The Way Of The Dragon (29 page)

Jack knelt before the immense chest and unsheathed the
tantō
. Carefully inserting its tip into the lock, he jiggled the blade round. When his little sister had lost the key to their own chest at home, his father had shown him how to pick such a lock. But this one was stronger and wouldn’t budge. His knife slipped. As he tried again, Jack got the unnerving sensation he was being watched. Looking round, he saw a man’s dark eyes stare accusingly down at him, but it was only the portrait of St Ignatius.

All of a sudden, the lock gave and Jack pulled it free from the plate. Lifting the heavy top, he looked inside. There were papers, silver coins, some jewellery, a thick velvet robe and three books. Jack snatched them up, but none were the
rutter
. He hunted the depths of the casket. Where would Father Bobadillo keep it? Had he given the logbook to someone to decipher? Perhaps Dragon Eye hadn’t even delivered it to him? Having discovered its true worth, the ninja may have kept the
rutter
for his own purposes. Through the rush of thoughts, Jack became aware of footsteps coming down the corridor. They stopped directly outside the door to the study.

‘Please thank
daimyo
Yukimura for his time today,’ said an oily voice.

It was Father Bobadillo.

Jack was trapped. Hurriedly replacing the contents of the casket and slipping the lock back on, he looked round in a wild panic. There was nowhere to hide.

Then Jack spotted a slither of light running down the opposite wall. He ran over to discover a
shoji
disguised as a wooden panel. He slid it open, barely making it through before Father Bobadillo opened the main door. As the priest stepped inside, Jack shut the
shoji
behind him.

Jack discovered he’d entered a prayer room. Furnished in a Japanese style, the floor was richly carpeted with
tatami
mats and the walls were constructed of
washi
paper. Thankfully, the room was empty save for a simple altar and wooden crucifix, beside which was a discreet door. To his right was a
shoji
leading to the main corridor.

Jack heard Father Bobadillo opening the shutters to his room. Holding his breath, Jack put an eye to the crack in the door. Father Bobadillo was not alone.

‘I believe that went rather well, don’t you?’ said a small, rotund man of Portuguese origin. Balding, with deep-brown eyes and a prominent nose, he wore the cassock of a Jesuit priest.

Father Bobadillo nodded. ‘The threat of war often makes men more pious. Before this is over, I expect to have
all
the ruling lords converted.’

‘His Holiness will reward you in Heaven for such faithful service.’

‘I hope a little sooner than that,’ replied Father Bobadillo, a wry smile upon his lips. ‘I would, after all, be bringing the whole of Japan under his authority.’

He sat down in his high-backed chair, offering the other seat to the priest.

‘But we still have one small thorn in our side that must be dealt with.’

‘I thought you’d already spoken with the boy.’

‘Father Rodriguez, every day that English heretic is in this castle he’s a threat to our holy mission. We must dispose of him.’

‘You mean
murder
him?’ replied Father Rodriguez, his eyes widening in alarm. ‘Have mercy!’

‘Of course not, I’d rot in Hell,’ relented Father Bobadillo. ‘But his death would be convenient.’

‘What harm can a mere boy do to us?’

‘The greatest harm. We’ve always presented the Church as united in faith and doctrine. We cannot have his lordship discovering there’s dissent among Christians. Imagine if the boy revealed to Satoshi the truth of the matter. He may question his faith in us and Christ. The boy could undermine
everything
we’ve worked towards in Japan.’

‘So what do you propose?’ asked Father Rodriguez, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. ‘Surely Masamoto-sama would question the boy’s disappearance?’

‘We need a reason to discredit Jack Fletcher,’ replied Father Bobadillo, looking thoughtfully out of the window. ‘Something that will guarantee his banishment. Then again, a war might solve the problem for us. After all, it’s a dangerous time to be a samurai…’

The priest trailed off to stare quizzically at the recess. Jack followed his gaze and cursed himself silently at his stupidity. He’d returned the dictionary to the wrong place on the shelf. The Jesuit’s eyes flickered round the room. Getting out of his chair, he strode over to the casket and bent to examine the lock. In the cold light of day, even Jack could see the deep score mark where his
tantō
had slipped.

‘What’s wrong?’ asked Father Rodriguez.

Without replying, Father Bobadillo stood up slowly and approached the portrait. He studied it, appearing to be deep in thought. All of sudden he made for the door behind which Jack crouched.

Jack turned to run. But he knew he’d never make it to the
shoji
in time.

‘Your Eminence!’ cried someone, urgently hammering on Father Bobadillo’s study door.

