Young Samurai 06 - The Ring of Fire, page 18
Sayomi shrieked in frustration and reached for another arrow.
‘GET UP!’ screamed Miyuki from the village’s eastern defence.
Jack and the old woman were now directly in the path of the bandits’ stampeding horses. Using all his strength, Jack rose to his feet with Natsuko and broke into a staggering run. They were completely exposed as he crossed the bridge. Although Kurochi couldn’t reload while riding, Sayomi would have no problems rearming her bow.
At the boundary to the village, Jack could see Hayato and Miyuki arguing over when to shoot the gunpowder cask. He wasn’t yet across, but behind he heard the leading horses clatter on to the bridge.
‘SHOOT!’ he bawled, running with all his might.
Hayato seemed reluctant to fire. But if he waited any longer, the bandits would breach their primary line of defence.
‘SHOOT!’ ordered Jack.
The flaming arrow hurtled towards him.
Jack made a last-ditch effort as it shot past.
Behind he heard a whoosh, then a huge explosion. He was knocked off his feet by the blast and landed face first in a ditch by the side of the road. Natsuko dropped next to him, stunned by the detonation.
Dragging her away from the blazing heat, he looked back to see the bridge engulfed in a ball of flame. Its structure had collapsed entirely, preventing any chance of crossing the river. The lead riders and their horses had plummeted into the icy waters and were being washed downstream by the current. While the men struggled to stay afloat, the stronger-swimming horses were able to reach the safety of the bank.
To Jack’s dismay, though, Sayomi had survived. Blown by the blast from her horse, she’d landed upon the mill-side bank. Her hair wild and her pale face blackened with smoke, she swayed unsteadily as her eyes hunted for her missing prey. Kurochi and Nakamura had also escaped the trap and gazed in disbelief at the destroyed bridge.
Through the haze of heat and hell-fire, Akuma roared in fury at being foiled a second time.
46
ICE
‘Be warned!’ Akuma bellowed, seizing a burning fragment of bridge. ‘Farmers who fight fire with fire end up with ashes!’
He threw the flaming chunk of wood into the mill and watched it catch light. Leaving the building to burn, Akuma rallied his bandits and rode south for the ford. Sayomi hung back a while to scan the opposite bank one last time. Infuriated, she spurred her steed on with a kick and galloped after her leader.
Jack stayed hidden in the ditch until certain she was gone, then helped the distraught Natsuko to her feet. Behind him, the farmers were wailing at the loss of both their mill and the head of their village.
‘Junichi was a good man … and brave,’ said Jack, trying to comfort the old woman.
‘I do not weep for my son. In death, there is no suffering,’ she said, staring at the blaze that was her home and now Junichi’s grave. ‘I weep for all those he left behind. With a tyrant like Akuma, it’s those who survive that suffer most.’
Jack helped Natsuko over the wooden board spanning the moat, before leaving her in Sora’s care. Miyuki raced up and immediately began checking Jack for injuries.
‘I’m fine,’ Jack insisted.
‘Hayato almost killed you!’ she exclaimed in outrage, as she brushed charred splinters from his hair.
‘I was following orders,’ said Hayato, striding up behind. ‘Besides, it’s your fault. I always said the plan was highly risky.’
‘But it worked,’ reminded Jack, hoping to prevent a full-blown argument. ‘Thanks to Miyuki’s cunning and your skill.’
Nodding reluctantly, Hayato conceded, ‘There’s no doubt it was effective. Four bandits were caught in the explosion. That leaves Akuma with a force of less than thirty men.’
‘The odds are improving,’ said Miyuki with a grin.
Jack’s expression remained serious. ‘True, but we don’t have long before Akuma attacks again. We need to remain vigilant. Miyuki, you’d best return to the forest. Hayato, we need every spare man on the southern defence. We must convince Akuma there’s an army waiting to greet him.’
The farmers assembled along the edge of the moat, their forest of spears pointed to the sky. Every eye was turned towards the horizon, nervously awaiting the arrival of Akuma. Beyond the thorn-filled ditch, the patchwork of snow and ice that covered the paddy fields seemed scant defence against such a ruthless enemy. However, having successfully repelled Akuma twice, the farmers now had faith in Jack’s strategy.
