Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [44]
The man with the knife crouched before him, grinning maliciously while turning the blade before Jack’s eyes. He had a flat ugly face with pockmarked skin. Both eyes were ringed black and blue and his nose was flattened like a trampled mushroom, the nostrils caked with dry blood. Jack had obviously executed a perfect stamping kick in his attempt to escape, since both the man’s front teeth were missing too.
Glad to see I improved your looks, thought Jack, allowing himself a little smile of satisfaction.
‘You won’t be smiling when I’ve finished with you, gaijin,’ gloated Broken Nose. ‘Maybe I can’t kill you. But you have a choice of punishment – branding, nose-slitting, amputation of the feet or castration. What will it be?’
‘You can’t brand him,’ said the man to Jack’s right. He was heavy-set with a bald head and thick muscular arms.
‘Why not?’
‘We haven’t got a hot iron or fire, stupid.’
‘Then perhaps I should cut off his feet?’ Broken Nose allowed the knife to wander down Jack’s body.
‘I wouldn’t if I were you,’ said Jack, trying not to tremble. ‘I’m Masamoto-sama’s adopted son.’
‘So what? I’ve no idea who Masamoto is.’
‘He’s the greatest swordsman in Japan and he’ll slice you into eight pieces if you harm me.’
‘I’ve heard of him,’ said the leader with the gruff voice, who still stood behind Jack unseen. ‘He’s that samurai who uses two swords, isn’t he?’
Jack nodded furiously. Masamoto’s reputation had saved him once before with some local drunks and he hoped to God it would again.
‘I doubt his story’s true. No respected samurai would dishonour their family name by adopting a gaijin. Slit his big nose,’ he ordered the man with the knife. ‘A nose for a nose. The daimyo would surely consider that just punishment.’
Broken Nose excitedly raised his tantō. Jack tried to turn his head away, but was grabbed by the hair from behind and forced to face the blade.
‘Hold still, gaijin. This won’t take long.’
18
A CALL TO ARMS
There was a rap on the door. The knife hovered over the bridge of Jack’s nose.
‘Gag him,’ said the leader, passing Broken Nose a dirty piece of cloth. ‘And you, see who it is.’
The bald-headed foot soldier got to his feet and went to the door.
Jack retched as the filthy rag was stuffed into his mouth. Broken Nose drew closer, spittle plastering Jack’s face as he spoke, ‘Make a single sound and it’ll be your throat I slit.’
Jack stared back, wide-eyed with panic. The unexpected visitor was his sole chance of escape, but bound and gagged as he was, he was helpless. He could only pray that the caller would look in and see him.
‘It’s just some blind beggar,’ said the bald-headed soldier, parting the door a crack.
Jack’s hope of rescue vanished.
‘Tell him we’re not a temple. We don’t give out alms,’ ordered their leader.
‘Go away!’ shouted the bald-headed soldier, closing the door in the beggar’s face.
Broken Nose, knife in hand, turned back to Jack. His gaptoothed smile revealed his eagerness to begin the punishment.
‘Leave the gag in,’ ordered the leader. ‘We don’t want his screams attracting the whole neighbourhood.’
All of a sudden the door exploded inwards, the splintering wood knocking the bald-headed soldier off his feet. Jumping to his feet, Broken Nose was confronted by a tall bearded man.
Sensei Kano.
Jack would have cried out for joy if not for the gag.
Broken Nose ran at the bō master with his knife. Sensei Kano, hearing his attacker cross the wooden floor, whipped his staff hard and high into the man’s face. It caught Broken Nose on the jaw and he dropped like a stone.
Meanwhile, the bald-headed soldier had scrambled to his feet and snatched up his katana. He charged at Sensei Kano, aiming to slice through his neck. The bō master sensed the attack and ducked beneath the blade. He brought the other end of his staff cracking down on to the man’s skull. The soldier reeled under the blow and dropped his sword. Then Sensei