The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [81]
The first to depart were Tenzen and Akiko.
‘See you in the castle,’ said Akiko, her eyes fixing Jack with the steely determination he knew so well. Kitted out in her armour again, she was eager to find her little brother and, if necessary, fight for his life.
‘Good luck!’ whispered Jack as he watched her disappear into the mist.
All of a sudden, he felt a chill run through his body – a foreboding that things would go terribly wrong. Only now did he question what he’d got Akiko into. What if he was wrong about Hanzo? He’d be risking Akiko’s life for no reason. Jack almost cried out for her to return. But it was too late for that. Whatever course he’d set them both upon, there was no turning back.
‘Are you ready?’ asked Miyuki.
Jack nodded, shaking off his sense of dread. It wouldn’t do any good to share such concerns before the mission.
Miyuki drew closer. ‘Sorry if I’ve been a little on edge lately,’ she admitted quietly.
‘I understand,’ replied Jack. ‘We’re all upset after the attack.’
‘It’s not only that,’ she continued. ‘I know that girl’s your friend … but I just can’t like samurai.’
‘Akiko’s different, though.’
‘Not like you,’ she replied, her eyes catching the moonlight as she met Jack’s gaze.
‘Let’s move,’ Zenjubo ordered, coercing the obstinate Shiro to his feet.
The four of them left the cover of the forest, melting into the mist like ghosts. The final group of Kajiya, Denjo and Kato would stay back until they’d reached the town’s boundary.
Jack followed the fleeting shadows across the plain. It was eerily quiet, only the sound of their breathing and their feet rushing through the long grass. With no sense of distance in the enveloping mist, Jack felt as if he was running through a dream, no end in sight. He was beginning to think Zenjubo had led them in the wrong direction, when out of the mist loomed a large black cross. Zenjubo immediately cut a diagonal away from the main gate and the town wall materialized before them.
Not slowing her pace, Miyuki shot ahead, turning to offer the cradle of her hands to boost them over. Zenjubo flew into the air, leaping the wall in a single bound. Shiro followed close behind. As Jack approached, he recalled the devious grin on Miyuki’s face the time she’d thrown him into the manure heap.
Always look before you leap.
Heeding that advice, Jack sprang on to the top of the wall, pausing briefly to adjust his landing and avoid an open water barrel. He dropped safely into a deserted alleyway.
Zenjubo and Shiro were waiting for him in the shadows. The ninja uncoiled the rope of his kaginawa and threw one end back over the wall. A moment later, Miyuki was by their side. The first stage of entry had gone without a hitch.
Jack just hoped it had been the same for Akiko.
49
DRUNKARD
In town, the mist hadn’t taken hold. Their black shinobi shozoku, however, allowed Jack and the others to pass unseen as Zenjubo guided them through the warren of alleys and passageways, the castle dark and foreboding against the night sky. The side streets were unusually quiet, but ahead Jack could hear the sounds of revelry. As they passed near the central square, he caught glimpses of drunken samurai high on victory.
‘What’ve they got to celebrate?’ spat Miyuki.
At that moment, a samurai burst into their alley.
Jack was pulled into the shadows by Zenjubo and they all watched as the samurai swayed on his feet, staggered in their direction, then leant against a wall. He’d clearly had one too many saké. A glint of light caught Jack’s eye. Zenjubo held a tantō in readiness. Jack shook his head in silent protest.
The samurai took a couple more steps towards his doom – then vomited over his own feet.
‘Hidori!’ called a slurred voice from the inn. ‘It’s your round!’
The samurai, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, cursed and tottered back inside. Jack breathed a sigh of relief; their mission had been almost ruined by a drunkard.
Rapidly moving on, they slipped into a side street and ran upslope towards their intended destination: Mist Castle. Its outer walls rose above