The Ring Of Water Part 4

'How many nails does one barrel need?' complained Ronin, rubbing his temples.

'I believe he's making a coffin,' explained the vendor.

'Well, if he doesn't stop that infernal banging, he'll be making one for himself.'

At that moment, the hammering ceased and Ronin let out a slow relieved sigh. But a second later, the cooper resumed his work.

Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!

'Enough's enough!' Ronin exclaimed, s.n.a.t.c.hing up his bottle and storming off.

'Hold on!' shouted Jack, grabbing their two remaining buns and stuffing them inside his tattered kimono. Staff in hand, he dashed after the enraged samurai.

9.

ONE DEAD SAMURAI.

Jack caught up with Ronin at the back of the cooper's store, a small yard full of timber, half-finished barrels and an open coffin. The sound of hammering had been replaced by a deathly silence and at Ronin's feet lay a blood-splattered corpse, the victim sliced open from neck to waist.

'NO!' exclaimed Jack, rus.h.i.+ng up to the samurai.

Ronin shot him a defiant look.

'You can't just kill someone for making a noise '

To Jack's utter disgust, Ronin laughed heartily at this.

Jack realized he'd made the mistake of teaming up with a ruthless and unpredictable killer. No longer able to meet Ronin's eye, Jack looked in pity at the dead man. He was dressed in a plain blue kimono, now cut into ribbons by a single vicious sword attack. His face was young, perhaps in his early twenties, but his sudden and violent end had stretched it taut into a pale death mask, the man's mouth frozen in an agonized scream. Jack felt sickened to his stomach by Ronin's cold-blooded murder.

'How could you ?'

'My sincere apologies,' said a rasping voice. A withered man, all skin and bones like the leg of a chicken, tottered out of a hut. He presented Ronin with a small china cup. 'The best in the entire province!'

The samurai knocked back its contents in one go and smacked his lips appreciatively. 'Excellent sake sake, cooper. Apology accepted.'

The cooper grinned, revealing two front teeth that protruded like tombstones in an otherwise empty mouth. Jack stared at Ronin in disbelief and then at the body.

'If that's the cooper, then who's this?' said Jack, pointing to the corpse.

'I've no idea,' Ronin replied, smiling as he handed the cup back to the barrelmaker. 'Some samurai or other.'

'His name is was was Manzo,' revealed the cooper, chuckling darkly to himself. 'It was an entertaining duel while it lasted.' Manzo,' revealed the cooper, chuckling darkly to himself. 'It was an entertaining duel while it lasted.'

'Was it a test of skill or just a brawl?' enquired Ronin.

'As I hear it,' the cooper sniffed, 'the man was bragging about his ability to defeat anyone with his new swords. A samurai on his musha shugyo musha shugyo challenged him to prove his boast. The whole town came out yesterday to witness the duel.' challenged him to prove his boast. The whole town came out yesterday to witness the duel.'

Jack now realized Ronin had been playing him along like a fish on a line. The samurai certainly had a morbid sense of humour. He wasn't the murderer at all. The man had been killed by another samurai on his warrior pilgrimage.

'Unless an idiot dies, he won't be cured,' Ronin muttered, giving the corpse a disdainful look. 'It's the hand that wields the sword, not the sword itself that matters.'

'Never a truer word spoken,' agreed the cooper. 'But these these were a very fine pair of swords. A were a very fine pair of swords. A daisho daisho forged by the legendary s.h.i.+zu no less!' forged by the legendary s.h.i.+zu no less!'

Jack's ears p.r.i.c.ked up at this. 'What did these swords look like?'

The cooper thought for a moment. 'Mmm... black saya sayas with gold, maybe pearl inlay... I can't really remember. But I do recall their handles, very distinctive. Dark red.'

'Those are my my swords!' exclaimed Jack. swords!' exclaimed Jack.

The cooper stared at Jack in amused disbelief.

'Not any more,' he snorted, now curious about Ronin's peasant boy who laid claim to such prestigious weapons.

