The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [13]
Jack gave Hanzo a befuddled look. The boy had a pillow of his own. ‘Well, you did wake me. Please don’t do that again. I’d hate to mistake you for a ninja.’
‘Why?’ said Hanzo, frowning.
‘Because I might accidently cut you in half!’
Jack put the katana safely to one side.
‘Your reactions are so fast,’ Hanzo said in admiration. ‘Anyway, you need to get up. You’ve missed breakfast-time. And you promised to teach me the sword.’
That was the last thing Jack felt like doing. But he’d made a promise and, as a samurai, he had to honour it. Rolling out of bed, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and went into the next room. A bowl of cold rice and a jug of water were laid out beside the hearth.
‘Where’s Soke?’ asked Jack as he tucked into his belated breakfast.
‘Grandfather’s gone to see Shonin,’ said Hanzo, who waited excitedly by the door. ‘He’s left some water in the sink for you to wash with.’
Finishing off his rice, Jack slipped on his sandals and entered the doma. Beside the sink was a wooden scoop, which he used to douse his face and hands. What he really wanted, though, was a hot ofuro. The habit of the samurai to bathe daily was one of the surprising pleasures of living in Japan. But Jack didn’t suppose farmers had such luxuries. Anyway, five days of travel grime was nothing compared to being a sailor at sea or living in England, where washing was considered unhealthy.
Refreshed and a little cleaner, Jack stepped out into the bright midday sunshine. The glistening paddy fields were a vibrant green, the seeds planted in spring having grown into lush summer grasses. A few farmers tended the rice crop, but most appeared to be relaxing in the square. Jack could hear the laughter of children nearby and was struck by how tranquil the village was.
Hanzo tugged on his sleeve. ‘So, what are you going to teach me first?’
Jack felt a twinge of nerves. How could he be a teacher, when he wasn’t much more than a student himself? He didn’t even have any training weapons. Looking around the yard, he spotted a stack of bamboo stems beside the outhouse. Jack selected one of appropriate length and passed it to the boy. ‘Here’s your sword.’
‘But I want to use a real sword!’ Hanzo protested, giving his bamboo substitute a disgruntled inspection.
Jack laughed, recalling his own impatience to wield a steel katana. But all that had changed when his late swordmaster, Sensei Hosokawa, had given him a harsh lesson in the responsibility of carrying such a weapon. It had involved a grain of rice, Yamato’s head and nerves of steel to cut the grain in half. Jack had backed out of the challenge, straight away appreciating his teacher’s point. But he had no wish to test Hanzo in such a way. Something about the boy told Jack he’d attempt the feat, whatever the danger.
‘Until you have complete control of this sword,’ Jack explained, repeating Sensei Hosokawa’s words, ‘you don’t have the skill to use a real blade.’
Though obviously disappointed, Hanzo nodded his acceptance. ‘So, what do I do now?’
Jack thought back to his very first lesson with Sensei Hosokawa.
‘Hold out your arms straight in front of you,’ he instructed, ‘with your sword resting in both hands.’
Hanzo eagerly did as he was told. ‘Now what?’
‘Keep holding it like that.’
There was a small tree in the yard and Jack found a spot beneath it to observe his student. Hanzo gave him a puzzled look. ‘This isn’t sword fighting!’
‘Yes, it is,’ said Jack with a wry smile. Reiterating his kenjutsu master’s teachings, he explained, ‘If your own sword can defeat you in your own hands, what hope do you have of ever defeating your enemy?’
‘Ah, it’s a test!’
With renewed determination, Hanzo held out his sword. A few minutes passed and the boy’s arms weren’t even trembling. Impressed, Jack realized there was more to Hanzo than met the eye.
As Hanzo stood there, stock-still, three boys and a girl wandered past.
‘What are you doing?’ called a round-faced boy over the fence.
‘Sword training, Kobei.’
‘Scarecrow training more like!’ he laughed.
‘What would you know? You don’t have the