Young Samurai 06 - The Ring of Fire by Chris Bradford Read Free Book Online

quieter. Still they managed to attract the attention of two more samurai. The first had also heard of Akuma and hurriedly made his excuses to leave; the second balked at the lack of glory in dying for lowly farmers.
    ‘I’m sure we’ll have better luck tomorrow,’ said Jack, hiding his own disappointment.
    Dispirited, Toge paid the bill and the three of them headed back to the storehouse. As they crossed the street, Jack sensed someone following them. Without looking round, he indicated for Toge to take the next alley.
    But their pursuer wasn’t far behind.
    Weaving through the backstreets, Jack urged the farmers to quicken their pace. Still they couldn’t shake him off. Signing for Toge and Sora to continue, Jack ducked into a narrow passageway. Footsteps crunched in the snow. Jack tightened the grip on his sword. A shadowy figure passed by.
    Then stopped.
    ‘Do you always hide from friends?’

10
    AN OLD FRIEND
    A round-faced boy with thick bushy eyebrows and an ample belly grinned down the passageway at Jack.
    ‘SABURO!’ exclaimed Jack, recognizing his old friend at once. ‘What are you doing here?’
    ‘I was about to ask you the same question.’
    Toge and Sora shuffled back, bemused expressions on their faces.
    ‘You know this samurai?’ queried Toge, eyeing the swords on Saburo’s hip.
    ‘ Know him? I trained with him for three years!’ Jack exclaimed, as he abandoned Japanese etiquette and embraced his friend warmly. ‘We were at the Niten Ichi Ryū together in Kyoto.’
    ‘And Jack was the teacher’s pet,’ teased Saburo, elbowing his friend in the ribs.
    ‘Yes, the one that was kicked and punched around the dojo by Sensei Kyuzo.’
    Saburo laughed. ‘Well, you needed toughening up!’
    ‘How did you ever find me?’
    ‘I was watching you for ages in the market,’ explained Saburo. ‘I couldn’t be certain it was you, so I waited until you left the main square.’
    ‘Does your samurai friend want to join us for supper?’ interjected Sora.
    Saburo beamed at the suggestion of food. ‘I’d be delighted.’
    The four of them made their way back to the dilapidated storehouse.
    ‘You’re living the life of a lord!’ mocked Saburo as he inspected the decaying wooden walls and dirt floor.
    ‘I have to keep a low profile,’ explained Jack, noticing the shame on Sora’s face at his friend’s offhand comment.
    The farmer manically tried to clean the raised platform before inviting both of them to sit.
    ‘So, what are you doing in Okayama?’ asked Jack.
    ‘I’m on my musha shugyō .’
    ‘You!’ said Jack, surprised. His friend was a loyal and occasionally brave samurai, but he wasn’t a born fighter or a glory seeker.
    Saburo gave a weary nod of the head. ‘My father’s idea. After my brother’s legendary sacrifice at the Battle of Osaka Castle, my arrow wound for saving your life during the school attack was no longer so impressive. You know how my father is – not satisfied with one heroic son, he wants to brag about my duelling exploits. He even presented me with this new daishō .’
    Saburo passed Jack two impressive-looking swords. ‘As a good-luck gift.’
    Jack admired the honed blade of the katana . ‘So, how many duels have you won with this?’
    ‘All of them,’ replied Saburo.
    ‘Really!’ said Jack, handing back the weapons with respect. ‘You’ve certainly become a mighty swordsman.’
    Leaning in, Saburo lowered his voice. ‘That’s because I haven’t fought any yet,’ he admitted with a canny grin. ‘But I won’t be telling Father that.’
    Jack laughed. Same old Saburo!
    ‘And what about you?’ asked Saburo. ‘The last I heard, you’d left Akiko in Toba some time back in spring. What have you been doing all this time?’
    While Jack recounted the events of his last six months, the farmers huddled in the far corner, discussing the new arrival and leaving Neko to tend to the rice. Saburo was amazed and appalled in turn to learn of Jack’s