Young Samurai 06 - The Ring of Fire, page 17
‘He’s not coming,’ said Toge, crouched behind the hay bales out of the wind.
‘This night’s not over,’ Hayato reminded him.
‘Akuma has always raided us by now.’
‘Maybe our attack on his camp scared him off,’ Sora suggested, a hopeful expression lighting up his face as he tried to warm his hands by the fire.
‘I wouldn’t count on it,’ said Jack. ‘He didn’t look the sort of man to be frightened.’
‘Then he could be trapped, his back route out of the valley blocked by snow too.’
‘Wishful thinking,’ said Hayato. ‘Akuma would find a way – or make one. He’s probably just been delayed by last night’s storm.’
But the farmers preferred the idea that Akuma had failed to show up.
‘I think Toge’s right,’ said another man. ‘It’ll soon be dawn. Black Moon never attacks in the day.’
‘All this training, ditch digging and barricade building has been a complete waste of time,’ complained Toge bitterly.
‘You don’t know Akuma won’t come,’ said Hayato. ‘There’s still time.’
‘But he isn’t here now,’ argued a farmer, beginning to rejoice. ‘And he won’t be. Akuma’s not coming!’
Jack and Hayato glanced anxiously at one another as the false victory spread like wildfire among the gathered farmers.
‘Look!’ cried Sora, pointing to a faint glow in the mountains. ‘The sun’s about to rise.’
But it wasn’t the sun.
The furious clang of the alarm broke the peace of the night as a warning beacon lit up the sky.
43
THE RAID
‘He’s attacking from the north!’ cried Yori as Jack sprinted into the village square.
‘You stay there,’ shouted Jack. ‘Keep an eye out in case Akuma has split his forces.’
He dashed up the road to the barricade. Yuudai had already rallied his men. They crouched in two rows behind the secondary wall of hay bales, their spears at the ready. The beacon on the hill burnt brightly, but down in the valley it remained pitch black. The thunder of horses’ hooves grew louder and disembodied howls and shouts sent shudders of fear through the farmers. Some began to back away, their overwhelming instinct to flee their posts.
‘Stay in line!’ ordered Yuudai fiercely.
Out of the veil of darkness rode Akuma and his bandits. Like black ghosts, they charged down the road. Caught in the flickering light of the sentry fire, their faces appeared savage and bloodthirsty. They descended upon the village, swords and weapons drawn to massacre any who stood in their way.
Jack now comprehended the utter terror the farmers harboured for Black Moon. Even in his worst nightmares, he couldn’t imagine a more fearsome and bone-chilling sight.
Only at the last moment did Akuma register the barricade in the darkness. He furiously brought his horse to a halt. The bandits around him did the same. But a number, too intent upon the attack to notice, continued the charge. As the barricade loomed into view, their horses broke from their gallop, straining every sinew to stop. The bandits were thrown head first off their mounts to crash into the wooden barricade. Some were knocked unconscious on impact. One victim landed upon a spike, its tip driving straight through his chest.
Confounded by the fortification, the bandits were bottlenecked in the valley and chaos reigned. With their normal strategy foiled, most were at a loss as to what to do next. Akuma, quickest to adapt to the unexpected resistance, barked out orders and marshalled his forces at a safe distance. Then he mobilized a contingent of men to launch a fresh attack. Dismounting, these bandits stormed the barricade on foot.
‘First row, get ready,’ hissed Yuudai to the farmers.
Although they were terrified out of their wits, their confidence had been boosted at seeing the bandits in such disarray. Yuudai picked up one of the samurai spears in preparation for their defence. Jack squatted beside him, his katana drawn.
‘We only need to go hand to hand if the barricade is breached,’ explained Yuudai, indicating for Jack to stay where he was. ‘I’ll need you to lead the second division, if required.’
Jack nodded his understanding.
The bandits had started to scale the outer defences. It was hard going and their weapons hampered them as they climbed. This gave the farmers a vital advantage. When the bandits were halfway, Yuudai gave the signal.
‘KIAI!’ he cried, leading the charge across the wooden gangway.
