The Ring Of Earth Part 3

'But we can't let you know where the village is,' added Soke, producing a strip of cloth from the folds of his kimono.

Jack looked doubtfully at the grandfather. Was this some cunning trick? A means of leading him to the Shogun, so they could claim the reward?

'It's a matter of trust,' explained Soke.

Against his better judgement, Jack let the old man blindfold him.

6.

THE V VILLAGE.

Jack, guided by Hanzo, had no idea where he was going. Despite the sensitivity training Sensei Kano, his blind bjutsu bjutsu master, had once taught him, their route twisted and turned so much that Jack could no longer tell if they were walking north, south, east or west. For most of the morning, he gauged they were headed uphill. A number of times, Soke made them hide in bushes and climb trees until one of the samurai search parties pa.s.sed by. master, had once taught him, their route twisted and turned so much that Jack could no longer tell if they were walking north, south, east or west. For most of the morning, he gauged they were headed uphill. A number of times, Soke made them hide in bushes and climb trees until one of the samurai search parties pa.s.sed by.

Stopping for lunch on a ridge, they feasted on mulberries, nuts and mushrooms, together with some of Jack's dried rice.

'Where did all this food come from?' said Jack, biting into an especially juicy mulberry. He couldn't remember either of them carrying a bag.

'The woods and fields are our kitchen,' replied Hanzo proudly.

'I'm teaching the boy survival skills,' explained Soke. 'How to cook rice under a fire, recognize which berries are poisonous and trap animals.'

'But I thought it would be more fun to trap a man!' interrupted Hanzo. 'Never thought I'd capture a tengu tengu, though.'

'I'm not a tengu tengu,' stated Jack for the umpteenth time. He turned to Soke. 'Must I still still wear this blindfold?' wear this blindfold?'

'I'm afraid so,' replied the old man. 'Our village's location has to remain secret.'

'But why?'

'Our very seclusion means we've avoided most of the conflicts that have blighted the rest of j.a.pan. We wish to keep it that way. Now we must press on if we're to get there before nightfall.'

Following a stream into a valley, they scaled the opposite side. Here they remained high for a while, but Jack was tiring, dead on his feet from his sleepless night suspended in the tree.

'Not much further now,' promised Soke who, despite his age, showed no signs of slowing.

But it was almost sunset before they finally came to a halt.

'Welcome to our village,' announced Soke, removing Jack's blindfold.

Jack blinked and rubbed his eyes. On the tree-lined ridge, where he stood, was a simple Buddhist temple with a small graveyard and s.h.i.+nto shrine. This overlooked a lush, hidden valley. Cradled in its bowl was a community of well-maintained thatched buildings. These were dotted within a maze of terraced paddy fields that fanned out like a patchwork quilt to fill the valley basin.

A large wooden farmhouse dominated the village's centre. Built upon a raised earthen bank and surrounded by a bamboo fence and dense thorn hedge, the building fronted an open square. To its left was a large pond fed by a mountain stream. Jack could see only one road leading into the village, but a network of narrow pathways and little bridges criss-crossed the rice fields and funnelled the farmers back to their homes. The whole setting was idyllic, a haven of peace. Jack could appreciate why they wanted to keep its location secret.

'Come,' said Soke as Hanzo raced on ahead. 'You'll need food and a good night's rest before I introduce you to Shonin.'

The sun was dropping behind the mountains by the time they reached Soke's home, two paddy fields from the main farmhouse. Surrounded by a small fenced enclosure, it was a modest affair constructed of roughly hewn timber beams and white clay walls. Soke opened the st.u.r.dy door that served as its only entrance and ushered Jack through.

Inside, the house was more like a covered yard than a room. Basic and functional, with a compacted earth floor, the entrance area appeared to serve as both kitchen and storeroom. By the wall to Jack's left was a clay furnace oven, housing two circular pots with domed lids. Next to the stove stood a wooden sink, a large jug full to the brim with water and two barrels that Jack guessed contained food. Resting against the opposite wall was a collection of farm implements: a hoe, four wooden flails and some very sharp-looking sickles. The only other items were a grappling hook attached to a length of rope, a broom and a basket for collecting firewood.

'My apologies for the mess,' said Soke. 'I've been meaning to clear up the doma doma for a while.' for a while.'

'It looks fine to me,' replied Jack, who even after three years was still amazed at the cleanliness of j.a.pan compared to England.

'That's kind of you to say, but it's far more pleasant through here,' said Soke, leading Jack into the other half of the house.

This area, overlooking the doma doma, had a raised wooden floor and was divided into four rooms by sliding shoji shoji screens. screens.

Slipping off his sandals, Jack stepped up to join Soke in the first room. Most of the floor was matted, though the tatami tatami felt much coa.r.s.er and thinner than the ones at Akiko's mother's house. But that was to be expected. A farmer certainly couldn't afford the same quality as a samurai. In the centre of the room was a sunken square hearth, above which was suspended a long iron pot hook with a lever shaped like a large fish. felt much coa.r.s.er and thinner than the ones at Akiko's mother's house. But that was to be expected. A farmer certainly couldn't afford the same quality as a samurai. In the centre of the room was a sunken square hearth, above which was suspended a long iron pot hook with a lever shaped like a large fish.

'Hanzo will get the fire going,' said Soke. 'Then I can brew us some tea.'

A moment later, the boy entered with some kindling and a smouldering piece of charcoal he'd removed from the oven. Soke knelt beside the hearth and invited Jack to do the same. 'Make yourself comfortable. You're holding on to that bag like your life depended upon it!'

Jack warily put his pack to one side, along with his swords, and sat down. He expected the old man to question him further, but Soke seemed more interested in preparing the tea than discovering the contents of his pack.