‘Yes! What is it?’ demanded the priest, so close Jack thought he was in the room with him.

‘The enemy are here!
Daimyo
Kamakura’s army has been sighted. His lordship requests your immediate presence on the battlements.’

Father Bobadillo seemed to hesitate on the other side of the
shoji
.

‘We shouldn’t keep his lordship waiting,’ reminded Father Rodriguez.

Then Jack heard the study door open, slam shut and several sets of footsteps receding down the corridor. Jack remained where he was, his heart pounding within his chest.

Not only was the enemy outside the castle walls, he was also within.

Cannonshot rained down on the walls of Osaka Castle. The bombardment had been unceasing for three days. The noise of exploding gunpowder rolled like thunder over the castle compounds and the acrid stench of burning filled the air. A haze of smoke now hung over the plains of Tenno-ji like morning mist, obscuring much of
daimyo
Kamakura’s vast encampment. The size of a small city, its regimented rows of tents, pavilions and canvassed barracks stretched for miles into the distance. Masamoto had estimated some two hundred thousand troops were mustered outside the walls of the castle.

Jack stood on the inner battlements with the other young samurai. He was stunned at the sheer firepower of the enemy. Where had Kamakura got his cannon from? Osaka Castle possessed no such heavy weaponry and Satoshi’s forces gave no return fire. Jack realized if this had been a ship, they’d have been sunk a thousand times over by now. But as shot after shot pounded the fortifications, the robust stonework proved invulnerable to the barrage.

In lulls between the cannon battery,
daimyo
Kamakura’s troops mounted attacks on the castle gates. But they were repelled each time. Mangonels upon the ramparts hurled huge rocks and fireballs into the midst of the advancing force. Volleys of arrows fell like hailstones, killing and wounding row upon row of
ashigaru
. Any battalion that did make it through was then faced with the challenge of crossing the moat. Most were killed as they attempted to row across on rafts or tried to fill it in to create a crossing. The few samurai who did reach the walls had little hope of scaling the steep incline of their bases. They were picked off with arrows and
arquebus
shot, scalded with boiling oil, or battered by rocks dropped from murder holes.

Osaka Castle was proving impregnable.

It became obvious that
daimyo
Kamakura’s only option was to lay siege.

‘How long can we hold out for?’ asked Yori, his voice trembling as he peeked fearfully over the edge of the rampart.

‘Months, maybe even a year,’ replied Taro, dressed in full battle armour like the rest of the students.

‘But won’t we run out of food before then?’ asked Jack. Despite the numerous storehouses, he was certain one hundred thousand troops would consume their supplies very quickly.

‘I wouldn’t worry. The
tatami
in the castle are made out of vegetable roots. We can eat those if the situation gets desperate.’

Taro grinned at Jack, but the serious look in his eyes made Jack realize he wasn’t joking.

‘Hopefully, it won’t come to that,’ said Takuan, who stood stiffly beside Emi and Akiko, his injured ribs still giving him trouble. ‘
Daimyo
Kamakura will soon realize the futility of this battle and give up.’

‘But his army outnumbers us two to one!’ squeaked Yori, ducking down as cannonshot exploded on a nearby tower.

‘He’d have to draw our forces out into open combat to have any chance,’ replied Taro, unperturbed by the volley. ‘With the fortifications standing, there’s no reason for us to meet him on the plain.’

‘I’d heard
daimyo
Kamakura was already getting desperate,’ said Emi. ‘My father told me he’d sent a messenger this morning to bribe
daimyo
Yukimura with the offer of Shinano Province! It was bluntly refused, of course.’

‘But isn’t Shinano governed by Kazuki’s father?’ enquired Takuan.

‘Yes,’ laughed Emi. ‘That’s why we know he’s getting desperate.’

‘Well, a province will be the least that traitorous family lose if I ever meet Kazuki again,’ seethed Yamato, his eyes narrowing.

Jack wondered what had happened to Kazuki. Even though Masamoto had sent out a search party for him, the traitor had never been recaptured. His defection was no longer openly discussed among the students. Nonetheless, it remained in everyone’s minds like an infected splinter under the skin.

‘Stand down!’ commanded Sensei Hosokawa, appearing on the battlements. ‘You’re all summoned to the barracks.’

The young samurai took up position in the courtyard, each unit headed by a sensei.

Masamoto stood before them, his face grave.

‘I’ve called you together to discuss a matter of great concern.’

