Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [70]
The sword clattered to the dojo floor.
All the students now stared in wide-eyed amazement at Jack, apart from Taro who bore a proud grin.
It took a moment for Jack to realize what he’d done.
He’d disarmed the legendary swordmaster, Masamoto Takeshi.
He’d accomplished a perfect Autumn Leaf strike.
‘I did it!’ breathed Jack. ‘I’ve mastered the Two Heavens.’
But the duel wasn’t over. Masamoto still had his wakizashi.
Before Jack could exploit his advantage, Masamoto had changed grip on the short training sword and threw it at Jack. The hilt struck him hard in the chest. Staggering backwards, his heel caught on the edge of the dais and he crashed to the floor.
‘You’re dead,’ stated Masamoto, ending the duel.
Breathless and exasperated, Jack tried to protest, ‘But that… wasn’t sword fighting… You threw it at me.’
‘Mountain to Sea,’ replied Masamoto, offering Jack no sympathy. ‘In order to break through your double guard and win, I had to change tactics. I had to attack in a manner that wouldn’t be expected. In other words, move from the Mountain to the Sea. Learn from this, young samurai.’
Jack got to his feet and returned Masamoto’s wakizashi to him.
‘It’s satisfying to see you’ve grasped the Autumn Leaf strike at last, but do not confuse individual sword techniques with the Two Heavens style as a whole,’ reprimanded Masamoto, his scarred face stern and unsmiling.
Jack bowed his head in acknowledgement. Carried away by his brief success, it had been foolish to think that he’d suddenly mastered the technique.
‘The true Way of this style is not solely about handling two swords,’ Masamoto explained, now addressing the whole class. ‘The essence of the Two Heavens is the spirit of winning – to obtain victory by any means and with any weapon. Understand this and you’ll be well on the way to mastering the Two Heavens.’
With the snow now gone, the early spring sunshine had encouraged people on to Kyoto’s streets. Jack and Yamato, late as they were for their Yabusame class, had to push their way through the crowds. In the marketplace, Jack noticed a tense, edgy atmosphere as harassed shoppers bought provisions. After no word for months, rumours were now spreading that Kamamura’s army was on the march and many people were stocking up in case of war.
‘So how’s the Two Heavens training going?’ asked Yamato.
Jack was taken by surprise at the unexpected question. His friend usually avoided talking about it. Despite Yamato’s prowess in other classes, it reminded him of his failure to live up to his father’s expectations.
‘Good and bad,’ replied Jack. ‘I’ve just discovered the Two Heavens is as much to do with battle strategy, as it is with skill –’
Suddenly a hand shot out from a side alley and grabbed Jack by the arm. His immediate thought was of ronin seizing him for punishment again and he shouted to Yamato for help. At the same time, he instinctively twisted his hand round and put the attacker into a crippling lock. The man fell to his knees, crying out for mercy. In a flash Yamato was by Jack’s side, sword drawn.
‘Don’t kill me!’ pleaded the man as he grovelled on the ground. ‘I mean you no harm.’
‘What do you want then?’ demanded Yamato.
Dirty and dishevelled, the man wore a tattered cowl and cloak, his face was haggard, and his eyes sunken and bloodshot. But the most remarkable thing about him was that he wasn’t Japanese.
‘I… I’m Friar Juan de Madrid,’ he stuttered, his Spanish accent thickly tainting his Japanese. ‘I’m a Franciscan monk from the Church of St Francis in Edo. I saw this boy and thought he could help me.’
‘What could I do?’ asked Jack, wondering how the friar had got into such an appalling state.
‘You’re European. I thought you may be attached to a Spanish or Portuguese vessel.’
‘No. I was shipwrecked here. I’m English.’
‘English!’ exclaimed the friar, stunned. Jack nodded. ‘No matter. In these dreadful times, we must be allies, not enemies. As I said, I’ve come from Edo in the north where I’ve been for many years, had a faithful congregation,