The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [18]
The first ninja, flipping back to his feet, closed in from behind.
Jack was surrounded. But why weren’t Soke, Hanzo and the others escaping while they had the chance?
Outnumbered, Jack knew this was his last stand. Blinking away the remains of the pepper powder, he withdrew his wakizashi and raised both swords into the Two Heavens guard.
‘STOP!’ commanded Soke.
Immediately, the three ninja backed away. Jack, swords still in hand, stared in astonishment at the old farmer.
‘But … they’re ninja!’ he exclaimed.
Soke calmly stepped forward and laid a hand on Jack’s shoulder.
‘So am I.’
10
MIYUKI
Jack stared at Soke in disbelief, his blood running cold at the idea. Meanwhile Shonin, sitting on the dais, was quietly chuckling to himself, enjoying the shocked look on Jack’s face.
‘Put down your swords,’ urged Soke. ‘We’re all ninja here.’
‘But I thought you were just a farmer,’ said Jack.
‘I am that too.’
The realization hit Jack. The old man had been playing him like a puppet all along. Enticed by the promise of escape, he’d let himself be led straight into the heart of the ninja’s domain. He was now trapped in their secret village, caught like a bug in a web. Jack tightened the grip on his swords. The ninja may have tricked him, but he wouldn’t surrender without a fight.
‘There’s no need for that,’ said Soke gently. ‘You’re our guest.’
‘Our guest?’ exclaimed the ninja standing behind Jack.
The girl’s voice took Jack by surprise. The assassin he’d been fighting pulled off her hood. The girl was perhaps sixteen, pretty with a spiky bob of black hair. She stared indignantly at Jack with eyes as dark and deadly as the night.
‘Yes, Miyuki. Our guest. So please treat him like one.’
Ignoring the request, she pointed the ninjatō at Jack’s throat. ‘He’s no guest. He’s a samurai!’
‘He’s a tengu!’ corrected Hanzo, running to Jack’s defence. ‘I caught him. And he’s my friend.’
Miyuki shook her head in disbelief. ‘I should have guessed you’d be involved. Why didn’t anyone tell me?’
‘You were away on a mission,’ explained Soke.
‘Well, your tengu’s lucky I didn’t kill him,’ she sneered.
‘No, you’re lucky I didn’t kill you,’ corrected Jack, the tension giving way to a warrior’s pride.
Glaring at him, she took a step closer. ‘The only good samurai is a dead one.’
‘No, Miyuki,’ interceded Shonin, holding up his hand. ‘Not in this case. He’s a foreigner and the Shogun’s samurai are hunting him. His enemy is our enemy. That makes Jack one of us.’
Miyuki laughed coldly. Nonetheless, she relented, sheathing her ninjatō with more force than necessary. ‘As you command, Shonin.’
‘Your weapons too, Jack,’ reminded Shonin. ‘You’re making me and my ninja very nervous.’
Jack didn’t trust Shonin. He no longer trusted anyone in the room. Soke, Hanzo, Tenzen, they’d all been deceiving him. The idea he was their guest was laughable. The truth was he was their prisoner. And as a samurai, Jack could never allow his swords to fall into the hands of his sworn enemy. The time to escape was now … or never.
Jack shook his head. ‘I won’t surrender to you.’
‘Very well,’ said Shonin. ‘Soke, please persuade him.’
‘We’re not your enemy, Jack,’ insisted Soke, gripping him reassuringly on the shoulder. ‘We’re trying to help you.’
Jack glanced towards the door. Tenzen blocked his way, but there was still a chance he could fight his way through.
Without warning, Soke dug his thumb into Jack’s neck. A bolt of pain shot through Jack’s body and his legs collapsed beneath him.
Jack was unconscious before he even hit the floor.
11
RUNNING IN CIRCLES
Hearing voices nearby, Jack cautiously opened his eyes. He was back in Soke’s house, laid out upon his futon. Rubbing at the dull throb in his neck, Jack sat up. He found himself alone and otherwise unharmed. The old man had used some form of Dim Mak on him. Jack recognized the pressure-point fighting technique, having once been a victim of it courtesy of Dragon Eye. No longer would he