Jack too was more confident in his role as samurai leader. Tactical planning seemed more instinctive and he positioned the Sword unit to engage any bandits who broke through the line of farmers. He then walked the length of the southern defences with Hayato and Saburo, offering words of encouragement and advice to the most anxious villagers. They listened attentively, assured by the proven capability of their young protectors.
One boy, not much older than Jack, was quivering with fear at the prospect of the coming battle.
‘A wise man once told me, In order to be walked on, you have to be lying down,’ said Jack, recalling Sensei Yamada’s very first life lesson to him. ‘Are you lying down?’
The young farmer shook his head, somewhat confused at the question.
‘Then Akuma can’t walk over you, can he?’
‘No!’ replied the boy, standing a little taller and grasping his spear tighter as he understood the lesson.
Then for the third time that day, the alarm rang out.
‘Bandits to the south!’ cried Yori.
Like an approaching storm, Akuma and his men came into view, galloping up the southern track. When they reached the first of the paddy fields, he raised a fist and the bandits came to a halt. Akuma wasn’t taking any chances this time. Noticing the land had been flooded, he ordered one of his men to dismount and test the way ahead. The bandit hesitantly stepped on to the frozen paddy field.
Jack watched with bated breath as the man made his way across the ice. The surface held his weight and continued to do so. When he reached the middle, Akuma ordered the man to jump up and down.
The ice held.
‘I was afraid of that,’ said Jack, sharing an uneasy look with Hayato and Saburo.
‘Akuma’s got a clear run at us,’ Hayato replied gravely. ‘That means we’ve only the farmers’ fighting spirit to rely upon to win this battle.’
Then the bandit slipped and landed hard on his rear. The spectacular fall caused riotous amusement among the farmers, as well as Akuma’s bandits who laughed at their floundering comrade.
‘Well, that’s raised everyone’s spirits!’ grinned Saburo.
‘It’ll certainly dissuade Akuma from charging at speed,’ said Jack, glad that despite the freezing their defence had some effect.
As the humiliated man scrambled to find his feet, Hayato took the opportunity to carefully aim his bow. He released an arrow just as the bandit got to his hands and knees. It soared through the air and struck the man directly in his behind. He howled in pain and hobbled in retreat back to the edge of the paddy field.
‘Just helping him off the ice,’ said Hayato with a smirk.
47
A DEAL
The bandits spread themselves out in preparation to attack. They glared at the army of ragtag farmers with derision, unfazed by their display of resistance. On Akuma’s command, they rattled their weapons and bellowed a bloodthirsty battle cry, whooping and hollering abuse.
The farmers instinctively backed away from this ferocious display.
‘Hold your lines!’ ordered Jack. ‘Akuma’s just trying to frighten you.’
‘He’s doing a good job of it!’ exclaimed Kunio, trembling so much he was barely able to stand.
‘You wanted to play at being samurai,’ said Hayato sternly. ‘This is your chance. Show some backbone.’
Suddenly Yori appeared at Jack’s side.
‘I ordered you to stay in the watchtower,’ said Jack.
‘You need every samurai to fight this battle,’ replied Yori, striding determinedly forward to stand upon the ridge of the moat. Planting his shakujō in the earth, he drew in a deep breath and yelled back at the bandits, ‘KIAAAI!’
Realizing the guts it would have taken his friend to perform such a bold act, Jack raised his katana and bellowed at the top of his lungs too, urging the farmers to do likewise. Taking courage from Yori’s spirited cry, the farmers clattered their spears and roared their defiance.
‘KIAAAI!’
As the farmers’ battle cry faded, a scornful laugh was heard echoing across the fields.
‘Farmers pretending to be samurai!’ shouted Akuma. ‘I’ve never seen anything so pathetic.’
