The Ring of Water - Chris Bradford [79]
Think like Yori! Think like Yori!
He banged his fists against his skull, willing the Answer. ‘What is it? What is it?’
‘Only … the wisest of men … could work this out …’ gasped Hana as she felt herself collapsing under the strain.
‘What did you say?’ asked Jack.
‘Only the wisest –’
‘You’re right!’ he said, grasping Hana by the shoulders with joyous relief. ‘And the monk’s already given us the Answer.’
She blinked uncomprehendingly at him.
‘Only a fool thinks he knows everything. It’s the wise man who knows he knows nothing,’ explained Jack. ‘Nothing is greater than God, nothing is more evil than the Devil. Poor people have nothing, rich people need nothing, and if you eat nothing you’ll die. The Answer is NOTHING.’
‘Co-rr-ect!’ fumed the monk.
‘He has the Answer!’ the disciples gasped in awe.
They all began to bow before Jack. But the Riddling Monk made a show of being less impressed. Indifferently inspecting his fingernails, he acted like a child bored with torturing an insect. ‘You outfoxed a fox, but is the fox a fox at all?’
‘Enough of your riddles, monk!’ said Jack.
‘As promised, you tell me the answer and …’ The Riddling Monk rummaged in an old chest beside his throne. ‘That is what I give you …’ He opened his empty hands and crowed with laughter. ‘… NOTHING!’
Jack strode over and held the blade of his katana to the Riddling Monk’s throat. The disciples didn’t intervene this time. The monk swallowed and went pale.
‘Here’s a simpler riddle for you,’ said Jack. ‘What one object can save a life?’
With an unsteady hand, the Riddling Monk reached back into the chest and pulled out the familiar black oilskin that contained the rutter and Jack’s pack, with Sensei Yamada’s red silk omamori still attached.
‘Co-rr-ect,’ said Jack, slipping the pack over his shoulder and carefully stowing the logbook.
Backing out slowly, Jack and Hana emerged from the torchlit confines of the pagoda into the temple courtyard. A pale moon shone, rain clouds skudding across the night sky. The monk’s disciples parted to allow Jack and Hana through.
As they passed beneath the torii gateway, the Riddling Monk appeared at the pagoda door. Scuttling around his feet was a small furred badger-like creature with sharp teeth … a tanuki.
With a malicious smile, the Riddling Monk waved Jack and Hana goodbye.
‘There are many paths but only one journey,’ he cried, ‘and the only true journey is the one within.’
He held a bony hand to his chest.
‘Find your heart and you’ll find your home, young samurai. But be prepared to lose far more than a book before your journey’s end.’
50
THE LAKE
Glad to be leaving the malevolent monk behind, they stumbled through the forest, blindly following their old route down the mountain. They passed by the screaming statue and weaved through the labyrinth of cedar trees. The noise of a waterfall grew louder, so Jack knew they were getting close to the lake.
In the darkness it was hard to see more than a few paces ahead, so he used the blind fighting skills Sensei Kano had taught him the year before and navigated by his hearing only. They broke through some undergrowth and Hana cried out, dropping suddenly.
Only by the luck of the gods, Jack caught her arm as she tumbled over the lip of a craggy rock face, the waters of the lake shimmering below.
With an almighty heave, Jack dragged her back to safety.
‘It’s too dangerous in the dark,’ he said, letting Hana recover from the shock. ‘We need to find a place to rest until daylight.’
They gingerly skirted the edge of the drop until they rediscovered the main trail down to the lake. Taking shelter beneath a tree, they ate the remains of the cold rice, then bedded down for the night.
Jack was awoken by the sensation of water lapping against his feet. Looking around, he saw the lake had risen during the night and their chosen path was now completely flooded. The sky was overcast, but he guessed it was long past dawn so nudged Hana. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she yawned, then saw the lake.
‘It’s twice the size!’ she exclaimed.
They waded round