The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [63]
That evening, Shonin arranged for a celebration of Jack’s official induction as a ninja. He held a formal dinner in his farmhouse, inviting all the heads of family, as well as Tenzen, Miyuki and Hanzo. To Jack’s surprise, Miyuki chose the seat beside him.
‘May I?’ said Miyuki, offering to pour Jack his tea.
Jack hesitated. After all the antagonism between them, he still couldn’t quite believe she was acting so amicably. He also recalled her lethal answer to the Ring of Water.
‘I haven’t poisoned it, if that’s what you’re thinking,’ she laughed.
‘No, of course not,’ Jack replied, and, hurriedly thinking of an excuse, added, ‘It’s just, in England, a man pours his own drink.’
‘Well, you’re in Japan,’ she said, filling his cup.
‘What’s England like?’ asked Hanzo, who sat on Jack’s other side.
Jack thought for a moment. An unexpected wave of homesickness hit him. He could recall green fields, dirty streets, bustling ports, the smell of baking bread, the stink of the tanneries, the peel of church bells on a Sunday, the laughter of his little sister. But these memories of home were fading like a ship in fog. He’d been gone too long, far too long.
‘Very different from Japan,’ he replied, a faraway look in his eyes. ‘But some things are the same. It’s an island like Japan. We have castles. Farms. But we grow wheat, not rice. No one drinks tea, though we do eat fish. Just not like this.’ He picked up a slice of raw salmon with his hashi and popped it in his mouth.
‘Do you have samurai and ninja too?’ asked Hanzo eagerly.
‘No,’ replied Jack, smiling at the idea. ‘But we used to have knights who fought for the King. They followed a code much like bushido called chivalry.’
‘But if you don’t have rice, tea or ninja, why would you want to go home?’ asked Hanzo, his brow creasing in bewilderment.
Jack almost laughed out loud at Hanzo’s childlike logic, and was only stopped by the nagging worry tugging at his heart.
‘Jess … she’s waiting for me.’
‘Jess?’ queried Miyuki. ‘She’s your …’
‘Little sister,’ said Jack. ‘She was left in the care of an old neighbour. But I’ve been gone so long I worry she’s now on her own or in a workhouse.’
‘I’m sure she’s fine,’ consoled Miyuki, hearing the anxiety in his voice. ‘If she’s half as resilient as you, she’ll have found a way to survive.’
Jack bowed his head in acknowledgement of Miyuki’s kind words, but the gesture was more to hide the tears welling in his eyes. When he and his father had left Jess in England, she was barely five years old, innocent and vulnerable. That was how he still pictured her; and as her older brother and only surviving relative, it was his duty to look after her. He had to continue his journey to Nagasaki and home.
Jack tried to put his concerns to the back of his mind. If he was worried for Jess, then Akiko was equally grieving for Kiyoshi. Somehow, Jack vowed, he would reunite them.
Hanzo, in his youth and enthusiasm, was oblivious to Jack’s moment of sadness. Shovelling down another mouthful of rice, he said, ‘Tengu, tell me again how you escaped the samurai. Are you sure you didn’t use magic and fly out?’
Turning to Hanzo, Jack prepared to regale his story of escape for the umpteenth time when Shonin clapped for attention.
‘Tonight is for celebration and reflection,’ he announced. ‘I admit my judgement was misguided in sending Jack upon this mission. Momochi, please accept my apology. But even monkeys fall from trees.’
There was some laughter at this, and Momochi seemed satisfied that his opinion had been publicly and respectfully acknowledged.
‘But I have been proved right,’ continued Shonin, ‘in agreeing to Soke’s request to train Jack as a ninja.’
All heads turned towards Jack, who felt slightly embarrassed at being the centre of attention. Hanzo, though, beamed proudly on his behalf.
‘Our foreign friend has proved himself, beyond doubt, to be loyal to our clan. Not only that, his incredible escape is a credit to the boy’s ninjutsu skills – and our Grandmaster’s tuition.’
There was a murmur of approval and Soke