The farmers rose from their hiding place and rushed the barricade, their spear tips aiming between the gaps for the invaders. The attack was so sudden and swift that the bandits could do little about it. Cries of pain pierced the night as they dropped to the ground, one by one. Most met their fate where they fell, but one survived. Clutching his bleeding stomach, he crawled desperately back towards Akuma.
‘SAMURAI!’ he warned, pointing to the row of armoured figures behind the barricade.
On Yuudai’s instruction, the farmers quickly retreated back across the moat so as to maintain the illusion of an all-samurai force. Hidden behind the hay bales, breathless from the rush of combat, they grinned at one another, exhilarated by their first flush of success.
Paying no attention to his wounded men, Akuma glared in disbelief at such bold opposition.
‘Hear me, ronin!’ he roared. ‘This isn’t your battle. There’s no glory in fighting for farmers. If it’s rice you need, there’s more than enough to go round. I’ll even double what these farmers are paying. Stand aside now.’
Jack and Yuudai glanced at one another.
‘It’s a good offer,’ said Yuudai, with a playful grin. ‘Shall we take it?’
The nearby farmers looked shocked at his suggestion, but Jack was impressed that Yuudai could still make jokes under the circumstances.
‘Tempting as it is, I think we should refuse,’ he replied.
Nodding in agreement, Yuudai grabbed a spare spear. ‘Allow me to answer on your behalf.’
He launched the spear, his immense throw sending it soaring into the night. A moment later, they heard a crunch and a startled whinny as it embedded itself in the ground right next to Akuma and his horse.
‘You’ll regret that, samurai!’ snarled Akuma.
Yuudai turned to Jack. ‘I’m afraid the spear didn’t quite strike home.’
‘Don’t worry. There’ll be plenty more chances to deliver the message.’
Mustering his men, Akuma sent another bandit force to storm the eastern end of the barricade. Yuudai once again led his first division to engage with the attackers. Having lost the element of surprise, though, they found it harder to fend off the bandits. Akuma’s men were more cautious this time, keeping their weapons to hand, so they could deflect the lethal spear thrusts as they climbed.
While the farmers battled to bring them down, Akuma ordered a second wave to strike at the western end of the barricade. With Yuudai and his farmers distracted, these bandits climbed unopposed.
Spotting Akuma’s tactic, Jack took command of Yuudai’s second division and rushed to defend the unguarded end. He and the farmers fought furiously to stop the bandits breaching their defences. But one was already nearing the top. Without hesitation, Jack pulled a shuriken from his obi and threw it at the man. The ninja star flashed through the air and struck the bandit in the neck. Crying out in shock and pain as blood spurted out, the man lost his grip on the barricade. He crashed into the other bandits, dislodging them as he tumbled to the ground.
Fear and adrenalin driving them on, the farmers kept stabbing with their spears. Confronted with such a relentless defence, the bandits quickly lost the momentum of their assault.
Then a gunshot went off.
The farmers froze like startled deer.
One of Yuudai’s unit fell to the ground.
‘Got one!’ cried a delighted Kurochi, who stood beside Akuma reloading his musket.
Jack raced over to the lifeless man. An arm had been blasted off, but it still made a convincing samurai in the dark. Pushing the straw dummy back into position, Jack taunted, ‘You missed, snake head!’
Kurochi swore in disbelief. Furiously packing the gunpowder into the barrel, he reloaded his musket with a lead ball, aimed and fired.
This time the gunshot took off the dummy’s head … and Jack’s almost with it.
‘I never miss!’ shouted Kurochi.
But even though the musket had made an impact, the bandits were failing to make any dent in the farmers’ defences.
Realizing he was losing men and gaining nothing, Akuma bellowed, ‘FALL BACK!’
The surviving bandits hurriedly withdrew to their horses.
Pulling hard on his reins, Akuma turned and rode off into the mountains, his men following close behind.
‘They’re retreating!’ cried a farmer in amazement.
‘We’ve WON!’ exclaimed another.
Exhilarated by their combat experience, the villagers started to shout in delight.
