The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [83]
Tenzen tightened his chokehold. The guard flailed his arms uselessly and was out cold in a matter of seconds, the blood to his brain cut off. Pulling a spiked shuriken hidden in his clothes, Tenzen thrust for the man’s heart.
‘No, you promised!’ hissed Akiko, grabbing his arm. ‘No killing unless absolutely necessary.’
Tenzen relented. ‘Bind him then. But if he stirs, he dies.’
Akiko expertly tied the samurai, immobilizing and gagging him. Jack, leaving Shiro on lookout duty, dropped down beside her a moment before Miyuki ran over.
‘Tenzen, what happened?’ she demanded, shooting Akiko an evil glare.
‘I’m fine,’ Tenzen replied. ‘We reopened my cut to look convincing.’
In the darkness, they heard a moan. But it didn’t come from the comatose guard. Only now was their attention drawn to the figure hanging from the tree.
Hurrying over, they discovered Momochi, strung up by his arms. Zenjubo cut him down. In the pale moonlight, Jack could see the man had been beaten to a pulp, his face barely recognizable beneath all the cuts and bruises.
‘What … are you … doing here?’ he slurred as Tenzen helped him to his feet.
‘Rescuing you.’
‘Who suggested … such a foolhardy plan?’
‘Jack.’
Momochi turned his swollen eyes upon him. ‘A brave move … or a clever trap …’
Reeling slightly, he grabbed Zenjubo’s shoulder for support.
‘They killed my son … boiled him in the pot …’ he wept.
Everyone could see the embers still glowing red beneath the cauldron.
‘They think I’m Shonin … Tried to get me to talk … But I didn’t …’
‘Where is my father?’ asked Tenzen urgently.
‘In the pit,’ Momochi groaned as a fresh wave of pain and grief hit him.
‘Hanzo and Soke too?’ asked Jack.
Momochi nodded solemnly.
Leaving him in the care of Zenjubo, the others dashed over to the pit. Tenzen, Jack and Akiko crouched beside the heavy iron grille and peered into its depths. The moonlight barely reached the pale faces that stared up in disbelief from the stinking black hole below.
‘Father!’ whispered Tenzen.
The other prisoners parted to allow Shonin through. ‘Tenzen, I knew I could rely on you.’
Then he spotted Akiko.
‘Don’t be alarmed,’ said Tenzen. ‘She’s with us.’
‘If a samurai is helping us, we must be desperate!’ replied Shonin, smiling good-naturedly at Akiko.
‘Hold on,’ said Miyuki, taking the guard’s keys from Tenzen. ‘We’ll have you out in no time.’ She began to work her way through the set.
‘Is Jack there?’ croaked Soke from the dark depths of the pit, forced by his injury to sit on the fetid floor.
‘I’m here,’ he replied, glad to find Soke still alive. ‘But where’s Hanzo?’
Shonin lifted the boy upon his shoulders. Hanzo looked exhausted, dark patches beneath his eyes. To Jack’s relief, he seemed relatively unharmed, except for a nasty bruise along his jawline.
‘Tengu? I thought you’d died!’ exclaimed Hanzo, tears running in rivulets down his grime-ridden face.
‘Tengu can’t die, remember!’ replied Jack. ‘I’ve brought someone to see you.’ He moved aside for Akiko.
She removed her menpō and stared at the boy’s face for a long time. Hanzo stared back, bemused by this lady in samurai armour.
‘Well, is it?’ asked Jack, the moment of truth causing him to hold his breath.
Akiko didn’t reply.
‘Perhaps you need to see the birthmark?’ he whispered.
Akiko shook her head and broke into a tearful smile. ‘My kachimushi!’
Hanzo immediately stopped crying. ‘You … you’re like the lady … in my dream.’
Jack could barely believe it. His instincts had been right. Bewildered looks were exchanged between the prisoners crowded in the pit. Weeping with joy, Akiko reached through the bars and gently stroked Hanzo’s face. ‘My kachimushi, what have they done to you?’
‘I kicked a samurai warrior,’ said Hanzo proudly. ‘He tried to kill Grandfather.’
‘Young samurai!’ said Shonin, getting Akiko’s attention. ‘I don’t know who you are or what this is about, but now isn’t the time