Young Samurai_ The Way of the Sword - Chris Bradford [46]
The sun was now beginning to set; its golden rays glinted upon the water and shone through the leaves of the maple trees like a patchwork of paper lanterns. Jack absently opened up his inro, the wooden carrying case that had been a gift from daimyo Takatomo, and took out the picture Jess had drawn and given to their father some three years ago, when they had set sail from Limehouse Docks for the Japans. He now kept the picture with him as a constant reminder of his little sister.
He opened the parchment, ragged and worn from repeated handling. In the dappled sunlight, he traced the outlines of his family. His little sister’s summer smock, his father’s black scribble of a ponytail, his own head drawn three times too big on a stick-thin body, and lastly the angel wings of his mother.
One day he would return home, he promised himself.
Jack closed his eyes. Listening to the breeze in the trees and the ripples on the water, he could almost imagine he was on a boat heading back to England. He was so entranced by the idea that he hardly noticed the group returning.
They quietly surrounded him.
‘Enjoying your last days of momiji gari, are you?’
Startled, Jack spun round to find himself confronted, not by Akiko or his friends, but by Kazuki and his Scorpion Gang.
‘Have you heard another foreign priest has died?’ revealed Kazuki, as if he was merely discussing the weather. ‘He was preaching to his followers to obey the Church over their daimyo. Loyal samurai punished him for his treachery by setting fire to his house, with him inside. It won’t be long before we get rid of all your kind.’
‘Gaijin Jack should go back!’ said Nobu, his belly bobbing up and down with laughter, clearly delighted with his taunt.
Jack backed away, but was stopped by the handrail of the bridge.
‘All on your own?’ smirked Hiroto. ‘No bodyguards? I thought you would have learnt from last time – or do you need another kick in the ribs to remind you?’
Jack said nothing, knowing Hiroto was looking for any excuse to strike him.
‘Cat got your tongue?’ asked Moriko, hissing in delight. ‘Or are you just too brainless to understand?’
Jack tried to keep calm. He was outnumbered, but determined not to be intimidated this time.
‘No one likes gaijin,’ rasped Moriko, baring her black teeth at him. ‘They’re filthy, stupid and ugly.’
Jack stared back at her. He was above this.
Moriko, frustrated at his lack of reaction, spat at Jack’s feet.
‘What have we got here?’ Kazuki demanded, snatching Jess’s picture out of Jack’s hand before he could react.
Jack flew at Kazuki. ‘Give it back!’
Nobu and Hiroto caught hold of his arms and put him in a lock.
‘Look at this, gang. Hasn’t Jack been a clever boy? He’s learnt to draw,’ teased Kazuki, holding the piece of paper in the air for all of them to see.
‘Give it back NOW, Kazuki!’ Jack demanded, struggling to escape.
‘Why could you possibly want to keep this? It’s terrible. It’s like a little girl’s drawn it!’
Jack shook with rage as Kazuki dangled the picture in front of his nose.
‘Say goodbye to your masterpiece, gaijin.’ Kazuki threw the picture into the air.
Jack watched in anguish as the drawing fluttered away on the breeze.
‘Look! The gaijin is about to cry like a baby,’ squealed Moriko and the Scorpion Gang laughed.
Jack hardly heard the taunts. His entire focus was on the fragile piece of paper flying away. He thrashed wildly in Nobu and Hiroto’s grip as his only bond with Jess disappeared into the sky. It lifted high above the pond before getting caught in the upper branches of a maple tree.
‘Leave him alone!’ ordered Yamato, running on to the bridge with Akiko and his friends.
Jack felt a small wave of relief. At least he was not alone in this fight.
‘Let Jack go,’ demanded Akiko, pulling at Hiroto’s arms.
‘Look who it is; the gaijin lover!’ announced Kazuki, looking her up and down scornfully. ‘Do as she says. It’s only fair to