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‘I guess we are,’ replied Yamato, bowing in acknowledgement.

‘Then you’re welcome to join me. Even the gaijin.’

Jack ignored the insulting term for a foreigner. This man was their only lead and they needed him on their side. Besides, it could only work to their advantage if Orochi wasn’t aware that Jack spoke fluent Japanese.

The man raised a deformed-looking left hand at the proprietor and asked for saké. With the drink ordered and Orochi having apparently accepted his three guests, conversation and gaming resumed throughout the bar.

Jack, Akiko and Yamato sat cross-legged on the opposite side of the low table, while the serving girl delivered a large flask of saké and a single small cup. She took payment from Yamato, then left.

‘I must apologize for my terrible table manners,’ Orochi wheezed genially to Akiko, indicating his dirty right leg resting upon a cushion, the sole of his foot in full view. ‘I don’t mean to insult you, but I’ve been crippled from birth, you see.’

‘It’s not a problem,’ she replied, pouring Orochi his drink, as was the custom if a woman was present.

Picking up the cup with his good hand, Orochi knocked it back in one go. Akiko refilled it.

‘We’d like some information,’ began Akiko, keeping her voice low as Orochi reached for his saké again, ‘about Dokugan Ryu’s whereabouts.’

Orochi’s hand faltered at the mention of Dragon Eye’s name, but then he took the cup and downed its contents.

‘This saké’s horrible!’ he complained, coughing loudly and thumping his chest. ‘To get the stuff you’re after, though, costs a lot more.’

He gave Yamato a meaningful look, while Akiko poured him another cup. Yamato understood the implication and nodded to Akiko. She removed a large milky-white pearl from the sleeve of her kimono and placed it on the table before Orochi.

‘That should more than cover your costs,’ Yamato stated.

The man’s dark eyes gleamed at the sight of the pearl, then darted around the room to check no one was paying them attention. Satisfied, Orochi’s mouth broke into a smile as crooked as his hand.

He reached for the pearl.

Yamato grabbed hold of the man’s wrist.

‘I usually pay on delivery of an order,’ observed Yamato.

‘Of course,’ agreed Orochi, withdrawing his hand. Then, in a low voice, he whispered, ‘If I were you, I’d visit the village of –’

A bell tinkled as the entrance shoji slid open and two new customers came in. Orochi stopped speaking and waited for them to be seated at the counter. Jack noticed one of the men had a little finger missing as he beckoned to the proprietor to place his order.

‘You were saying?’ prompted Yamato.

For a moment Orochi appeared distracted, but his attention quickly returned to the pearl.

‘Yes… would you excuse me? The call of nature,’ he said, reaching for his crutch. ‘Takes me a little while to get there, so when I feel the need I have to go. I’m sure you understand.’

As Orochi rose to his feet, he fell against the table, knocking over the saké flask and spilling its contents across the surface.

‘This weakness in my leg is insufferable,’ he mumbled, by way of an apology. ‘I’ll be back in a moment. Girl, clear this up!’

Bent double, Orochi hobbled over to the back door. The serving girl hurried to their table and began to clear up the mess. As she did so, Jack noticed something was missing.

‘Where’s the pearl?’

They looked on the floor and then, with a dread realization, stared at one another. Orochi had stolen it!

The three of them ran out of the back door.

Orochi was nowhere to be seen. Then Akiko caught a glimpse of a figure entering the bamboo forest, which backed on to the inn. Surprisingly nimble, Orochi had disappeared into its depths before any of them managed to reach the forest edge. They plunged in after him and gave chase… until the thief vanished into the thicket.

‘Did you hear that?’ said Akiko, interrupting Jack’s search for Orochi.

‘Hear what?’ asked Jack.

‘Shhh, listen!’

They all fell silent.

There was the gentle wash of noise, like a wave upon the shore, as the leaves rustled high in the canopy. This peaceful