The Ring of Earth - Chris Bradford [87]
Lowering the rope into the pit, Tenzen braced himself to take the strain as the prisoners climbed up. Shonin was first out, quickly followed by the others. The wounded Soke needed help, so Zenjubo jumped down and carried him up on his back. When Hanzo emerged, Akiko pulled him into her arms, much to his surprise. But there was no time for an explanation or prolonged reunion.
‘Get the uniforms off those two guards,’ ordered Shonin, then turned to address Takamori, one of the family heads renowned for his strength and combat skills. ‘You and I will disguise ourselves as samurai. Together with this girl Akiko, we’ll escort everyone out of the castle’s main gate.’
‘What about the sentries?’ asked Tenzen.
‘Zenjubo will scout ahead from the roof. The clan will stay back, while the three of us walk straight up to the gate. You, Jack and Miyuki can hide behind us. At my signal, we’ll silence the sentries, then escape through the town and into the forest.’
Changing into the samurai’s clothes, Shonin nodded towards the gagged third guard. ‘What’s he doing still alive?’
‘Akiko made me promise not to kill anyone needlessly,’ explained Tenzen.
Shonin gave his son a disbelieving look. ‘You’ve a far more merciful heart than I have.’ Then turning sternly upon Akiko, he said, ‘Your loyalty to your fellow samurai is admirable, but our clan’s survival is at stake. You need to decide now – are you with us or against us?’
Akiko looked down at Hanzo, then back at Shonin. ‘With you.’
‘Good,’ he said, slipping the guard’s katana into his obi. ‘Are we ready?’
The clan nodded as one.
‘Leaving so soon,’ said a sneering voice.
Daimyo Akechi stepped into the courtyard, Gemnan at his side, a malicious grin spread across his sickly face. A troop of heavily armed samurai surrounded the ninja in an instant.
‘I’m so glad you could all join us,’ announced daimyo Akechi. ‘Just as planned.’
‘What do you mean?’ snarled Shonin.
The samurai lord paused, relishing his moment of conquest. ‘A little bird warned us of your coming.’
Miyuki bowed her head in shame, the guilt of her mistake crushing her.
‘Why do you think Gemnan kept the key to the pit by his pillow? The Nightingale Floor thankfully proved its worth. Even though your ninja got in, they couldn’t get out undetected. But none of you will be able to do either, once your feet are nailed to the cross!’ He smirked, stroking the tips of his moustache. ‘Admittedly, the rescue party arrived earlier than expected. Still, you can’t trust everything a spy tells you.’ Daimyo Akechi paused again, letting this piece of information sink into the ninjas’ minds.
‘A spy?’ exclaimed Momochi.
‘Yes, ironic, isn’t it? A spy within spies. Gave us the location of your village. Told us the best time to attack. Even sabotaged your rescue mission.’
For a moment, no one spoke, all of them too shocked by the implications of Akechi’s disclosure. Then Momochi, consumed with rage, launched himself at Jack.
‘You traitor!’ he cried, seizing him by the throat.
‘But aren’t you … the traitor?’ Jack gasped, his fingers clawing at the man’s iron grip as stars burst before his eyes.
‘I’m going to kill you!’ Momochi bawled. Tenzen, leaping to Jack’s defence, fought to pull him away.
‘NO, she’s the spy!’ screamed Miyuki, pointing at Akiko.
Akiko, holding Hanzo close, vigorously shook her head in denial.
A cruel high-pitched cackle broke the round of vicious accusations.
‘The gaijin didn’t betray you,’ crowed Gemnan. ‘Nor did that disloyal samurai.’ Gemnan’s eyes narrowed with pleasure as he delivered the painful truth. ‘A ninja did!’
His callous laughter was joined by howls of mockery from the samurai troops.
The surviving group of ninja stared at one another, aghast that one of their own was a spy for the samurai. Momochi released Jack from his deathly grip. Despite their desperate situation, Jack was glad he hadn’t been responsible for the village being found. But who had? Momochi? Miyuki?
‘You brought your downfall upon yourselves,’ scoffed daimyo Akechi.
A black-clad figure stepped