Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [121]
The Way of the Warrior is not to destroy and kill, but to foster life. To protect it.
Jack realized that, however much pain and suffering Dragon Eye had caused, he could not be ruled by vengeance.
He wasn’t a murderer like this ninja.
Indeed, sparing the ninja’s life might save another’s. Akiko’s brother, Kiyoshi.
‘NO!’ screamed a voice as he brought down the knife.
Throwing the Devil blade over the balcony and into the night, Jack turned to see Akiko at the top of the stairs.
‘I thought you were going to kill him,’ she said, picking her way through the burning ruins of the chamber.
Leaving the comatose Dragon Eye where he lay, Jack rushed to meet Akiko, happier than ever to see her. ‘I almost did,’ he replied, glad to be rid of the tantō’s murderous influence. ‘But he’s worth more to you alive than dead.’
‘Are you hurt?’ she said, her eyes widening at the appalling state he was in.
Jack examined himself. Black with ash, his armour charred, a split lip where the Red Devil had punched him, his left hand burnt and his hair a tangle of dust and debris, he must have looked half-dead.
‘It’s nothing serious,’ he replied, as she inspected his hand.
‘When we found Father Bobadillo dead in his study, I was worried for you – WATCH OUT!’
Akiko shoved Jack to the floor.
Suddenly she was yanked off her feet and disappeared over the balcony.
Jack heard her screaming as she fell.
‘My patience is at its end, gaijin,’ hissed Dragon Eye. ‘Give me the rutter or I let her go.’
Dragon Eye was holding on to a kaginawa. The hooked climbing rope, having wrapped itself round Akiko’s body, was now snapped taut under her weight.
Jack’s eyes flicked to the ninja’s sword lying in the rubble between them.
‘Don’t even think about it,’ said Dragon Eye, letting the rope slip a little through his fingers. ‘She’ll be dead before you take your first step.’
Jack had no choice. He opened his bag and reached for the logbook.
‘I’d hurry if I were you,’ said Dragon Eye, a sadistic smile curling the corner of his twisted mouth. ‘I’m losing my grip.’
Handing him the rutter, Jack demanded, ‘Now give me the rope.’
‘Certainly,’ said Dragon Eye, letting go.
‘NO!’ screamed Jack, diving for the kaginawa as it rapidly uncoiled, the rope fast disappearing over the edge.
His hands caught hold, but the line continued to run through his fingers. The rope cut deep into his palms. But he’d suffered worse on the rigging of the Alexandria and clamped down harder, biting his lip against the pain.
Drawing on all his reserves of strength, he slowed the kaginawa to a stop. He heard Akiko cry out. At least he knew she was still alive.
Bracing himself against a balcony post, Jack began to haul her back to safety. Hand over hand he pulled up the rope, but his arms began to tremble with the effort and he felt the rope once again slipping through his fingers.
‘Your efforts are heroic, but ultimately wasted,’ said Dragon Eye, standing over Jack, the rutter in one hand, Black Cloud in the other.
‘You’ve got the rutter!’ gasped Jack, struggling to keep hold. ‘What more do you want?’
‘Revenge,’ he replied, raising the sword. ‘Now, shall I kill you? Or shall I cut the rope first and watch you suffer?’
There was a thud as a wooden staff struck the back of the ninja’s head. Reeling from the blow, Dragon Eye dropped the logbook and crashed into the balcony rail before toppling over it head first, Black Cloud disappearing with him into the night.
A bandaged Yamato hobbled up to Jack. ‘I think Sensei Kano would consider that a last resort situation!’ he grinned, retrieving his bō.
He glanced round at the devastation. ‘Where’s Akiko?’
Jack nodded towards the edge, too shattered to speak, as he started pulling her up again.
Yamato looked nervously over the balcony. ‘I can see her! She’s almost at the –’
A gloved hand shot from the darkness below, grabbing Yamato by the throat. Yamato desperately held on to the rail as Dragon Eye tried to pull him over. Jack lashed out with a stomping kick to the ninja’s chest. But he sacrificed