Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [71]
Tears welled up in his eyes.
‘Come to the Niten Ichi Ryū,’ suggested Jack, kneeling down to try and comfort the friar. ‘You’ll be safe there.’
‘No. No one’s safe,’ the friar shot back. ‘Daimyo Kamakura’s army has destroyed all Christian churches and burnt down our houses, even as we slept in them! Those friars and Jesuit priests that didn’t die by the fire were slaughtered by the sword…’
The friar was convulsed in sobs as he relived the horror of the massacre.
‘But why weren’t you killed?’ demanded Yamato, his sword still at the ready.
‘I don’t know. Somehow I managed to escape. But I’ve lost everything, save the clothes on my back. I’m trying to get to Nagasaki. I have to leave this godforsaken land.’ Clasping Jack’s arms, the friar exclaimed, ‘Daimyo Kamakura and his army are headed this way as we speak! We have no time to lose. You should come too! He will kill you for sure.’
Looking around in a wild panic, he tried to stand, but his legs gave way under him.
‘You need to rest,’ said Jack, putting his arm round the friar. ‘Let us take you to Sensei Yamada, our Zen master. He’ll look after you.’
It was early the following morning that Sensei Yamada and Jack bid farewell to Friar Juan de Madrid.
‘You’re welcome to stay longer,’ said Sensei Yamada.
‘No, you’ve been too kind already,’ said the friar, bowing humbly. ‘Thank you for the food and fresh robe, but it’s too dangerous to linger.’
Looking at Jack, he implored, ‘Are you certain you won’t come with me?’
‘Jack-kun will be safe here with us,’ assured Sensei Yamada.
With that, the friar set off down the road. Jack watched him shamble away, keeping to the shadows. With confirmation that daimyo Kamakura’s war had begun in earnest, Jack realized he’d have to give up all hope of retrieving his father’s rutter. Fighting a single ninja, even one as ruthless as Dragon Eye, was entirely different from battling a whole army. His greatest concern now was his own life. With each passing day, the threat drew ever closer.
The friar disappeared round the corner without looking back.
‘Perhaps I should have joined him,’ reflected Jack.
Sensei Yamada slowly shook his head.
‘You’re safer in the lion’s den than in a field of snakes,’ replied the Zen master. ‘The road to Nagasaki is hard and dangerous. I doubt the friar will even make it to Kōbe, and that’s barely three days’ journey from here. In these uncertain times, there will be few who will take him in and many who will want to take his head. Masamoto-sama, though, can protect you, Jack-kun. The Niten Ichi Ryū is the safest place you can possibly be.’
30
KYOSHA
The taiko drum boomed to the thunder of horses’ hooves pummelling the air as the competing archers galloped past. The students jostled for position along the roped-off length of the Yabusame course, cheering and applauding their teams. Jack, seeing Akiko, Emi and Takuan fly by, gave a great shout of encouragement.
Spring had finally arrived and with it the exquisite sakura blossom that heralded the inter-school archery contest. But in the month that had passed since the friar’s unexpected appearance, many more stories of persecution and massacre, of branding and public burnings, had reached Kyoto. So far, the cleansing and Kamakura’s army had remained within the boundaries of Edo Province. But there was a growing tension among Kyoto’s citizens as more and more of his forces gathered on the border. Even though daimyo Kamakura had yet to directly attack a Japanese lord and his army was still seven days’ march from the city, this didn’t allay people’s fears. The lord of Edo could strike at any moment.
Seated high upon the ceremonial wooden tower, Masamoto and Yoshioka, the heads of the Niten Ichi Ryū and the Yoshioka Ryū, oversaw the proceedings. From their privileged position, they could view the entire course. A third zabuton cushion, set aside for the head of the Yagyu Ryū, daimyo Kamakura, remained ominously vacant.
‘Would you like some chicken?’ asked Saburo, offering Jack a bite of his yakitori.
Jack refused.