Jack exchanged worried looks with Akiko and Yamato. Was this about the break-in? During the commotion created by the arrival of
daimyo
Kamakura’s army, the three of them had managed to return to the barracks unnoticed. But Father Bobadillo remained a problem. He knew someone had been in his room and Jack was certain the priest would suspect him. It was just the excuse Father Bobadillo needed to discredit him. Had Father Bobadillo spoken with Masamoto?

‘With war on our doorstep, we must face the prospect that we’ll be going into combat.’

At Jack’s side, Yori began to tremble like a leaf.

‘We must be a united force,’ he declared, striding along the lines of young samurai, his hand upon the
saya
of his sword.

‘Be committed without a shred of doubt. Be able to trust one another – with our lives.’

Masamoto stopped in front of Jack’s line. Taking a deep breath, the samurai seemed to struggle with his emotions for a moment. Jack began to perspire. He realized he was in serious trouble.

‘The traitorous actions of one of our students has undermined the morale of the
Niten Ichi Ryū
.’

Jack breathed a silent sigh of relief. The summons could only be about Kazuki’s defection.

‘This is a dangerous state of affairs for warriors about to engage in war. Sensei Yamada, please inspire our young samurai with your wisdom.’

Leaning upon his walking stick, Sensei Yamada shuffled forward and addressed them.

‘Every tree has one bad apple, but that doesn’t mean the tree itself is rotten.’ He twirled the tip of his long grey beard between his fingers as he spoke, his gentle words somehow carrying above the noise and thunder of the raging battle. ‘Testing times such as these feed the very roots of our strength as a school.’

‘Your quiver, please?’ said Sensei Yamada, approaching Akiko.

Bemused, Akiko unslung her arrow case. Sensei Yamada removed one of the arrows and passed it to Yamato.

‘Break it in half.’

Yamato blinked in surprise at the order, but Sensei Yamada nodded his assurance. Everyone watched as Yamato took the wooden shaft in his hands and, without much effort, snapped the arrow in two.

Sensei Yamada now took three arrows from the quiver and put them into his hands.

‘Break all three at once.’

Holding the shafts before him, Yamato glanced apologetically at Akiko as he prepared to ruin more of her precious hawk-feather arrows. He started to force his hands together. But the wooden shafts refused to yield – even when he put his knee against them. However hard he strained, the arrows wouldn’t break. Sensei Yamada indicated for Yamato to stop trying.

‘A samurai alone is like a single arrow. Deadly but capable of being broken,’ he explained, returning the quiver to Akiko.

He now held the three arrows aloft.

‘Only by binding together as a single force will we remain strong and unconquerable. Remember this, young samurai of the
Niten Ichi Ryū
. By the seven virtues of
bushido
, you’re forever bound to one another.’

‘
HAI
, SENSEI!’ roared the students, the fervour of loyalty exploding from them. ‘
LONG
LIVE
THE
NITEN
ICHI
RYŪ
!’

As their cry echoed off the walls of the castle courtyard, the cannon bombardment suddenly stopped.

‘
42
NIGHT
ATTACK

‘Akiko!’ cried Jack, struggling to drag Takuan behind a tree for cover.

His eyes hunted the darkness for ninja, but if there were any, their black
shinobi shozoku
concealed them.

A moment later, Akiko was by his side.

‘What happened?’ she gasped as she helped Jack lower Takuan to the ground.

‘Blow dart,’ replied Jack, pulling the poisoned tip from Takuan’s neck.

Akiko glanced around. ‘Up there!’

A shadow flitted like a ghost on top of the castle wall.

Hearing a twig snap upon the path, Jack and Akiko spun round.

‘Takuan, we’re all waiting for you… TAKUAN!’ Emi screamed, seeing him slumped in Jack’s arms.

She rushed to his side. ‘Are you all right?’

Takuan tried to focus on her face. His breathing was shallow and his lips had turned blue. He attempted to speak, but his voice was barely a croak. Emi leant in closer and Takuan graced her cheek with a kiss.

Then his eyes closed and his head lolled sideways.

Emi took hold of his hand. ‘Stay with me…’ she sobbed.

But Takuan had stopped breathing.

‘Akiko, you must warn the others,’ said Jack, gently resting Takuan’s head upon the ground. In the distance, the sound of musket fire could be heard and Jack realized
daimyo
Takatomi’s suspicions were right. ‘
Daimyo
Kamakura has returned with ninja!’

She nodded and ran back through the trees.

Jack heard Masamoto shout, ‘We’re under attack! Samurai of the
Niten Ichi Ryū
, guard the inner gate!’

