Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [95]
Jack exchanged worried looks with Akiko and Yamato. Was this about the break-in? During the commotion created by the arrival of daimyo Kamakura’s army, the three of them had managed to return to the barracks unnoticed. But Father Bobadillo remained a problem. He knew someone had been in his room and Jack was certain the priest would suspect him. It was just the excuse Father Bobadillo needed to discredit him. Had Father Bobadillo spoken with Masamoto?
‘With war on our doorstep, we must face the prospect that we’ll be going into combat.’
At Jack’s side, Yori began to tremble like a leaf.
‘We must be a united force,’ he declared, striding along the lines of young samurai, his hand upon the saya of his sword.
‘Be committed without a shred of doubt. Be able to trust one another – with our lives.’
Masamoto stopped in front of Jack’s line. Taking a deep breath, the samurai seemed to struggle with his emotions for a moment. Jack began to perspire. He realized he was in serious trouble.
‘The traitorous actions of one of our students has undermined the morale of the Niten Ichi Ryū.’
Jack breathed a silent sigh of relief. The summons could only be about Kazuki’s defection.
‘This is a dangerous state of affairs for warriors about to engage in war. Sensei Yamada, please inspire our young samurai with your wisdom.’
Leaning upon his walking stick, Sensei Yamada shuffled forward and addressed them.
‘Every tree has one bad apple, but that doesn’t mean the tree itself is rotten.’ He twirled the tip of his long grey beard between his fingers as he spoke, his gentle words somehow carrying above the noise and thunder of the raging battle. ‘Testing times such as these feed the very roots of our strength as a school.’
‘Your quiver, please?’ said Sensei Yamada, approaching Akiko.
Bemused, Akiko unslung her arrow case. Sensei Yamada removed one of the arrows and passed it to Yamato.
‘Break it in half.’
Yamato blinked in surprise at the order, but Sensei Yamada nodded his assurance. Everyone watched as Yamato took the wooden shaft in his hands and, without much effort, snapped the arrow in two.
Sensei Yamada now took three arrows from the quiver and put them into his hands.
‘Break all three at once.’
Holding the shafts before him, Yamato glanced apologetically at Akiko as he prepared to ruin more of her precious hawk-feather arrows. He started to force his hands together. But the wooden shafts refused to yield – even when he put his knee against them. However hard he strained, the arrows wouldn’t break. Sensei Yamada indicated for Yamato to stop trying.
‘A samurai alone is like a single arrow. Deadly but capable of being broken,’ he explained, returning the quiver to Akiko.
He now held the three arrows aloft.
‘Only by binding together as a single force will we remain strong and unconquerable. Remember this, young samurai of the Niten Ichi Ryū. By the seven virtues of bushido, you’re forever bound to one another.’
‘HAI, SENSEI!’ roared the students, the fervour of loyalty exploding from them. ‘LONG LIVE THE NITEN ICHI RYŪ!’
As their cry echoed off the walls of the castle courtyard, the cannon bombardment suddenly stopped.
41
MOON-VIEWING PARTY
‘Kachi guri?’ enquired Yori, his face beaming in the pale white light of the full moon.
He held out a small plate of brown nuts to Jack, who was leaning thoughtfully over a wooden bridge in the tea garden of the keep, observing the golden carp swim peacefully beneath.
‘They’re dried chestnuts,’ explained Yori, popping one into his mouth. ‘Kachi also means victory. That’s why his lordship’s provided them for the party. We’ve won, Jack! We’ve won without having to fight!’
Jack smiled warmly at his friend’s enthusiastic relief and tried one of the chestnuts. It tasted sweet, like victory.
A week had passed since the hostilities had ceased. Daimyo Kamakura had sent a peace agreement confessing his folly at attempting to capture Osaka Castle. Unexpectedly repentant, he promised that all those loyal to Satoshi would be safe from attack, his lordship’s reign