With the fire built, Hanzo scurried off to the doma doma again, while his grandfather gently fanned the flames and added logs from a neat pile next to the hearth. again, while his grandfather gently fanned the flames and added logs from a neat pile next to the hearth.

'Do you like sencha sencha?' asked Soke.

Jack nodded. When Akiko had first introduced him to the drink, he hadn't enjoyed its bitter gra.s.sy flavour. But over the years he'd become used to it and was now quite fond of green tea.

Hanzo returned, struggling with a heavy iron kettle full of water. Jack helped him place it on the pot hook. Soke added some tea leaves, then used the fish lever to lower the kettle into the fire.

'Tell me, Jack, where are you headed?'

'Nagasaki. It's where all foreigners have been banished to.'

Soke nodded his head in sympathy. 'Such a long journey isn't undertaken lightly. But you've done the hardest part the first step. And where have you travelled from?'

Jack saw no reason not to tell the old man. 'Toba.'

'That's on the Ise coast. Why did you not go by sea?'

'No one was willing to take me. Any person found helping or hiding a foreigner could be punished ... Soke-san, I '

The old man held up his hand. 'No, just Soke, please. That's respectful enough.'

'Soke, I appreciate all you've done for me, but I really should leave as soon as possible. I don't want to get you or Hanzo into trouble.'

'You need to rest first,' replied the grandfather firmly. 'Besides, no one will find you here. You're perfectly safe. And so are we.'

'But what if someone in the village tells the local samurai?'

Soke chuckled. 'I can a.s.sure you that won't happen.'

'But '

'Are you hungry?' he asked, ignoring Jack's protests.

Jack's stomach growled at the mention of food.

'I'll take that as a yes.'

Leaving Jack to his tea, Soke disappeared into the doma doma. Hanzo was staring at Jack from the doorway. The boy seemed hypnotized by his blond hair and blue eyes.

'What do tengu tengu like to eat?' asked Hanzo. like to eat?' asked Hanzo.

Jack returned the boy's gaze. He'd given up arguing about tengu tengu. Instead he decided to play along.

'Little boys mostly.'

Hanzo's eyes widened in shock. Then his face brightened.

'Would you eat my friend Kobei for me? He beat me during training the other day and my arm still hurts.'

He showed Jack the bruise, a large purple patch on his bicep.

'What are you training for?' Jack asked.

'Hanzo!' interrupted Soke from the other room. 'I need your help in here.'

The boy hurried away.

A little odd for a farmboy to be involved in combat training, thought Jack as he poured himself another tea. The delicious smell of cooking wafted into the room.

After a hearty dinner of soup, rice and pickled vegetables, Jack's exhaustion finally got the better of him and he began to yawn.

'Hanzo,' said Soke. 'Please prepare a bed for our guest. He'll share your room.'

Sliding back a part.i.tion, Hanzo rolled out two futon futon mattresses, stuffed with straw, in the adjoining room. mattresses, stuffed with straw, in the adjoining room.

'Thank you for your kindness, Soke,' said Jack, bowing.

'It's been an honour,' replied the old man, returning the bow.

Jack picked up his pack and swords, and joined Hanzo in the other room.

'This one's yours,' said the boy, pointing to the futon futon nearest the door. nearest the door.

Nodding gratefully, Jack stowed his belongings in the corner where he could keep an eye on them and carefully laid his swords beside his mattress. It had become habit to have them close to hand. As he climbed into bed, Hanzo whispered, 'When will you start teaching me the sword?'

'Tomorrow,' Jack replied, mid-yawn.

'Promise?'

'Promise,' Jack mumbled wearily, surrendering himself to sleep.

7.

SWORDPLAY.

Yamato hung on for dear life, one hand clasping the balcony rail. Flames engulfed the devastated tower of Osaka Castle, cannonshot shrieked through the night and the sounds of battle raged far below.

Jack stood there, watching, unable to move. Yamato's eyes were wide with fear, pleading for him to come to his rescue. But however hard he tried, his feet were immovable as stone. He could hear Akiko screaming in the darkness.

A single green eye appeared out of the shadows.

'It's all your fault,' hissed Dragon Eye.

The ninja clung to Yamato's back. One by one, he peeled away the boy's fingers.

'No!' cried Jack as his friend plummeted to the ground.

Only now could Jack move. He ran to the edge and saw Yamato's lifeless body sprawled in the courtyard.

But Dragon Eye was nowhere to be seen. A hand seized Jack's shoulder ...

Before he'd even opened his eyes, Jack had grabbed his sword and half-drawn the blade.

'It's just me me!' Hanzo exclaimed, his hands raised high.

Jack lay back on his futon futon, his heart racing in his chest. As the nightmare receded with the light of day, he grieved for his lost friend.

'Are you all right?' asked Hanzo.

Nodding, Jack calmed himself. He'd had the dream several times before, forcing him to relive that terrible night again and again. In truth, Yamato had made the decision himself to let go, dying with honour. But Jack still wondered if he could have saved both both his friends. He s.h.i.+vered involuntarily at the thought of Dragon Eye surviving. But that was impossible. He'd fallen to his death too. his friends. He s.h.i.+vered involuntarily at the thought of Dragon Eye surviving. But that was impossible. He'd fallen to his death too.

'What were were you doing?' Jack demanded of Hanzo. you doing?' Jack demanded of Hanzo.

'Trying to steal your pillow without waking you.'

Jack gave Hanzo a befuddled look. The boy had a pillow of his own. 'Well, you did did wake me. Please don't do that again. I'd hate to mistake you for a ninja.' wake me. Please don't do that again. I'd hate to mistake you for a ninja.'

'Why?' said Hanzo, frowning.

'Because I might accidently cut you in half!'