Jack knelt down beside the body to avoid his enquiring gaze.

'Do you recognize him?' asked Ronin.

Jack studied the face the high eyebrows, the flattened nose, the jutting jaw but nothing came back to him and he shook his head.

Stroking his beard pensively, Ronin peered down at the man. 'He looks vaguely familiar...' Crouching beside Jack, he inspected the man's blue kimono. 'But he hasn't any identifying kamon kamon. We can't be certain he's the one responsible '

'Yes, I can,' Jack interrupted, spotting a star-shaped tear on the man's collar. 'He's wearing one of my my kimono! I remember snagging it on an overhanging branch and pulling loose the st.i.tching, just like that.' His voice dropped to a whisper that only Ronin could hear. 'I was also given blue kimono without crests, so I couldn't be identified as a member of any family who fought against the Shogun.' kimono! I remember snagging it on an overhanging branch and pulling loose the st.i.tching, just like that.' His voice dropped to a whisper that only Ronin could hear. 'I was also given blue kimono without crests, so I couldn't be identified as a member of any family who fought against the Shogun.'

'Such a shame the kimono's slashed and stained with blood,' said Ronin, raising his voice as he noticed the cooper edging closer to eavesdrop. Reaching down, he pulled off the corpse's straw sandals and handed them to Jack. 'But he won't be needing these any more.'

Jack stood up, turning to keep his face hidden from the barrelmaker, and slipped on the dead man's zori zori. A ghostly s.h.i.+ver ran up his spine, but his feet were grateful nonetheless for the comfort and protection.

'Well, you've found your culprit,' declared Ronin, 'and he's certainly got his comeuppance.' The samurai examined the man's wound, running his finger along the diagonal cut in his chest. 'Whoever his opponent was, he's a highly skilled swordsman. This is a perfect kesagiri kesagiri attack.' attack.'

The cooper, his brow creased in suspicion, said, 'Who is this boy '

'Tell me, who paid for the coffin?' demanded Ronin, cutting off the man's question.

'One of his two so-called friends,' the cooper replied, patting his handiwork proudly. 'They left straight after not even bothering to wait for the funeral. Funny, isn't it? How the person who pays for the coffin never wants it and the one who gets it never knows!'

'Have you any idea which way they went?' asked Jack.

The cooper shook his head. 'I only know where everyone is going...' He paused dramatically, then pointed with a long bony finger down at the ground and grinned.

Ronin began throughly searching the body.

'No good looking for spoils,' said the cooper. 'His friends took all that he owned... apart from his swords and this old inro inro.'

The cooper patted a small carrying case tied to his obi obi.

'Is that yours?' asked Ronin of Jack.

Jack shook his head. The rectangular box was plain with an ivory toggle carved into a monkey. 'No, mine has a sakura sakura tree engraved upon its surface and the tree engraved upon its surface and the netsuke netsuke is in the shape of a lion's head.' is in the shape of a lion's head.'

Ronin turned back to the cooper. 'What happened to the swords?'

'The other samurai claimed them as his prize.'

'Does this samurai have a name?'

'Oh, yes. He made certain everyone everyone knew. Eager to spread his reputation, he announced this was the final duel of his knew. Eager to spread his reputation, he announced this was the final duel of his musha shugyo musha shugyo all without a single defeat,' replied the cooper as he lowered the finished coffin beside the victim. 'His name is Matagoro Araki.' all without a single defeat,' replied the cooper as he lowered the finished coffin beside the victim. 'His name is Matagoro Araki.'

'Did he he say where he was going?' asked Jack, hoping they could follow this samurai's trail at least. say where he was going?' asked Jack, hoping they could follow this samurai's trail at least.

The cooper looked at the bloodied corpse and then at Jack.

'If you seek a similar fate, then you should head to Kyoto.'

10.

CROSSROADS.

