Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [76]
The students gave an almighty cheer.
‘We are doubly fortunate to also have the best Yabusame archer in Kyoto,’ he added, inclining his head in Akiko’s direction.
Akiko bowed humbly and Jack beamed at her with pride. The Yabusame officials had awarded her the prize in light of her exceptional rear-facing shot. It had been the first time any student had successfully executed such a technique in an inter-school Kyosha. Moriko had fumed at the decision and later Jack had spotted the girl snapping her arrows in a fit of temper while Kazuki tried to console her.
‘As tradition dictates,’ said Masamoto, lifting his cup of sencha in a toast, ‘winning the Kyosha brings good fortune on the Niten Ichi Ryū for the rest of the year. May it last. Kampai!’
‘Kampai!’ replied the students, returning the toast.
All of a sudden, the doors to the Chō-no-ma flew open. A girl ran in, screaming, ‘The Hall of the Hawk is on fire!’
32
FIRE OF THE HAWK
The magnificent Taka-no-ma was lit up like a bonfire against the night sky. The students formed a line from the school well to the blazing hall, frantically passing buckets to one another. At the front, Jack was dousing the flames on the veranda. The heat was so intense that the hairs on the backs of his arms were all singed and he had to shield his eyes from the fire. Smoke swirled around him and Jack began to choke.
‘Jack-kun, come away!’ ordered Sensei Yosa.
Jack stumbled off the veranda, coughing and spluttering. He crouched down in the middle of the courtyard, drawing deep breaths of clean air as the other students continued to battle the flames.
Through eyes stinging with smoke, Jack noticed a movement near the school gates. A huge shadow, distorted by the flickering glow of the fire, slipped along the outer wall. It shrank to nothing as a figure furtively approached the entrance and pulled back the bolts. Jack rubbed his eyes. Squinting, he saw more shadows enter through the open gateway.
Ninja! thought Jack. Dragon Eye had finally come.
But then Jack spotted the samurai swords, glinting in the firelight. How stupid to think it was Dragon Eye. The ninja would be more covert with his mission. This could only be daimyo Kamakura’s army. But how could he have got his forces here so quickly? They were supposedly still encamped on Edo’s borders, several days’ march away. Whatever, Jack knew the fire was a diversion and the Niten Ichi Ryū was under attack.
‘ENEMY!’ screamed Jack at the top of his hoarse lungs.
But the fire of the Hawk roared so loud, few heard him.
Jack ran back to Sensei Yosa, pulling on her arm and pointing to the invading force. Her keen eyes spotted the danger immediately.
‘Get your weapons!’ she ordered, before hurrying to inform Masamoto and the other sensei. Since they’d all been attending the formal celebrations, none of the students were carrying swords.
Jack grabbed Saburo and Yori.
‘We’re under attack! Tell everyone to arm themselves.’
Jack sprinted off towards the Shishi-no-ma to retrieve his daishō. Arriving at the entrance, he discovered the doors were jammed and he couldn’t get in. He kicked hard, but the thick wooden panels wouldn’t budge. What was going on? These doors were never barred.
With dread horror, Jack realized the enemy had planned the attack in advance. Ensuring the Niten Ichi Ryū were unable to defend themselves, it was to be a massacre.
Searching for another way in, Jack found an unshuttered window, but it was too high and too small for him to clamber through. Scanning the courtyard, he spotted Yori trying to warn the other students of the attack. Many were still battling the fire, unaware of the danger.
‘Yori!’ screamed Jack, beckoning him over.
The little boy sprinted across, his face black with smoke and his eyes wide with fear.
Jack hurriedly explained the situation. ‘I’ll lift you up. You climb through and open the door from the other side.’
Yori nodded obediently and Jack hoisted him up until he was standing on Jack’s shoulders. Stretching for the sill, Yori wriggled himself through the