This was followed by further shouts of ‘Protect his lordship! All
daimyo
to the keep!’

Feet pounded across the wooden bridges and samurai were called to arms. Jack heard
daimyo
Takatomi’s voice above the clamour. ‘Emi-chan? Where are you?’

‘There’s nothing we can do for Takuan now,’ said Jack, pulling the weeping Emi away from his lifeless form. ‘You must go to your father.’

Jack urged her towards the garden, then ran in the opposite direction.

‘Where are you going?’ she called.

‘To find Takuan’s killer!’ Jack replied, heading for the stone staircase that led up to the inner castle walls.

Jack took the stairs two at a time. As he emerged on to the walkway of the ramparts, he drew his
katana
.

The wall was eerily deserted. Where had all the guards gone?

Suddenly there was a thunderous explosion to the east of the castle, followed by a second volley as if a hundred guns had been fired all at once. All over the castle compounds, lights were doused.

Hurrying to the parapet, Jack stumbled over something in the darkness. A dead samurai lay slumped on the floor, his throat slit open. At least he now knew where all the guards had gone.

From his position on top of the inner bailey wall, Jack could see endless lines of flaming torches advancing upon the great outer gate.

Daimyo
Kamakura’s army had returned in full force.

The attack had begun.

Thousands of Satoshi’s troops converged on the main gate to man the battlements and defend the barricades. But they didn’t realize the enemy was already within the castle compounds.

A three-pronged grappling hook sailed through the air and the
kaginawa
caught upon the edge of the parapet where Jack stood. Jack cut down with his
katana
, severing the climbing rope. The grappling hook clattered to the stone floor as the rope slithered away into darkness.

Looking over the edge, Jack could barely make out a thing. Then he realized this was exactly what the enemy wanted. The gunfire had been a diversion, not only to draw the defenders to the east gate but to force them to extinguish all the lanterns in the castle so the keep didn’t become a target for repeated cannonfire. Any black-cloaked ninja was now virtually invisible in the darkness.

Jack stared into the void and couldn’t believe what he saw. Moonlight, reflecting off the waters of the inner moat, revealed shapes walking
across
the surface. Below him, shadows were scaling the walls like spiders.

Suddenly two eyes appeared out of the darkness. A flash of steel whistled through the air. Jack threw himself backwards, the
shuriken
barely missing his throat. A ninja scrambled over the parapet.

Without hesitating, Jack retaliated with his
katana
, cutting across the assassin’s legs. But the ninja jumped high into the air and somersaulted over his head. He landed behind Jack to kick him in the kidneys. Jack crumpled against the parapet as pain seared up his side. He heard a swooshing noise and instinctively rolled to one side. A heavy lead weight cracked into the stonework where his head had just been, sending shards of rock flying into the air.

Jack scrambled away, his sword out to defend himself. The ninja held a sickle and chain and was spinning the weighted end above his head. Releasing his grip, the chain whipped out at Jack. With nowhere to go on the narrow walkway, Jack cut down with his sword blocking the chain. It wrapped itself round Jack’s blade and the ninja yanked the
katana
from Jack’s grasp.

The ninja hissed at Jack. Leaving the sword where it had fallen, he advanced on him, the chain once again spinning above his head. In his other hand, the assassin held the curved blade of the sickle, primed to kill Jack once he’d ensnared him with the chain.

Jack backed away. He still had his
wakizashi
and the ninja
tantō
, but he’d be dead by the time he drew them. The ninja wound up to strike. Jack timed his move perfectly, stepping inside the arc of the chain and executing
kuki-nage
.

The ninja was taken completely by surprise, the air throw whipping him off his feet. Just as Sensei Kyuzo had done to Jack on countless occasions, Jack now spun round using the attack’s momentum to fling his assailant into the air. The ninja flew over the side of the parapet and disappeared into the blackness, his screams ending in a faint splash as he hit the waters of the moat.

Retrieving his
katana
, Jack didn’t have time to appreciate his perfect
kuki-nage
. During the fight, several more
kaginawa
had appeared on the wall. Jack began to cut the ropes, but three ninja further along the battlement had already clambered over. They went unchallenged, the guards all dead from the advance raiding party. Using the cover of darkness, the ninja crept towards the keep.

Jack realized Satoshi and the Council must be the target. With every defender focused on
daimyo
Kamakura’s forces outside the walls, the ninja would be silently assassinating the heads of state within. For all Jack knew, some of the assassins were already hidden inside the keep awaiting the Council’s retreat.

He had to warn Masamoto.