The Ring of Water - Chris Bradford [66]
Jack knew Ronin’s decision made good sense. With the Shogun’s samurai, Kazuki and his Scorpion Gang, and now daimyo Sanada’s men after them, they had little hope of avoiding capture. Individually, at least, Ronin and Hana could blend in and disappear.
‘But where would I go?’ said Hana, highly distressed at the impending split. ‘I like being with you both.’
Seeing her in such a state, Jack knew Hana would more than likely wander straight into one of the search parties.
‘Couldn’t she go with you, Ronin?’ Jack suggested tentatively.
‘Yes!’ Hana exclaimed, seizing the possibility. ‘Ronin, you could be my teacher and I could cook for you and …’
Ronin shook his head firmly, but couldn’t bring himself to look at her. He was clearly finding this as hard as she was.
‘I attract trouble,’ he said, glancing darkly at his saké bottle. ‘That’s no place for a girl to be.’
Hana grabbed hold of Ronin’s sleeve. ‘Please. You won’t even notice me.’
‘No!’ said Ronin, snatching his arm away.
Tears welled in Hana’s eyes, the rejection hurting more than the idea of separation.
Jack couldn’t risk Hana accompanying him to Nagasaki either. He was even more of a target than Ronin. But he had another idea. And it solved a problem that had been burdening his heart since Kyoto.
‘Hana, I need you to go east … to Toba.’
‘Another quest?’ she replied, brightening slightly.
‘Yes, an extremely important one,’ he urged. ‘You must warn Akiko that Kazuki is looking for her and wants revenge.’ He handed her the inro. ‘Show this to Akiko and she’ll know you’re my friend. She’ll look after you.’
‘Come with me!’ Hana implored.
‘I can’t. I’d lead the Scorpion Gang right to her,’ Jack explained. ‘I’ll be going in the opposite direction and intend to leave a trail, ensuring that I get spotted so as to draw them away from Toba. Will you do this for me?’
Hana grasped the inro in both hands and nodded with determination.
‘Thank you,’ said Jack, relieved there was now a possibility Akiko would be forewarned.
They shared out their provisions and Jack and Ronin watched Hana stride up the path, waving one last time before she disappeared over the rise.
‘She’s a brave soul,’ said Ronin. ‘I’ll miss her.’
‘Even her talking?’ said Jack, surprised to hear such an admission from the samurai.
‘Even that,’ admitted Ronin. He turned to Jack. ‘I’m sorry we couldn’t find your rutter.’
‘We tried,’ Jack replied, putting on a brave face. ‘But I agree, it’d be suicidal to continue our hunt for Botan under the circumstances.’
He knew it was time to face the hard truth. As devastating as it was – the rutter was lost. What you want is sacrificed, the Riddling Monk had said. This must be the sacrifice he was talking about. After all the effort, hardship and risks, Jack had to forgo his last connection to his father, his guarantee of a future and break his promise never to let the logbook fall into the wrong hands.
‘Don’t you worry, I’ll keep an eye out for that rogue … and the rutter.’
‘You’ve done more than enough,’ insisted Jack. ‘Please don’t risk your life any further.’
‘I don’t have much of a life left to risk,’ said Ronin, holding up his bottle. ‘But it was an honour to help you, young samurai.’
He bowed and headed north towards Kyoto.
‘Wait!’ said Jack. ‘I owe you for your services.’
‘You owe me nothing.’
‘But I do,’ insisted Jack, running after him. ‘It’s a matter of honour. We agreed, you could choose one item from whatever we recovered.’
‘But I couldn’t take your swords.’
‘Then … have the pearl,’ offered Jack, opening up his kimono to pull out the gold hairpin. He hated to sacrifice the black pearl, but Akiko would have wanted him to stand by their agreement. It was the right thing to do.
‘How touching!’ said a voice thick with sarcasm.
Jack and Ronin spun round. A samurai in a dark brown kimono grinned at the confused expressions on both Jack and Ronin’s faces. Barrel-chested, with arms like knotted ropes, he looked a formidable and experienced warrior. His rugged handsome face was framed by a neatly trimmed goatee and moustache. But his