But Jack and Yuudai knew different. The battle had only just begun.
44
THE MILL
The sun bled above the horizon, bringing with it a crimson dawn. As Jack stood with Junichi in the village square, he was reminded of the mariner’s weather lore:
Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight
Red sky in the morning, sailor’s warning
The prediction couldn’t be more accurate. Although Akuma had yet to return, the young samurai kept up a vigilant watch while the exhausted farmers grabbed snatches of fitful sleep.
‘Are you certain he’ll come back?’ Junichi asked, scratching his stubbled chin.
Jack nodded and glanced towards the village’s rice store. ‘Akuma has few, if any, supplies. He needs your rice to survive the winter.’
‘Now he knows how we feel,’ said Junichi, his expression hardening. ‘But we dealt him a severe blow. I was told eight bandits were killed!’
‘That means nothing to him,’ said Jack, recalling the wounded bandit that Akuma had left to die. ‘He’d sacrifice all his men to win.’
‘Maybe he’s decided to raid another village instead?’
‘I doubt it. We’ve just made Akuma very angry,’ argued Jack. ‘And now we don’t have the element of surprise, our next encounter will be even more dangerous.’
Hearing footsteps, Jack turned to see Miyuki approaching from the direction of the forest.
‘Is everything all right?’ said Jack, surprised to see her deserting her post.
‘Neko’s taken over the watch while I rest,’ she explained, rubbing her eyes, bloodshot with tiredness.
‘Do you need me to go and help her?’ he asked.
‘No, she’s got eagle eyes. Nothing will get past her without us knowing about it.’ Wiping the snow from the veranda, she sat down and pulled off her hood. ‘I hear Yuudai didn’t lose a single man during the attack.’
‘Not entirely true,’ said Jack, his expression grief-stricken.
Miyuki looked up at him in shock. ‘Oh no! Who was killed?’
Jack dabbed a dry tear from his cheek and replied in his gravest tone, ‘One of Yori’s straw soldiers.’
Miyuki blinked, then registered what he’d said. ‘A hilarious samurai joke!’ she laughed. ‘I suppose that makes us even.’
Getting up, she headed wearily for the farmhouse. ‘Wake me in an hour or so, will you?’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Jack. ‘I won’t let you miss any of the action.’
Miyuki was almost to the door, when the alarm clanged a second time.
‘No chance of that!’ she called, running back.
Up in the watchtower, Yori pointed and yelled, ‘Horses to the east!’
Now on full alert, Jack dashed down to Hayato’s defensive line, Miyuki and Junichi close on his heels. Hayato stood behind the protective wall of hay bales at the eastern entrance, his hand shading his eyes as he looked to the horizon. Silhouetted against the rising sun, the bandits could be seen in the distance, galloping across the plain.
‘It won’t be long before they’re here,’ said Hayato, picking up his bow.
‘Good luck with your shot,’ encouraged Miyuki.
‘I don’t need luck,’ replied Hayato irritably. ‘I’ve practised.’
He selected an arrow from his quiver. A cloth dipped in lamp oil had been bound to the shaft near the tip.
‘I just need to compensate for the arrow’s extra weight and drag, that’s all.’
Jack looked over to the bridge. The wooden target had been removed and the cask of gunpowder was just visible beside the main supporting strut. Although he had every faith in Hayato’s skills, it was still an extremely difficult shot – one made harder by the fact he was firing into the sun.
‘I’ll send for reinforcements,’ said Jack. ‘Just in case.’
He turned to one of the younger farmers. ‘Tell Yuudai we need his second division here now.’
Nodding obediently, the farmer dashed away as if his life depended upon it.
Hayato stood by the sentry fire in preparation to ignite the arrow. The bandits were still a good distance off and his timing would have to be perfect. He couldn’t fire too early or else they wouldn’t catch Akuma’s forces in the blast. But if he shot too late, the village would be in serious danger of invasion. And if he missed …
The farmers fell silent as the tension grew.
Jack tried to count the enemy as they approached. Although too far away to be accurate, he judged there were more than thirty left.
