The Lost Sword

by Pitt, Darrell

  Scarlet dragged him away. ‘We need to get away from the furnace before it blows,’ she said.

  They descended three more levels before Scarlet drew him into a storage room.

  ‘We can hide in here,’ she said.

  Jack went to a porthole and looked out. ‘Oh no,’ he said. ‘I know this part of the city.’ He pointed. ‘There’s the jail.’

  Scarlet peered over his shoulder. ‘We’re almost there!’ she said. ‘When will the dynamite explode?’

  But nothing happened. Maybe the bomb had been discovered. A search could already be underway to find them. They would be discovered and the dragon would plough straight into the jail, killing everyone inside, including Mr Doyle.

  Shoving aside a pair of office blocks, the dragon paused at the front gates of the jail.

  We’re failed, Jack thought. And now Mr Doyle is doomed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Ka-boom!

  Jack and Scarlet were thrown through the air. One explosion followed another as the furnace exploded.

  We did it, Jack thought. We’ve stopped the dragon.

  Then shelves toppled onto him and he was knocked senseless.

  When he woke, smoke and the smell of burning metal filled the air.

  Where am I?

  He remembered: the engine room must have been destroyed and the dragon disabled.

  ‘Scarlet?’ he called.

  He could see rain through a hole torn in the wall.

  Nearby, Scarlet groaned. ‘Jack?’ she said. ‘I’m under the shelving. I can’t move.’

  Struggling to his feet, Jack began frantically pulling shelves away. When he was finished, Scarlet gingerly stood, rubbing her head.

  ‘I’m looking forward to a nice long bath when all this is over,’ she said.

  They edged through the break in the wall onto the roof of a cell block a few feet below.

  Jack peered back at the dragon. The machine had fallen sideways across the prison, crushing several buildings. Critically wounded in the explosion, a huge hole had been blasted in its stomach, and smoke and steam poured from it.

  Beyond, through the rain, Jack saw a path of destruction had been carved through the centre of Tokyo. Hundreds of buildings were either crushed or shattered beyond repair. Even as Jack watched, a city block finally gave way, collapsing into a heap and sending dust into the air. Fires burned, but the downpour was already reducing them to spindly smoke. Distant screams echoed across the city.

  ‘Come on,’ Scarlet said, gently. ‘We need to find Mr Doyle.’

  They pulled at roof tiles. Creating a hole, they climbed through to the attic of the jail. They came out at an administrative section packed with dusty files and old desks.

  They weaved through the building to ground level. Heading across the exercise ground, they heard a cry.

  ‘Jack! Scarlet!’

  Mr Doyle ran towards them and scooped them up in a hug. ‘Where on earth have you been?’ he demanded. ‘Were you with Edgar? And what—’

  Jack interrupted, explaining everything that had transpired over the day.

  Mr Doyle’s face grew darker as he listened to the chain of events. ‘That brother of mine has been an anchor around my neck for the last time!’ he said. ‘I never want to see him again!’

  ‘I’m sure he meant for the best,’ Jack started.

  ‘The best?’ Mr Doyle was furious. ‘He almost got you and Scarlet killed just to find a magical sword! When I see him—’

  Scarlet laid a hand on Mr Doyle’s arm. ‘Please,’ she said. ‘This should wait. There must be people who are injured and require help.’

  ‘Of course,’ Mr Doyle said, swallowing. ‘You’re right.’

  They went into the main section of the jail where a makeshift hospital had been set up by several of the Darwinists. Many of the diplomats and their staff were already collecting injured people from the streets.

  Einstein waved over Jack and the others.

  ‘There’s a school down the block,’ he said. ‘Several children are trapped inside.’

  Jack, Scarlet and Mr Doyle raced through the downpour to the collapsed building. People were already climbing out from ruined homes and shops. The sounds of sirens cut across the rain, but Jack knew there couldn’t be enough emergency vehicles for a disaster of this scale.

  The school, a timber structure, had been knocked sideways by the dragon. A boy was in the process of struggling out from under some beams when they arrived. Jack helped him out.

  Mr Doyle spoke to the boy in Japanese before turning to Jack and Scarlet.

  ‘There are more children inside,’ he said. ‘But this is too tight a fit for me to get through.’

  ‘I can get in,’ Jack said.

  He squeezed his head into the gap. Ten feet below, in the gloom, a dozen faces looked up at him.

  ‘Hello,’ he said. ‘Are you all right?’

  The children were young—no older than eight or nine. It was clear they didn’t understand English.

  ‘My name’s Jack,’ he said, deciding his voice might calm them. ‘I’ll get you out of here.’ He pointed up at the gap, and indicated food and drink lay at the other end. ‘Mmm,’ he said, rubbing his stomach. ‘Yummy food. Nice drinks.’

  Despite the terrible circumstances, one child burst out laughing.

  ‘All right,’ Jack said. ‘I never said I was an actor.’

