Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [75]
‘A horse kicked him,’ Jack whispered.
The official raised his red sun fan, signalling Jack to start.
Sensei Yosa took a deep breath and sighed. ‘Well, it’s too late now. Just don’t break your neck!’
Giving Sensei Yosa an uneasy smile, Jack urged his horse on. The stallion quickly built up speed and was soon galloping down the track. Jack gripped the reins and his bow so tightly his knuckles went white.
All too soon, the first target loomed into view. Willing himself to let go, Jack reached behind for one of Takuan’s arrows. Jolted around by the movement of the horse, he struggled to nock the jindou. At the last second, he fumbled it into place and took a desperate potshot at the target.
Jack was so wide of the mark, he almost hit one of the officials. He caught the sound of laughter as he hurtled past. He realized he would have to stand up in his stirrups to have any hope of keeping steady long enough to strike a target.
His horse powered on. Jack snatched another jindou from his quiver as the second target rushed towards him. Throwing caution to the wind, he released the reins and stood. He managed to match the rhythm of his horse and took aim. But an unexpected jolt threw him off balance and Jack went tumbling forward. In desperation, he lunged for the horse’s neck.
There was more laughter from the ranks of young samurai as the gaijin flew past, hanging on for dear life. For Jack, it felt like he was back on-board the Alexandria, wrestling to stay upright on the yardarm in some fearsome storm.
That was it! Jack realized. He just needed to find his sea legs again.
Imagining the horse was the yardarm and forgetting his fear, Jack stood up in his stirrups. He allowed his body to bend and bounce, absorbing the movements of the galloping stallion as if they were waves.
With one more target left, Jack only had moments to prepare. All the training on the back of the dobbin, however, now paid off. Remembering what Sensei Yosa had taught him a year before – ‘When the archer does not think about the target, then they may unfold the Way of the Bow’ – he no longer focused on the final target. He simply let his body go through the motions of nocking, drawing and shooting the arrow. On the wooden horse, he knew he could hit the mark every time, even with his eyes closed. Jack had to trust his instincts.
He let the arrow fly.
His horse thundered on, galloping past the end of the course as Jack reached in vain for the reins hanging below its neck. His first indication that he’d actually struck the Yabusame target came when he heard a distant cheer. But by then Jack was deep into the woods.
* * *
‘You were hilarious,’ said Saburo, later that evening at the school celebrations in the Chō-no-ma. ‘You almost killed an official, strangled your horse, then rode off into the next province!’
‘But he still broke the target,’ reminded Takuan, who sat opposite Jack, his ribs bandaged tightly, surrounded by several concerned girls.
‘It was a team effort,’ said Jack, toasting Takuan with a cup of sencha that Akiko had just poured him. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’
‘Modest to the last,’ said Yamato. ‘He usually takes all the glory!’
Yamato gave Jack a friendly nudge in the ribs to let him know he was teasing.
‘How are you feeling, Takuan?’ asked Emi.
‘Much better,’ he replied, bowing his head to her as she joined them at their table. ‘Sensei Yamada says it’s probably only a cracked rib. The bruising is already fading thanks to the herbal ointment you gave me.’
Emi smiled coyly. ‘It’s just something my nurse had to hand.’
Saburo looked pointedly at Jack, then whispered in his ear, ‘How does he do it? Even the daimyo’s daughter is running round after him!’
Suppressing a grin, Jack took another sip of his green tea.
‘Kohai!’ called Masamoto from the far end of the Hall of Butterflies.
The students ceased their chattering and turned to the head table.
‘Once again, young samurai, you have made me proud. Triumphing against the Yagyu Ryū and Yoshioka Ryū proves we are the greatest