The very thought sent an ice-cold shudder through Jack. It would be suicidal to return to Kyoto. Someone could easily recognize him. Any of his old enemies could be there. In particular, those who'd attended the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry with him and had objected to a foreigner learning the secrets of their martial arts n.o.bu, Hiroto, Goro and, of course, his arch-rival, Kazuki. Jack had no wish to meet him ever again. Kazuki bore a deep hatred towards all foreigners, one of whom had inadvertently and tragically killed his mother through the spread of a fatal illness many years before. Being the only foreigner at the school, Jack had been the prime victim for his persecution. with him and had objected to a foreigner learning the secrets of their martial arts n.o.bu, Hiroto, Goro and, of course, his arch-rival, Kazuki. Jack had no wish to meet him ever again. Kazuki bore a deep hatred towards all foreigners, one of whom had inadvertently and tragically killed his mother through the spread of a fatal illness many years before. Being the only foreigner at the school, Jack had been the prime victim for his persecution.

But equally he might run into a friend in Kyoto. And this thought gave Jack a small thrill. Perhaps he'd find Saburo or Kiku, who'd both remained behind at the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry during the war. Maybe Sensei Kano, having led the escape from Osaka Castle, had returned to the school. Or he might even encounter Emi and her father, during the war. Maybe Sensei Kano, having led the escape from Osaka Castle, had returned to the school. Or he might even encounter Emi and her father, daimyo daimyo Takatomi, residing at Nijo Castle. Jack knew their lives had been spared and that the Takatomi, residing at Nijo Castle. Jack knew their lives had been spared and that the daimyo daimyo was now serving under the Shogun. was now serving under the Shogun.

But the risks were far too high.

Besides, while Akiko's father's swords were important to him, retrieving the rutter rutter had to be his priority. The concern was that if the two bandits had the logbook they might not realize its value, especially to the Shogun. They could have thrown the logbook away or, worse, used it as tinder for their campfire. had to be his priority. The concern was that if the two bandits had the logbook they might not realize its value, especially to the Shogun. They could have thrown the logbook away or, worse, used it as tinder for their campfire.

'Come on, make your mind up!' demanded Ronin impatiently.

The two of them now stood at the crossroads in the centre of town. Being located on the route between Kyoto and Nara, Kizu was a convenient stopover and therefore unusually busy for a rural settlement. A constant flow of foot traffic pa.s.sed in all directions.

Jack hesitated, still unable to decide.

'Kyoto's north,' stressed Ronin, pointing towards the long wooden bridge that spanned the Kizu River.

So is a great deal of trouble, thought Jack.

Behind him in an easterly direction lay the Iga mountains, beyond which was Toba and the false hope of staying with Akiko. Heading directly south would take them to Nara and the Todai-ji Temple. This was where the clue of the omamori omamori had been leading them it could be the destination of Manzo's two friends and hopefully the rest of his belongings. But it was a gamble at most. West down a dirt track would bring them to Osaka and the coast, which he then planned to follow in the long trek south to Nagasaki. However, with nothing to his name, no swords with which to defend himself and a drunken samurai as company, the odds were stacked against him ever making it to Osaka, let alone Nagasaki. had been leading them it could be the destination of Manzo's two friends and hopefully the rest of his belongings. But it was a gamble at most. West down a dirt track would bring them to Osaka and the coast, which he then planned to follow in the long trek south to Nagasaki. However, with nothing to his name, no swords with which to defend himself and a drunken samurai as company, the odds were stacked against him ever making it to Osaka, let alone Nagasaki.

Four directions. Four choices. And none offered Jack any certainty.

'One who chases after two hares won't even catch one,' said Ronin, seeing the dilemma played out on Jack's face.

Jack held up the amulet. 'This clue says go south.'

'Your swords are north north.'

'But everything else has gone the other way: my pearl, my money, my father's diary '

'You don't know that for certain. Anyway, what's so special about a diary compared to a samurai's swords?' snorted Ronin.