  Slowly and methodically, he lifted each of the children up through the hole until only one remained.

  ‘Now it’s our turn,’ Jack said.

  The boy shook his head, afraid, and said something in Japanese.

  Mr Doyle’s voice came down through the gap. ‘Jack,’ he called, concern in his voice. ‘This building seems quite unstable. I suggest you hurry.’

  ‘I’m on my way,’ Jack called. Turning to the boy, he said, ‘We need to go.’

  The boy pointed to a corner of the room where the ceiling had collapsed. Jack went over. There was nothing to see except some wire cages.

  Meow.

  ‘I see,’ Jack said. Most of the cages were partially crushed, and mercifully empty, but one held a small black and white kitten. After scooping it out, Jack lifted him to the gap. Taking a breath of fresh air, the kitten scampered up and out.

  Next Jack lifted the boy into his arms as the building gave an ominous groan. He pushed him ahead.

  ‘Go up,’ he urged. ‘Keep moving.’

  Despite his lack of English, the boy followed his directions. A crash came from somewhere within the debris.

  As he crawled after him, Jack saw a timber beam over the boy’s head start to shudder, and he held it up as it started to sag.

  ‘Go!’ Jack screamed. ‘Quick!’

  ‘Jack!’ Mr Doyle called, as the boy escaped. ‘Come now!’

  ‘The beam is resting on my back,’ Jack gasped. If he moved, the whole thing would come down on him, crushing him to death. ‘I can’t move.’


  Mr Doyle cursed. Jack heard movement at the other end. Then he saw Scarlet pushing herself through the gap.

  ‘No,’ Jack groaned. ‘Stay where you are.’

  ‘And leave you? Don’t be ridiculous.’ She had a short length of wood in her hand. Within seconds, she had jammed it under the beam. ‘Mr Doyle,’ she said. ‘You must grab my legs and be ready to pull me back. I will be holding Jack.’

  The makeshift support had taken most of his weight, but Jack doubted it would hold.

  ‘No,’ he grunted. ‘You’ve got to leave me.’

  ‘One more word out of your mouth,’ Scarlet said, ‘and I’ll regale you with the plot of every Brinkie Buckeridge novel.’

  Jack shut up.

  Scarlet grabbed Jack’s hands. ‘I’m ready,’ she said.

  ‘On the count of three,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘One... two...three!’

  The beam gave a mighty groan as Jack was jerked away from it. A second later he, Scarlet and Mr Doyle were in a pile on the street as the structure collapsed.

  ‘My boy!’ Mr Doyle cried as they climbed to their feet. ‘Are you hurt?’

  ‘I’m fine, sir. Just a bit roughed up.’

  Fire officers approached them. Mr Doyle explained what had happened and the men started an examination of other buildings. The rain gradually eased and stopped. The skies over Tokyo became a buzz of activity as emergency services arrived from all over the country.

  ‘I suggest we return to the jail,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘They may need our help.’

  They spent the rest of the evening helping the scientists tend to the wounded. Ambulance officers arrived to take away the most severely injured.

  The police arrived to do a full examination of the dragon’s remains. One of them, a detective by the name of Hara, questioned Jack and the others. He listened in silence as Jack explained everything he and Scarlet had seen, leaving out details about the Kusanagi sword.

  Hara laughed nervously. ‘You say Mr Fujita controlled this mechanical monster,’ he said. ‘But he is a respected businessman.’

  ‘He has an underground city,’ Scarlet said. ‘And admitted to attacking the Darwinist League.’

  ‘That can’t be true.’

  Jack’s eyes almost popped out of his head. ‘It can’t be true?’ he said. ‘We just told you it’s true.’

  Detective Hara turned to Mr Doyle. ‘Your children have active imaginations,’ he said. ‘They like adventure stories.’

  Mr Doyle turned bright red. ‘I assure you that my assistants are not making this up,’ he said. ‘Fujita is a dangerous criminal and must be arrested—immediately.’

  Hara smiled pleasantly. ‘We will look into it.’

  Jack was ready to explode by the time Hara walked away. ‘What is wrong with that man?’ he asked. ‘Is he deaf?’

  ‘Not deaf,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘But you recall Hiro said crime families are very powerful here in Japan.’

  ‘So you’re saying Hara’s afraid?’

  ‘Or doesn’t like facing the truth.’

  Fortunately, the part of the jail where Jack and the others were staying was spared from the attack. As they wandered across the lobby, they heard a cry and turned to see Edgar racing across the foyer with Hiro close behind.

  ‘Jack! Scarlet!’ Edgar called. ‘Are you all right?’

  Mr Doyle looked like he wanted to throttle his brother. ‘They’re as well as can be expected!’ he said. ‘Considering you almost got them killed!’

  ‘I don’t know what—’

  The detective grabbed him by the lapels. ‘The only person you’ve ever cared about is yourself,’ he said. ‘You almost cost Jack and Scarlet their lives. We’re leaving Japan tomorrow and I never want to hear from you again!’

