Young Samurai_ The Way of the Sword - Chris Bradford [53]
After a few moments contemplation, Sensei Yamada gave a resigned shake of the head and dismissed Harumi back into line.
‘Can no one provide Sensei Yamada with a satisfactory answer?’ demanded Masamoto, glowering at the trial participants who knelt before him. His indignation at everyone’s failure to solve this third trial was marked, a fact conveyed by the reddening of his scars. ‘Are you telling me that there is not one student in my dojo who can demonstrate intellect and insight worthy of a samurai?’
He was greeted by shamed silence, the entrants’ disgrace growing with each empty second.
Jack joined the others in bowing his head. Despite the fact that, thanks to Yori, he could fold a paper crane, frog or goldfish with practised ease, the solution to the riddle remained elusive. When his turn had come, Jack’s suggestion was that origami taught patience, but Sensei Yamada had reluctantly shaken his head in response.
‘Very well. I now open this trial to all trainee samurai of the Niten Ichi Ryū,’ Masamoto announced, ‘not just those vying for entry into the Circle of Three. So, what does origami teach us?’
The rest of the school suddenly stiffened to attention as his eyes raked the students for a solution. No one dared move in case the irate Masamoto thought they had the answer. The tension grew unbearable, dishonour now tainting everyone who failed to respond.
Just as Masamoto appeared ready to explode, a small hand raised itself among the sea of shamefaced samurai.
‘Yes, Yori-kun? You have an answer?’
Yori meekly nodded his head.
‘Then step forward and take part in the trial.’
Yori approached in quick hesitant steps like a dormouse seeking a bolt-hole.
‘Please, Yori-kun,’ invited Sensei Yamada, his wrinkly face warm and welcoming in contrast to the fearsome expression of Masamoto, ‘reveal your answer to me.’
The hall fell silent as the entire school strained to hear Yori’s words.
Yori finished his explanation, every word a secret in his sensei’s ear, then stepped back and bowed. Sensei Yamada studied him a moment, twisting his grey beard through his fingers. Ever so slowly, he turned his head towards Masamoto and nodded once, allowing a wide, gap-toothed smile to spread across his face.
‘Excellent,’ said Masamoto, his thunderous mood dissipating at once. ‘At least one trainee warrior here has the aptitude to think like a true samurai. Yori-kun, enlighten your peers with an answer worthy of the Niten Ichi Ryū.’
Yori looked startled. Quiet at the best of times, he quaked under the pressure of addressing the whole school.
‘Have courage, young samurai. Speak!’
Yori’s voice came out in a petrified squeak, ‘Nothing… is as it appears.’
He swallowed hard to regain control of his voice.
‘Just like a piece of paper can be more than a piece of paper in origami, becoming a crane, a fish or a flower; so… so…’
‘A samurai should never underestimate their own potential to bend and fold to life,’ continued Sensei Yamada, taking over before Yori completely stuttered to a halt. ‘To strive to become more than they first appear, to go beyond their obvious limits.’
Yori nodded gratefully, finishing in a small voice, ‘This is what origami teaches us.’
‘The Gauntlet is your last trial,’ announced Sensei Hosokawa, pacing the dojo floor in front of the entrants who knelt respectfully in a line. ‘It is a test of courage, your final chance to prove yourselves worthy for the Circle of Three. Judging by the previous trial, you all have a great deal to prove.’
The Butokuden’s training area was empty, giving no clue as to what was involved in the Gauntlet.
‘Your goal is to walk from one