The Ring of Earth

by Chris Bradford

  ‘Hurry,’ she whispered, ‘and be quiet as we pass under the well shaft.’

  When they reached the bottom of the slope, they entered the water. Jack went waist deep, its chill almost taking his breath away, but at least he could now stand. Passing through a patch of pale light, the sounds of cheering could be heard echoing down the shaft.

  ‘It’s all over,’ said Miyuki in a quiet voice.

  Jack looked back to see her face ghostly in the reflected light, a single tear running down her cheek. Once again, her life had been destroyed by the samurai.

  They forged on, the slope rising slightly beneath their feet. The current became stronger as the sound of running water grew louder in the darkness.

  ‘Where are we?’ whispered Jack.

  ‘Under the mountain,’ replied Miyuki. ‘Shonin came across an underground stream when digging the well.’

  ‘Why didn’t everyone use this escape route?’

  ‘It’s a secret only known to a select few. The holding of the square was to give the children and their mothers time to escape. Shonin wasn’t going to let the samurai slaughter them this time.’

  Jack was amazed by the ninja leader’s cunning and sacrifice. Akechi and his samurai saw all the villagers run for the square. With everyone dead there and the farmhouse burnt down, the daimyo would believe he’d wiped out this ninja clan.

  Miyuki sighed. ‘Unfortunately, we didn’t hold out long enough to get Shonin, Soke and the other heads of family through.’

  Or Hanzo, thought Jack desperately. How am I going to tell Akiko I’ve lost her little brother to the fight?

  ‘We should keep mov–’

  Miyuki stopped and listened. The sounds of splashing were approaching fast from behind.

  ‘Go!’ said Miyuki in alarm.

  Quickening their pace, they entered a rift in the rock. The stream cascaded down and they had to climb against the flow. Tenzen slipped and tumbled past Akiko. But she grabbed him, halting his fall. Recovering his footing, Tenzen nodded his appreciation, clearly surprised at her reactions and strength, and resumed his climbing.

  Near the top, Kajiya reached for a ladder that led into a wooden shaft. In turn, they scrambled up the steps towards another trapdoor. Jack clambered out after the others, emerging behind the statue of the Buddha. As Miyuki exited, she drew her shikoro-ken in readiness to cut down their pursuers. Out of the darkness, a sword red with blood rose to meet Miyuki’s blade.

  46

  THE NINE NINJA

  Black with smoke, Zenjubo’s face appeared, his eyes narrowing when he spotted Akiko. ‘Prisoner?’

  ‘No, friend,’ answered Miyuki, though her hostile expression suggested otherwise.

  ‘Did anyone else make it?’ asked Tenzen. ‘Momochi? My father?’

  Zenjubo shook his head.

  Distraught at the news, Tenzen stormed out of the temple, Miyuki hurrying after him. Zenjubo nodded for everyone to follow as he closed the trapdoor behind them.

  Gathering outside where Tenzen was slumped on the steps with Miyuki, the survivors gazed in stunned silence at the devastation. A plume of smoke rose from the flaming farmhouse into the clear blue sky. Samurai swarmed over the village like a nest of angry wasps, and the bodies of friends and family lay scattered in the dust. Seeing the soldiers ransack the farmers’ homes, Jack’s anguish intensified, his concern for the rutter’s fate adding to his grief at losing Soke and Hanzo.

  Akiko, noting Jack’s distress, took him gently to one side. ‘How did you end up here? As a ninja?’

  ‘It’s a long story,’ sighed Jack. ‘But I ran into trouble in Shono and it was Soke, the Grandmaster, who saved me.’

  Akiko gave him an incredulous look. ‘But the shinobi are our enemy!’

  ‘A frog in a well does not know the great sea,’ he replied.

  ‘When did you become Sensei Yamada?’ she said, shaking her head in wonder.

  ‘The ninja aren’t who you think they are.’

  ‘I realize that truth more than any samurai,’ she replied. ‘I trained as one. All the more reason not to trust them.’

  Akiko held Jack’s gaze. ‘You’ve changed.’

  ‘Perhaps,’ admitted Jack. Then, smiling warmly at her, he added, ‘But I’m glad you haven’t.’

  She returned his smile with equal warmth. ‘I see you still have my father’s swords. In my eyes, you’ll always be a samurai.’

  For a moment, neither spoke, simply content to be in each other’s company again.