  Hiro gently eased them apart. ‘Please,’ he said. ‘You are brothers. You must not fight.’

  Edgar, ashen-faced, looked down. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I just wanted to find the sword.’

  ‘Don’t you understand?’ Mr Doyle said. ‘There is no such thing as a magic sword. The only things that matter are science and reason.’

  ‘I did not mean any harm.’

  ‘All you’ve ever done is cause harm. You owe both Jack and Scarlet an apology.’

  ‘Of course,’ Edgar nodded. ‘I apologise, Jack, and to Scarlet too, wherever she is.’

  Mr Doyle peered around. ‘Scarlet?’

  ‘She was here a moment ago,’ Jack said. ‘I’m sure she’ll turn up.’

  But she didn’t.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  ‘It was while we were arguing,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘I never should have taken my eyes off her.’

  Jack, Mr Doyle, Edgar and Hiro were in the dining room of the jail. They had spent the previous night turning the place upside down, trying to find Scarlet.

  Nothing.

  The next day, they had searched the neighbourhood. Late in the afternoon, one of the scientists found her purse in an alley behind the building. Quizzing a young boy in a nearby restaurant, he told them he had seen a steamcar speeding away with a red-headed girl in the back.

  ‘She’s been kidnapped,’ Jack said.

  ‘We don’t have evidence of that,’ Edgar said.

  ‘Then what do you think has happened?’ Mr Doyle asked.

  Edgar remained silent.

  ‘It’s all my fault,’ Jack said as tears splashed down his face. ‘I wish I’d never gone searching for that stupid sword!’

  Mr Doyle laid a hand on his shoulder. ‘We will find her,’ he said. ‘I promise.’

  A bellhop arrived with a message. After reading it, Mr Doyle turned to them grimly.

  ‘There is to be a meeting,’ he said, ‘at the Imperial Palace. Only Jack and myself are allowed to attend.’

  ‘Who’s the letter from?’ Edgar asked.

  ‘There’s no name,’ he said, ‘but who do you think?’

  Fujita.

  ‘But why kidnap Scarlet?’ Jack asked. ‘It doesn’t make any sense.’

  ‘I don’t know either,’ Mr Doyle said.

  ‘We need to tell the police.’

  ‘The note says that Scarlet will be harmed if we approach the authorities. The best thing we can do is handle this on our own.’

  The meeting was set for eight o’clock the next morning. Mr Doyle insisted that everyone retire to bed early. Space was found for Hiro and Edgar in adjoining rooms.

  As Jack climbed into bed, he heard a knock at the door.

  ‘May we speak?’ Hiro asked, entering.

  ‘Sure.’ Jack was exhausted beyond words. ‘What is it?’

  ‘You did not like me when we met.’

  Jack swallowed. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘I should have treated you better.’

  ‘Why were you so defensive? Was it because of Scarlet?’

  ‘I suppose so.’

  ‘We went out a few times, taking in the sights of Tokyo. We sp
oke of many things, but her conversation always returned to you,’ Hiro said. ‘She greatly admires you. You are her world.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s true.’

  ‘It is true. You are in her thoughts at all times,’ he said. ‘Day and night. She is not alone, even now, because you are thinking of her. Nor are you alone. She is with you, always.’

  After Hiro bid goodnight, Jack sent a message out into the dark.

  Hold on, he thought. Hold on, Scarlet.

  The next morning, Jack woke and was dressed before the sun rose. He found Mr Doyle already in the living room, checking his gun.

  Edgar and Hiro had made breakfast for them, and insisted they eat. But the food tasted bland to Jack. Nothing had any colour while Scarlet’s life was in danger.

  Mr Doyle found a steamcab that took them through the busy metropolis. To Jack’s surprise, most of the city was operating normally, despite the massive devastation that had occurred. Businesses were running. People were heading to work. Children were going to school.

  The Japanese Imperial Palace was a rambling, wooded area, crowded with ancient buildings. Mr Doyle paid the fare and the steamcab chugged away.

  ‘Mr Doyle,’ Jack said. ‘What if...how do we know Scarlet is even...?’

  ‘Alive? That scoundrel kept my useless brother alive for weeks. Scarlet is a far more valuable asset, and Fujita is a businessman. He will do nothing to harm her.’

  They arrived in the East Garden. Following signs written in both Japanese and English, they reached the meeting place, a small bridge over a pond.

  ‘I’m sorry all this has happened,’ Jack said.

  ‘Don’t blame yourself,’ Mr Doyle said. ‘My brother has fooled and cajoled far more experienced people into following his crazy schemes. He was arrested once for selling London Bridge.’

  ‘You’re joking.’

  ‘I wish I was. He’d sold it to more than a dozen people, including the American ambassador and the King of Spain, before the police closed in.’