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.‘If it hadn’t been for you, we would never have seen our daughter again.’Miya stepped forward and presented Jack with a new straw hat.‘For your journey home,’ she said.As Jack accepted their gift and bowed his gratitude, Kunio ran into the square shouting, ‘SAMURAI! SAMURAI ARE COMING!’60KOBANThe celebrations came to a swift end.The villagers looked anxiously to Toge, whose expression was especially grave at the news.He issued urgent instructions to hide all the food and prepare for their arrival.‘Daimyo Ikeda’s samurai only ever visit us to collect his rice tax,’ Sora explained to Jack.‘But they already have this season’s.I can only think they’re looking for you!’As the villagers hurriedly cleared away all signs of a celebration, Sora bundled Jack, Miyuki and the other young samurai into the rice store, closing the door behind him.They peered, unseen, through gaps in the wooden wall.Toge and Yoshi were waiting on the veranda to greet the samurai, while the rest of the farmers gathered round the edges of the square, heads bowed.The sound of horses’ hooves drew nearer.Then ten fully armed samurai rode in.Dismounting, the lead samurai strode on to the veranda.Toge and Yoshi bowed deeply, keeping their eyes lowered to the ground as he approached.‘What happened to your bridge?’ demanded the samurai.‘It was destroyed by Akuma,’ Toge replied.‘Where’s that troublesome bandit now?’‘Dead.’The samurai looked surprised.‘Dead! Who killed him?’‘Some ronin,’ explained Toge.‘You hired masterless samurai,’ he said, incredulous.‘What with?’‘Rice.It’s all we have.’Laughing, the samurai glanced at the submissive villagers.‘No wonder you all look so hungry!’ He turned back to Toge, his hand upon the hilt of his sword.‘Now, where’s the gaijin samurai?’ he demanded.Toge swallowed nervously, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground.‘Come on, I don’t have all day.You told us he was here.’‘I don’t believe it!’ cried Sora.‘Toge, of all people, betrayed you.’Jack was equally shocked.He’d known the farmer was bitter, but hadn’t thought him a traitor.‘That explains why Toge wasn’t around when you went to look for Akuma’s camp,’ whispered Yori, shaking his head in dismay.‘Don’t worry, you’ll be paid,’ said the samurai, pulling four koban from a purse.Toge’s eyes alighted on the glittering gold coins.Then he glanced towards the rice store.‘He’s about to tell!’ exclaimed Sora.Saburo drew his sword.‘We won’t let them take you, Jack.’‘I’ll distract them, while you three run for the forest,’ said Miyuki, her ninjatō at the ready.‘No, I won’t let you sacrifice yourselves,’ said Jack.‘This isn’t your battle.’Toge looked back down at the ground.‘The gaijin samurai is … dead.’Jack and his friends held their ground, stunned by Toge’s reversal.The samurai studied the farmer with suspicion.‘Where’s the body then?’Toge struggled for an answer.The samurai jingled the coins in his hand.‘Alive or dead, he’s still worth four koban.’Yoshi shuffled forward.‘As much as we want to serve our Shogun, the gaijin was killed by Akuma during the battle.Unfortunately, both their bodies were burnt in the fire.’The samurai grabbed Toge by the hair and wrenched his head back to face him.‘I should cut out your tongue for wasting our time.’ He threw the farmer to the floor with disgust.‘If the gaijin samurai is dead, our job is done.But no body, no reward.’Turning on his heel, he pocketed the four koban and mounted his horse.The samurai gave one last look around the square.For a moment, he stared directly at the rice store.Then he urged his horse on and the ten samurai warriors rode out of the village.‘That was close,’ said Saburo, sheathing his sword.‘At least now the samurai won’t be looking for you, Jack.’‘I’m afraid you’re wrong,’ said Sora, shaking his head with regret.‘Samurai never believe us farmers.They’ll be back.’61FUGITIVESEarly next morning, Sora helped Jack gather the supplies he needed for the long journey south to Nagasaki.With every chance that daimyo Ikeda’s samurai would return, Jack decided he had to leave as soon as possible.While the old farmer filled four straw containers with rice, Jack retrieved his pack from beneath the floorboards.Safe inside were Akiko’s black pearl, his four remaining shuriken and, most important of all, his father’s rutter.His thoughts once more turned to home and his sister, Jess.Neko came over with some water and mochi.Kneeling before Jack, she gazed silently at him with doleful eyes.I made these for you, she signed, and handed him the rice cakes.Smiling gratefully, Jack took a bite of one.Filled with red bean paste, it was deliciously sweet.Very tasty, signed Jack.You’re a good cook.Neko bowed at the compliment, then signed, Are you coming back?Jack shook his head.Neko’s eyes welled with tears.Friends forever?Jack signed, Yes, friends forever, and she beamed at him.Getting to her feet, Neko joined Miyuki for another tearful goodbye.Jack stowed the mochi, water and rice containers Sora had prepared in his pack.Picking up his red-handled samurai swords, he secured them in his obi and felt reassured by their presence on his hip.He was ready to go.Yori and Saburo entered the farmhouse, their packs already on their backs.‘You don’t have to come with me,’ said Jack, fearing for his friends.‘This journey is going to be very dangerous.’Saburo looked at him and laughed.‘And fighting a bloodthirsty group of bandits wasn’t dangerous?’‘But you’ll be fugitives,’ argued Jack.‘Some roads aren’t meant to be travelled alone,’ said Yori, picking up his shakujō.Thinking of all the challenges ahead, the treacherous journey seemed impossible.And for that reason Jack would welcome having his friends by his side.Together, they might stand a chance
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