  Finally, Jack broke the silence. ‘I was beginning to worry my message hadn’t got through.’

  ‘I came as fast as I could. The merchant you sent was held up in Kameyama. He apologized profusely. Then it took time to figure out your message. These mountains are a maze, one rocky outcrop looks like another. I had no option but to return to Maruyama. There I discovered daimyo Akechi was mobilizing for an attack on a shinobi village, and it was rumoured there was a foreigner … a gaijin ninja.’

  Akiko raised her eyebrows at Jack knowingly.

  ‘With a reward on his head, I joined the army to capture him for myself.’

  ‘Lucky for me you did!’ replied Jack. ‘I’m just sorry there’s no reward.’

  Akiko’s expression became serious. ‘Your message said you think you’ve found Kiyoshi. Where is he?’

  Jack, unable to meet Akiko’s eyes, sadly shook his head.

  ‘Hanzo … who might be Kiyoshi, insisted on staying to fight.’ He gazed across the smoke-filled valley, remorse overwhelming his heart. ‘I tried to protect him, but in the middle of battle he ran to save his grandfather, Soke. Kiyoshi’s a brave soul. But I fear he’s … dead.’

  A wave of grief struck Akiko as all her hopes were dashed. Her face drained of colour and Jack reached out a hand to steady her.

  ‘I’m too late …’ she wept, her eyes welling with tears as Jack took her in his arms.

  Miyuki glanced over at them, then quickly looked away when Jack caught her gaze.

  Their sorrow was interrupted by Danjo, suddenly exclaiming, ‘Look, they’ve taken prisoners!’

  The boy pointed into the valley, where a detachment of samurai was returning victorious to Maruyama, daimyo Akechi at the head. Trailing behind was a sorry line of ninja. Not many, perhaps twenty or so.

  Jack’s heart lifted at the idea that Hanzo might be among them. Then it immediately went cold.

  ‘Daimyo Akechi vowed to kill everyone. Why’s he taken prisoners?’

  ‘Torture,’ Zenjubo said bitterly.

  ‘But he’s won!’ exclaimed Jack.

  ‘He’ll want the locations of the other ninja clans in his province,’ explained Tenzen, getting to his feet.

  Zenjubo turned to him. ‘Your eyesight’s better than mine. Who’s survived?’

  Squinting into the distance, Tenzen’s expression turned from dejection to delight. ‘My father’s at the front with Momochi!’ he exclaimed. ‘And I think that’s Soke at the back.’

  Jack strained to make out any of them. Then he spotted Soke’s bald head towards the rear of the line. Beside him, a small figure was helping him along.

  ‘Hanzo’s alive,’ breathed Jack, turning to Akiko with relief.

  But their joy was cut short as they recalled the fate awaiting her little brother. Now Jack only felt sick, shuddering at the thought of Hanzo imprisoned in Gemnan’s garden of Hell. The pit. The hanging tree. The bamboo spikes. The boiling pot. The crucifix.

  ‘We must rescue them!’ said Jack.

  Shiro, who had been silent until now, laughed scornfully at the suggestion. ‘What can we possibly do? There’s only eight of us.’

  ‘Nine,’ corrected Akiko.

  ‘When did you suddenly become a ninja?’ Miyuki snapped.

  ‘I’ve trained in your ways.’

  ‘So you’re a spy!’

  ‘Take’s one to know one.’

  Miyuki stared daggers at her. ‘What do you care anyway?’

  ‘I care more tha
n you know!’ retorted Akiko, the jibe breaking her usual calm demeanour.

  ‘I find that hard to believe,’ shot back Miyuki, squaring up to her. ‘Samurai lack heart.’

  ‘And you lack –’

  ‘Enough!’ said Tenzen, stepping between them, all of a sudden taking charge. ‘This isn’t helping matters.’

  ‘What I don’t understand is why she’s here in the first place,’ said Miyuki, glaring at Akiko over Tenzen’s shoulder.

  ‘Jack must have sent her a message,’ said Shiro, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

  Horrified, everyone turned to Jack.

  ‘Did you?’ demanded Tenzen.

  Jack nodded, mortified at being exposed in such a way. ‘I asked Akiko to come.’

  ‘So you did betray us!’ seethed Miyuki.

  ‘NO! My message was coded. Daimyo Akechi had no idea of its existence. There was no way he could have found out,’ Jack argued. ‘Akiko joined the army as a disguise. Besides, she would never reveal the location.’