Jack considered it unwise to explain the significance of the rutter rutter. The samurai couldn't yet be trusted with knowledge of its value as a navigational tool and a political instrument though for Jack it was so much more than this. The rutter rutter was his pa.s.sage home to England, the key to him becoming a s.h.i.+p's pilot, and the means for providing for his sister, Jess. But the logbook was also his was his pa.s.sage home to England, the key to him becoming a s.h.i.+p's pilot, and the means for providing for his sister, Jess. But the logbook was also his only only remaining link to his father. With it gone, Jack felt as if his father had been taken from him again. He'd do anything to get it back. remaining link to his father. With it gone, Jack felt as if his father had been taken from him again. He'd do anything to get it back.

'Do you think the men who stole from me were samurai or bandits?' asked Jack, avoiding Ronin's question.

'They could be either,' replied Ronin. 'Manzo obviously thought himself a swordsman, but he acted like a bandit. Without a lord to serve, some samurai are turning to crime to survive. There are many more on the road now the war's over.'

'Well, we won't know until we find them. The cooper said the duel was yesterday, so they can't have gone too far.'

'This way,' argued Ronin, indicating the bridge north, 'we have a name, a destination and a definite lead.' He pointed south. ' way,' argued Ronin, indicating the bridge north, 'we have a name, a destination and a definite lead.' He pointed south. 'That way we have nothing. A guess, a hunch at most. We don't even know what these two men look like, or if the way we have nothing. A guess, a hunch at most. We don't even know what these two men look like, or if the omamori omamori has anything to do with them.' has anything to do with them.'

Jack had to concede this point. 'But what happens when we find this Matagoro Araki? He won't just hand over my swords.'

'Why not? He's a samurai concerned with his reputation,' replied Ronin. 'He'll want to protect his good name, not have it smeared with rumours he's bearing the stolen swords of a distinguished samurai family. Besides, he can only use one daisho daisho at a time!' at a time!'

Jack shook his head doubtfully. 'Kyoto's too much of a risk.'

'You say you're samurai! But a samurai is nothing nothing without his swords,' said Ronin, grasping the hilt of his without his swords,' said Ronin, grasping the hilt of his katana katana emphatically. 'Besides, you'll stand a far better chance of getting back your other possessions if you have your rightful weapons in hand.' emphatically. 'Besides, you'll stand a far better chance of getting back your other possessions if you have your rightful weapons in hand.'

Only dead fish swim with the current. The problem was Jack didn't know which way the current was flowing, and he realized he could end up dead if he chose the wrong way. The problem was Jack didn't know which way the current was flowing, and he realized he could end up dead if he chose the wrong way.

'Looks like the decision's been made for you,' said Ronin, nodding south in the direction of Nara.

Marching up the road was a patrol of dos.h.i.+n dos.h.i.+n, scattering anyone in their path.

'Best not wait around,' said Ronin, walking briskly in the opposite direction and towards Kyoto.

Jack hurried after him. The heavy rains of the previous day were now was.h.i.+ng down from the mountains and the Kizu River was a powerful torrent. Weaving in between the other travellers, they reached the opposite bank and kept up their brisk pace until they entered the forest.

'Do you think the dos.h.i.+n dos.h.i.+n spotted us?' asked Jack, looking back over his shoulder. The road was busy and he couldn't see for certain if anyone was wearing the distinctive spotted us?' asked Jack, looking back over his shoulder. The road was busy and he couldn't see for certain if anyone was wearing the distinctive hachimaki hachimaki of an officer. of an officer.

'Can't be too sure,' Ronin replied. 'But we shouldn't stop to find out.'

The day drew on and the further they got from Kizu, the fewer people they met. By the time dusk fell, not a single soul was in sight. At this, Ronin veered off deep into the forest, finally coming to a halt in a small clearing.

'We'll camp here for the night,' he said, settling against a fallen log.

Jack sat beside him, as the samurai uncorked his bottle and took three large gulps. He wondered if Ronin got drunk every night, or if he was just drowning a recent sorrow. Jack decided it wasn't his place to ask. Removing the two manj manj he'd saved, he pa.s.sed one to Ronin. he'd saved, he pa.s.sed one to Ronin.