Then Jack noticed something odd. A thin stream of smoke was rising from the roof of the mill.
‘Where’s your mother?’ Jack asked Junichi.
‘My mother is stubborn,’ he replied, with a sad but resigned look on his face.
‘Natsuko’s still there!’
‘I tried to persuade her so many times, but –’
Jack leapt the line of hay bales. Having seen what Akuma and his henchmen were capable of, he couldn’t leave the old woman to such a fate. He ordered two of the farmers to help him carry the wooden board used to cross the moat during construction.
‘NO, Jack!’ Miyuki cried. ‘You’ll never make it back in time.’
Jack bounded over the wooden board, crossing the thorn-filled ditch in a few strides.
‘Wait!’ called Junichi, running after him. ‘My mother will never listen to you.’
‘She doesn’t listen to you either!’
‘Then you’ll need my help to carry her out. She won’t go any other way.’
Jack didn’t have time to argue and they both sprinted down the road towards the bridge.
45
THE BRIDGE
On the plain, Akuma and his bandits rode ever nearer.
The snow crunched under Jack’s feet as he urged himself to go faster. He flew on to the bridge and almost slipped upon its icy surface. Panting heavily, Junichi struggled to keep up. By the time he reached the river, Jack was already across.
The bandits were now close enough that Jack could make out Akuma by the distinctive red hachimaki on his head.
Hammering on the door, Jack cried, ‘Natsuko! Open up!’
‘Coming,’ croaked a voice from within.
The old woman seemed to take an age, while with every second the thunder of horses’ hooves grew louder. Jack was about to kick in the door, when there was a wooden clunk and it slid open. Natsuko’s wrinkled face appeared.
‘It’s about time you paid me a visit,’ she said, turning back inside before Jack could grab her. ‘Come in, breakfast’s almost ready.’
Jack chased after her. ‘We’ve got to go now,’ he urged, grabbing hold of her arm.
‘But we’ve not even had sencha,’ she said, appalled at Jack’s apparent rudeness.
Junichi ran up to the doorway, breathless. ‘Mother, Akuma is coming!’
She sighed heavily. ‘I told you before, son, I’m too old to be scared any more.’
‘We don’t have time for this,’ despaired Junichi, glancing over his shoulder. ‘He’s almost at your door!’
‘Let him in then,’ she said, brandishing her walking-stick. ‘I’ll give him a black moon he won’t forget!’
‘Please, Mother, don’t argue –’
A distant crack of a musket preceded the gruesome thud of a lead shot. Junichi was thrown against the door frame, blood spewing from his mouth. He weakly clutched at his chest as he slid helpless to the floor. Jack ran to him, but Junichi was fading fast, his tattered kimono soaked red with blood. Natsuko tottered over and fell to her knees.
‘I told you to leave me be!’ she sobbed, cradling her dying son in her arms.
Junichi’s face had gone deathly pale and his breathing was laboured. Focusing on Jack, he spluttered, ‘Young samurai … don’t let Akuma win … save Mother … save the village …’
Then his eyes lost the spark of life and he fell silent.
Consumed with grief, Natsuko stroked her son’s hair, no longer aware of the world around her.
Jack could hear the baleful shouts of the bandits nearby. Sticking his head out to check the bridge was still clear, he hurriedly withdrew it as an arrow thudded into the wooden framework. Akuma’s bandits were almost on top of them. Grabbing Natsuko, he threw the old woman over his shoulder and ran for the bridge.
Natsuko protested at being torn from her son. Then she saw Akuma bearing down on them.
‘You devil!’ she cried, raising her stick in defiance. ‘I’ll see you dead before I die!’
Jack’s heart pounded in his chest. Natsuko wasn’t heavy, but she was enough to slow him down. He risked a glance back. High in her saddle, her black hair streaming out behind, Sayomi was drawing her bow and taking aim. The ghostly woman’s lips parted into a hideous smile as she released the arrow.
In sheer desperation Jack threw himself to the ground, Natsuko protesting at the sudden jolt. She shut up when the arrow missed them by a whisker and drove into the icy deck of the bridge.