  ‘Why should we believe that?’ said Tenzen.

  ‘Because I believe Hanzo is her lost brother.’

  For a moment, no one spoke, stunned by the revelation. Tenzen stared at Akiko, clearly weighing up whether this was true and if he could trust her.

  ‘That’s why I care,’ said Akiko ardently.

  ‘But you’re samurai,’ Miyuki reminded her spitefully. ‘Hanzo’s a ninja.’

  Akiko didn’t back down. ‘My little brother, Kiyoshi, was kidnapped by Dragon Eye and hidden with a ninja clan in these mountains. If there’s even the slightest possibility Hanzo is Kiyoshi, I’ll risk my life to save him!’

  ‘There’s more fire in this samurai than in my furnace,’ commented Kajiya, who sat on the temple steps. ‘If we’re going to rescue Shonin and the others, then I want this one on our side.’

  Zenjubo grunted his agreement.

  ‘It’s settled then,’ said Tenzen, bowing formally to Akiko. ‘A samurai could prove very useful in our rescue mission.’

  ‘You’re not seriously considering attacking daimyo Akechi’s army, are you?’ interrupted Shiro, his eyes wide with disbelief.

  ‘I realize the odds are stacked against us,’ replied Tenzen. ‘But the shinobi faced far greater challenges against Nobunaga’s son – and won.’

  He looked at each of them, testing their resolve. Jack recognized in Tenzen’s eyes the hawk-like intensity and inspiring conviction of his father. Without dispute, Tenzen had become the natural leader of the group. He’d risen to the challenge.

  ‘Remember, we’re not just rescuing friends and saving lives,’ Tenzen continued, spurring their motivation. ‘We’re rescuing the clan, saving Shonin and Soke’s knowledge. But we’ll be fighting back on our terms – stealth, not strength, will win the day.’

  47

  AN UNLUCKY NUMBER

  ‘We’ve got no chance like this,’ said Shiro, forcing them to take a look at themselves.

  Apart from Akiko, they were a ragged bunch in their tattered, bloodstained work clothes with only a handful of weapons between them. It was apparent to all they were ill-equipped for any sort of mission.

  ‘You’re right,’ conceded Tenzen. ‘We’ll have to return to the village for equipment and supplies.’

  He looked down into the valley, where the samurai were still pillaging the houses and checking for survivors. ‘It’ll be dangerous, though. Any volunteers?’

  Jack was about to put up his hand, the chance of retrieving the rutter foremost in his mind, when Miyuki interrupted.

  ‘All we need is a little faith,’ she said, striding over to the temple. The others followed, bemused.

  Inside, she knelt as if to pray before the Buddha, then, reaching forward, she pressed both hands against the wooden base. There was a soft click and a secret compartment opened. Miyuki pulled out the drawer to reveal a number of black shinobi shozoku.

  ‘How come only you knew about this?’ asked Kajiya, amazed.

  ‘I came to pay my respects to my parents one evening, when I found Soke checking their condition,’ Miyuki explained, distributing the outfits to all but Akiko. ‘Sorry, none left for you.’

  ‘No matter, I’ve come prepared,’ replied Akiko, smiling politely.

  ‘We’ll still need weapons,’ pointed out Shiro.

  Miyuki rolled her eyes. ‘Don’t you ever stop moaning? I sometimes wonder if you really are a ninja.’

  Ignoring his protests, she led them over to the far corner of the graveyard.

  ‘But … this is your family’s marker,’ said Tenzen.

  Miyuki nodded. ‘Read the inscription.’

  Tenzen grinned and began digging in the earth with his knife.

  ‘What does it say?’ whispered Jack to Akiko.

  ‘Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.’

  Now Jack smiled too and knelt down to help Tenzen.

  The two of them dug down until a large lacquered box was revealed. Tenzen and Jack pulled off the lid. Inside was a carefully considered collection of weapons and equipment. Two ninjatō, four pairs of shuko claws and ashiko foot hooks, a bag of tetsu-bishi spikes, a varied selection of shuriken, two kaginawa climbing ropes, a blowpipe complete with poisoned darts, a sickle and chain and some explosives.

  Reaching down, Miyuki picked up the blowpipe. ‘Even from the grave, my parents will have their revenge.’

  The rest of the equipment was handed out and the ninja prepared themselves for the mission. As Jack was getting ready, the cut on his arm opened up again.

