Young Samurai_ The Way of the Sword - Chris Bradford [6]
Jack explained the significance of its contents in hushed tones. ‘The rutter is a navigational logbook that describes the safe routes across the oceans of the world. The information is so valuable that men have died trying to get their hands on this book. I promised my father I would keep it secret.’
‘But why’s it so important? Isn’t it just a book of directions?’
‘No. It’s much more than that. It’s not only a map of the oceans. My father said it’s a powerful political tool. Whoever owns it can control the trade routes between all nations. This means that any country with a rutter as accurate as this one rules the seas. That’s why England, Spain and Portugal all want it.’
‘What does that have to do with Japan?’ Yamato said, handing the book back. ‘Japan’s not like England. I don’t think we even have a fleet.’
‘I don’t know. I don’t care about politics. I just want to get back to England one day and find Jess. I’m worried about her,’ explained Jack, caressing the leather binding of the logbook. ‘My father taught me how to use this rutter so I could be a pilot like him. That’s why, when I do leave Japan, the rutter is my ticket home. My future. Without it, I have no trade. Much as I love training in the Way of the Warrior, there’s little call for samurai in England.’
‘But what’s stopping you leaving now?’ challenged Yamato, his eyes narrowing.
‘Jack can’t just go,’ interjected Akiko on his behalf. ‘Your father’s adopted him until he’s sixteen and of age. He would need Masamoto-sama’s permission. Besides, where would he go to?’
Yamato shrugged.
‘Nagasaki,’ answered Jack.
They both stared at him.
‘That’s the port my father was piloting us to before the storm blew us off course. The port might have a ship bound for Europe, or even England.’
‘But do you even know where Nagasaki is, Jack?’ asked Akiko.
‘Sort of… there’s a rough map in here.’
Jack began to flick through the rutter’s pages.
‘It’s in the far south of Japan in Kyūshū,’ said Yamato impatiently.
Akiko rested her hand on the logbook, stopping Jack’s search for the map. ‘With no food or money, how would you get there? It would take you more than a month to walk from Kyoto.’
‘You had better start walking now then, hadn’t you?’ Yamato said sarcastically.
‘Stop it, Yamato! You two are supposed to be friends, remember?’ said Akiko. ‘Jack can’t simply walk to Nagasaki. Dragon Eye’s out there. At school, he’s under your father’s protection and Masamoto-sama seems to be the only person the ninja fears. If Jack left here alone, he could be captured… or even killed!’
They all fell silent.
Jack put away the rutter, padding the futon back over the top. It was such a poor hiding place for something so precious and he realized he needed to find a more secure location for it before Dragon Eye returned.
Yamato slid open the door of the room to leave. Glancing back over his shoulder at Jack, he asked, ‘So are you going to tell my father about it?’
They held each other’s stare, the tension between them growing.
Jack shook his head. ‘My father went to great lengths to keep it hidden. On-board ship he had a secret compartment for it. Not even the Captain knew where my father held his logbook. As his son, it’s my duty to protect the rutter,’ explained Jack, knowing he had to get through to Yamato somehow. ‘You understand duty. You’re samurai. My father made me promise to keep it secret. I’m bound to that promise.’
Yamato nodded ever so slightly and slid the door shut again, before turning back to him.
‘I now understand why you haven’t told anyone,’ Yamato said, unclenching his fists as his anger finally died down. ‘I was annoyed that you hadn’t told me. That you didn’t trust me. You can, you know.’
‘Thank you, Yamato,’ replied Jack, breathing a sigh of relief.
Yamato sat back down next to Jack. ‘I just don’t understand why you can’t tell my father. He could protect it.’
‘No, we mustn’t,’ insisted Jack. ‘When Father Lucius