He rode forward with Sayomi and Nakamura to the border of the next paddy field. Decked out in jet-black armour, the steel plate of his red hachimaki glinting in the morning sun, Akuma was a fearsome sight. He held a barbed trident in one hand and upon his hip were two black-handled swords. Beside him in her blood-red armour, Sayomi had stowed her bow in favour of her lethal double-edged naginata. On his other side, Nakamura brandished his terrifying battleaxe, its blade chipped and worn from use. He was still recognizable by his red scar, but now half his beard was missing, his skin scorched red with burns.
‘If you resist further, you’ll all be slaughtered!’ declared Akuma. ‘Surrender now or face the consequences.’
When the villagers didn’t respond, Akuma continued, ‘Everyone knows that farmers don’t possess the courage or skills to fight. You’d be better off putting a sword in the hand of a child! This is your last –’
‘They have!’ interrupted Nakamura, suddenly spotting Jack among the ranks and pointing furiously. ‘That’s the gaijin boy who attacked our camp.’
Akuma fixed his gaze upon the blond-haired blue-eyed warrior, who stood sword in hand beside a small warrior monk, a samurai in full-body armour and another ronin with a bow. His expression grew dark and murderous.
‘I demand to speak to your leader now,’ snarled Akuma, addressing the farmers.
With Junichi dead, the villagers glanced at one another in confusion. There had been no time to consider who would be his replacement. Then slowly, like a change in the direction of the wind, all eyes turned to Jack.
Saburo patted him on the shoulder. ‘It appears you have the honour.’
Jack stepped forward, doing his best to appear as poised and confident as his opponent.
‘You’re their leader?’ spat Akuma, incredulous. ‘What mad man put the infamous gaijin samurai in charge – and a mere boy at that?’
‘You did,’ shouted Jack. ‘When you killed Junichi, the head of their village.’
Akuma now reassessed Hayato, Saburo and Yori. ‘You’re all children!’
He turned to his brigade of bandits and said mockingly, ‘They’ve hired young samurai.’
Astounded, the bandits howled with laughter. The farmers shifted uncomfortably, their confidence wavering in the face of such ridicule.
‘You farmers must be desperate,’ said Akuma, letting out a cruel laugh.
‘They’ve beaten you twice!’ shouted Sora, stepping forward from the ranks. ‘And they’ll defeat you again!’
Akuma stopped laughing. ‘Not this time,’ he replied, furious. He eyed the extensive moat surrounding the village, noting the spiky thorn bushes. ‘A ditch won’t save you. But … I’m not a merciless man. Hand over your rice now and we’ll spare you and your families.’
Jack almost laughed at the suggestion. He’d witnessed the sort of mercy Akuma gave out – it involved torture and death.
‘Leave this village alone and we’ll spare you!’
Akuma looked outraged. ‘Beware, gaijin, you’re delivering this village a death sentence.’
Sayomi leant over from her horse and spoke softly to her leader. Akuma’s expression transformed from thunderous to triumphant. He addressed the farmers again. ‘I have a better deal for you. Hand over the gaijin samurai and I promise – on my honour – to leave you and the rice untouched.’
Pulling on his reins, Akuma retreated to his line of bandits and rammed his trident into the snow. Holding up his hands, he cried, ‘As you can see, my intentions are honest.’
Jack heard an argument break out among the ranks of farmers.
‘We should do it,’ urged the elderly farmer who’d led the vote against Jack before. ‘He just wants the reward.’
‘You believe that devil?’ said Yuto, standing up to the old man yet again. ‘Once he has Jack, he’ll destroy us all. Jack’s our saviour!’
‘But if we fight Akuma, who knows how many of us will die? This could be our last chance to save the village.’
‘NO!’ Yoshi the elder overruled, leaning heavily on his walking-stick as he tottered to the front line. ‘We must reap what we have sown. We agreed when Junichi was alive and we must respect his memory. There’s no going back now.’
Yoshi stepped on to the moat beside Jack and bowed to him. Then turning to Akuma, he called, ‘We know your game, Akuma. We no longer bow to you. No deal!’
Akuma glared in disbelief at the outrageous defiance of the villagers.
‘Know this,’ he thundered. ‘YOU’VE JUST DECLARED WAR!’
