronounced 'teng-goo'
According to the superstitions of Old Japan, a long-nosed, tree-dwelling mountain devil, fond of lurking in the canopies of cryptomeria (Japanese cedar) trees. Tengu were often blamed for missing travellers, who were more likely the victims of bandits.
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