  ‘Let me bind that for you,’ said Akiko, who was packing her armour into a sack for the journey.

  He sat down on the temple steps, letting her clean and bandage the wound with strips torn from their discarded work clothes. Jack had missed her kindness and compassion. What a fool he’d been to leave her that day in Toba. But what choice did he have, with the Shogun banishing foreigners and his sister alone in England? If only circumstances had been different, he’d have followed his heart.

  ‘That should do it,’ she said, smiling sweetly at him.

  ‘Thank you,’ replied Jack, though he wanted to say so much more. By the look in her eyes, she did too, but they both knew this wasn’t the time or place.

  ‘I’d better get changed,’ he mumbled.

  At that moment Miyuki passed by. She gave Jack a cold, hard stare, before turning it on Akiko.

  ‘Tenzen, do you really think we should be taking this samurai along with us? Nine is an unlucky number. She’ll bring misfortune upon the mission.’

  ‘Miyuki,’ said Tenzen, gently leading her away, ‘this samurai could be Hanzo’s sister. If that’s the case, she deserves the chance to help save him. And if we’re going to succeed, we’ll need everyone.’

  Akiko looked at Jack. ‘I can understand her hating samurai, but why does she have such an issue with me? We’re on the same side.’

  ‘Miyuki takes a while to warm to people,’ he replied in her defence. ‘But she’s a good person once she trusts you.’

  ‘Really?’ said Akiko, giving Jack a dubious look.

  While they’d been getting organized and their injuries tended to, Kajiya had lit a small fire in the woods and cooked some of the rice he’d found stored in a large temple pot – another of Soke’s secret stashes. Their morale and strength were soon boosted by the warm meal.

  ‘We have food, clothes and weapons,’ Tenzen announced. ‘Now all we need is a plan.’

  48

  MIST CASTLE

  The crucifixes lined the road like dead trees. Leading in an avenue up to the main gate of Maruyama, they offered a grim welcome to any traveller. A group of workmen laboured hard to erect the last cross before sundown. The sound of their hammering was faint but insistent to the ears of the ninja, who lay hidden at the forest edge.

  It had been three days since the attack on the village. They’d caught up with Akechi’s army on the second day and followed them through the mountains, but the prisoners had be
en well guarded and there were simply too many troops to stage an escape attempt. Tenzen suggested they wait until the samurai were no longer expecting trouble. ‘Akechi’s too arrogant to believe anyone would attack his castle. We’ll have the element of surprise,’ he argued, and they’d all agreed.

  They watched the last crucifix being raised. It was smaller than the others.

  Child-size.

  Akiko let out a gasp of horror. So did Miyuki. Jack felt his blood run cold. This samurai lord was cruel and heartless. No wonder the ninja despised him so.

  ‘Akechi’s making an example of them,’ said Tenzen with disgust. ‘To warn the other shinobi villages not to resist.’

  A rustling in the undergrowth alerted them to the return of Kajiya, Danjo and Kato. Only their eyes showed in the gathering darkness.

  ‘All set?’ asked Zenjubo.

  The bladesmith nodded.

  ‘We attack tonight,’ announced Tenzen.

  ‘Shouldn’t we at least reconnoitre the town first?’ suggested Shiro.

  ‘No time. And we know the layout from the last mission.’

  ‘But we’re rushing into this without enough preparation,’ Shiro argued.

  ‘We’ve already discussed this,’ snapped Tenzen, his patience having worn thin with Shiro’s objections. ‘They could be dead by the morning.’

  ‘What are we waiting for then?’ urged Jack, plagued by visions of Soke hanging from Gemnan’s tree and Hanzo boiling in his cauldron. Jack pulled down his hood and adjusted the katana on his back. As a ninja, Tenzen had told him it would be too cumbersome to carry two swords for such a mission, so the wakizashi was left with the rest of their equipment, back at the temple.

  ‘Wait,’ said Zenjubo, much to Shiro’s evident relief.

  Sitting cross-legged, his eyes closed, Zenjubo spread his hands out in front of him, the thumb and index finger touching. ‘On chirichi iba rotaya sowaka …’

  Jack recognized the kuji-in chant and hand sign for Zai. Despite his impatience to leave, he forced himself to wait for Zenjubo to complete his meditation. Zenjubo continued to chant the mantra under his breath. But whatever ninja magic he was summoning, it appeared to be having little effect.