The Ring of Water - Chris Bradford [1]
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-0-141-96162-0
In memory of Nan and Grandad, always watching over me
CONTENTS
Map: The Japans – 17th Century
The Letter
1 The Amulet
2 Arrest
3 Ronin
4 Robbed of Memories
5 The Riddling Monk
6 The Ring of Water
7 A Troubled Past
8 Tanuki
9 One Dead Samurai
10 Crossroads
11 Shadow in the Night
12 The Thief
13 The Merchant
14 Breaking and Entering
15 A New Plan
16 The Gambler
17 The Bodyguard
18 Onryō
19 Band of Three
20 Drunken Fist
21 Umeshu
22 Inro
23 Kyoto
24 Metsuke
25 By Order of the Shogun
26 Yagyu Ryū
27 Back to School
28 Plum Flower Poles
29 Death Threat
30 Waterfall Duel
31 On a Knife’s Edge
32 Broken
33 Hinin
34 Buddha’s Nose
35 Sasumata
36 Daimyo Sanada
37 The Rules
38 A Game of Go
39 Constellations
40 Life and Death
41 A Parting of Ways
42 Drugged
43 Live Target
44 Bullseye
45 Mount Jubu
46 Mugging
47 All Mad
48 Riddle Me This!
49 The Answer
50 The Lake
51 The Bridge
52 Honour and Sacrifice
53 Washed Away
54 Secret Blade
55 Hana
56 Redemption
57 Ronin Jack
Notes on the Sources
Riddle Me This …
The Game of Go
Japanese Glossary
Acknowledgements
THE LETTER
Japan, 1614
My dearest Jess,
I hope this letter reaches you one day. You must believe I’ve been lost at sea all these years. But you’ll be glad to know that I am alive and in good health.
Father and I reached the Japans in August 1611, but I am sad to tell you he was killed in an attack upon our ship, the Alexandria. I alone survived.
For these past three years, I’ve been living in the care of a Japanese warrior, Masamoto Takeshi, at his samurai school in Kyoto. He has been very kind to me, but life has not been easy.
An assassin, a ninja known as Dragon Eye, was hired to steal our father’s rutter (you no doubt remember how important this navigational logbook was to our father?). The ninja was successful in his mission. However, with the help of my samurai friends, I’ve managed to get it back.
This same ninja was the one who murdered our father. And while it may not bring you much comfort, I can assure you the assassin is now dead. Justice has been delivered. But the ninja’s death doesn’t bring back our father – I miss him so much and could do with his guidance and protection at this time.
Japan has been split by civil war and foreigners like myself are no longer welcome. I am a fugitive. On the run for my life. I now journey south through this strange and exotic land to the port of Nagasaki in the hope that I may find a ship bound for England.
The Tokaido Road upon which I travel, however, is fraught with danger and I have many enemies on my trail. But do not fear for my safety. Masamoto has trained me as a samurai warrior and I will fight to return home to you.
One day I do hope I can tell you about my adventures in person …
Until then, dear sister, may God keep you safe.
Your brother, Jack
P.S. Since first writing this letter at the end of spring, I’ve been kidnapped by ninja. But I discovered that they were not the enemy I thought they were. In fact, they saved my life and taught me about the Five Rings: the five great elements of the universe – Earth, Water, Fire, Wind and Sky. I now know ninjutsu skills that go beyond anything I learnt as a samurai. But, because of the circumstances of our father’s death, I still struggle to fully embrace the Way of the Ninja …
1
THE AMULET
Japan, autumn 1614
For one terrifying moment Jack remembered nothing.
He had no idea where he was, what had happened to him, what he was supposed to be doing. He didn’t even know who he was. Desperately, like a drowning man, he clung on to any memory he had.
My name is Jack Fletcher … from London, England … I’m fifteen … I have a little sister, Jess … I’m a rigging monkey on-board a trading ship, the Alexandria … No! I’m a samurai.