48
SCARED
Seeing Akuma snatch up his trident, Saburo pulled out his katana in preparation for battle. The polished blade shone like quicksilver in the sun.
‘Time to make use of my father’s gift,’ he said, offering Jack a grim smile.
‘You’ll make him proud,’ Jack replied. ‘And Kiku’s father.’
Saburo forced a laugh. ‘I only wish I was able to write haiku. Poetry is a far less dangerous way of impressing a girl.’
‘But no easier,’ said Jack, remembering the haiku he’d written for Akiko. It had taken him months to compose, even with Yori’s help.
Determined to keep the farmers focused on fighting rather than fear – as well as demonstrate to Akuma their military capability – Jack gave the signal to begin defensive formations. On Hayato’s command, the farmers lowered their spears and advanced to the front line, ready to fend off the invading bandits. A fearful tension hung in the air as they waited for Akuma to make his move.
But Akuma didn’t give the order to attack. In fact, the bandits appeared in little rush to go anywhere, satisfied merely to intimidate their victims.
‘Why’s he not attacking?’ asked Saburo.
Jack looked along the line. Only now did he notice Kurochi the Snake wasn’t among them. He did a quick count. The bandits numbered just twenty-three.
‘Hayato, take command,’ said Jack urgently.
‘Where are you going?’
‘Akuma’s tricked us,’ cried Jack, beckoning three men from the Sword unit to follow him. ‘I must warn Miyuki.’ And he ran off towards the forest.
As Jack flew along the path, he heard the distinctive blast of a musket shot. Turning the corner of the last house, he found the small group of defending farmers cowering behind their wooden barrier. On the ground lay a body.
Neko knelt beside the dying victim, trying to stem the bleeding. No match for the power of a lead bullet, the barrier hadn’t provided much protection and the musket shot had gone straight through. Fearing the worst, Jack rushed over just as the unfortunate farmer gave a guttural groan and fell still.
Neko continued to hold the wound closed, silently imploring the man to come back round. But there was little hope of that. Jack respectfully closed the dead farmer’s eyes and pulled Neko away.
Where’s Miyuki? Jack signed.
With a bloodstained hand, Neko pointed to the forest. Jack peered round the barrier. Kurochi and seven bandits were cautiously edging along the main track in single file. But there was no sign of Miyuki.
He tried not to worry about her, realizing she was probably well hidden. Yet seeing the bandits approach unopposed, he couldn’t help question the effectiveness of her defences. With his katana at the ready, he urged the other three farmers to unsheathe theirs and prepare to engage.
The bandits’ confidence grew, the further along the snowy track they came. Clearly believing Akuma’s diversion had drawn all the ronin to the southern boundary, the leading bandit began to stride towards the village.
Then he was gone.
In the blink of an eye, the man had completely vanished from the path. Kurochi and the other bandits came to an abrupt halt, all of them sharing the same shocked expression. Even the farmers were surprised by his sudden disappearance.
Then a pained moan rose from the hidden pit. ‘My legs … my legs … they’re broken!’
‘Spread out!’ ordered Kurochi, making a sweep of the forest with his musket.
His remaining six men fanned out. They kept their eyes on the ground, worried they too might fall into another snow-covered trap.
Rebuking himself for even doubting Miyuki, Jack now watched their advance with eager expectation. As the bandits worked their way through the undergrowth, he wondered who the next victim would be. He didn’t have to wait long. One man was concentrating so hard on where he was placing his feet that he never saw what hit him. Pushing his way between two bushes, he triggered the release of a pre-sprung branch. It snapped back into place, striking the bandit in the forehead with such force that it sent him flying backwards. He rebounded off a tree trunk and dropped unconscious into the snow.
The other bandits were now petrified of making any movement.
‘Keep going!’ urged Kurochi, although he remained where he stood.
A grunt of pain alerted Kurochi to the loss of a third man. He lay slumped on the ground, having apparently been attacked by a mound of snow.
The four bandits left were frozen with fear as they imagined death awaiting them in every bush, tree and snowdrift. But Kurochi wasn’t so easily put off. He raised his loaded musket and took careful aim.
