The Ring Of Water Part 11

Jack and Hana followed in his wake. The village was small but well-to-do. Several thatched houses with verandas lined the road. There was a store selling provisions and a tea house. Two men sat outside near a palanquin, their eyes closed. They were evidently recovering their strength from bearing their master, a large round ball of a man, who was inside enjoying a pot of sencha sencha and tucking into several sweet red-bean and tucking into several sweet red-bean wagashi wagashi.

'We're in luck!' announced Ronin, taking a seat. 'They have a fresh barrel.'

'We should really keep going,' said Jack, eyeing the other customers warily from beneath his hat.

'Just one drink,' insisted Ronin. 'Then we'll go.'

Reluctantly, Jack agreed. What harm could it do? And moving on now might arouse more suspicion than staying.

The tea-house owner served Ronin a cup of honey-golden liquid. Breathing in its fragrant aroma, Ronin knocked back the drink in one. He smacked his lips appreciatively. 'Mmm, sweet and and smooth. Certainly the finest I've ever tasted.' smooth. Certainly the finest I've ever tasted.'

The tea-house owner bowed at the compliment, then poured him another.

'But you said just one!' whispered Jack.

Ignoring him, Ronin asked the owner, 'Do you have any umeboshi umeboshi?'

The man nodded and returned a moment later with some wrinkled red fruit in a bowl.

'You can leave the bottle,' said Ronin as the owner went to serve his other customers.

'Ronin, you promised '

'Try this!' said Ronin, waving away Jack's protests and pa.s.sing him one of the small dried fruits. 'It's a pickled plum.'

Hana took one too. Sighing in frustration, Jack relented and bit into his. He immediately gagged. The umeboshi umeboshi's sour salty taste was revolting.

'Eat up!' said Ronin, greatly amused by the disgusted look on Jack's face. 'They're good for combating tiredness in battle.'

Hana chewed hers enthusiastically. 'And if you have one every morning it'll ward off misfortune.'

'I'm not surprised,' said Jack, grimacing. 'Nothing could be worse than one of these!'

Ronin helped himself to more plum wine, steadily making his way through the bottle, while Jack became increasingly impatient to leave.

'We need need to go,' insisted Jack. 'You said Kyoto's still some way off. We won't get there until after dark at this rate.' to go,' insisted Jack. 'You said Kyoto's still some way off. We won't get there until after dark at this rate.'

'My la.s.sst one,' promised Ronin, slurring slightly from the effects of the alcohol.

As one of the customers stood up to leave, Ronin leant forward and whispered in Jack's ear. 'Did you say your inro inro had a had a sakura sakura tree engraving on it?' tree engraving on it?'

Jack nodded. 'And a lion's head netsuke netsuke.'

'Well then, that man's got your case.'

22.

INRO.

Paying the tea-house owner, the three of them hurried outside in pursuit of the man. Dressed in a fine silk kimono of deep green, but bearing no swords, he looked to be a successful merchant on his way to Kyoto.

Jack only caught a glimpse of the inro inro as the man stepped into his palanquin. Yet the carrying case did appear to be remarkably similar. The as the man stepped into his palanquin. Yet the carrying case did appear to be remarkably similar. The inro inro that that daimyo daimyo Takatomi had given him, as a gift for foiling an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt by the ninja Dragon Eye, was unique crafted from thickly lacquered wood, it had been decorated in gold and silver leaf, with a Takatomi had given him, as a gift for foiling an a.s.sa.s.sination attempt by the ninja Dragon Eye, was unique crafted from thickly lacquered wood, it had been decorated in gold and silver leaf, with a sakura sakura tree engraved upon its surface, its blossom picked out in ivory; while the lion's head tree engraved upon its surface, its blossom picked out in ivory; while the lion's head netsuke netsuke was expertly carved out of the same material. was expertly carved out of the same material.

'You could be right,' said Jack as the two porters lifted the enclosed seat from the ground and set off in the direction of Kizu.

'Then let's go after him!' said Hana.

'It's only a box,' replied Jack, reluctant to retrace his steps yet again.

'But what if the man's involved?' said Ronin. 'Or knows who attacked you?'

Ronin had a point. They had had to follow. The to follow. The inro inro could very well lead them to the could very well lead them to the rutter rutter.

The palanquin had already turned the corner and was fast disappearing among the trees. Without a moment to lose, they raced after their quarry, Jack and Hana in front with the inebriated Ronin trailing behind. The two porters were clearly very fit as it took the three of them a while to catch up with the palanquin only to find it standing empty in a small clearing, the porters taking a rest next to a stream.

'Where's the merchant?' whispered Hana as the three of them hid behind a clump of trees.

'I'll stay here... while you look for him,' said Ronin, sipping from his sake sake bottle and recovering his breath. bottle and recovering his breath.

Circling the clearing, Jack and Hana discovered the merchant squatting in the undergrowth and waved Ronin over. The merchant cried out in surprise as they surrounded him.

'Show us your inro inro,' demanded Ronin.

Staring aghast at his three a.s.sailants, the merchant exclaimed, 'Can't a man answer the call of nature without being robbed?'

Hana could hardly suppress her giggles at finding the man in such a compromising position.

'We're not here to rob you,' Jack explained quickly. 'We just... want to look at the inro inro.'

With trembling hands, the merchant pa.s.sed Jack the carrying case. Although the netsuke netsuke was a beautifully carved lion's head, the was a beautifully carved lion's head, the inro inro was decorated with a cedar, not a was decorated with a cedar, not a sakura sakura tree. tree.

'My apologies, this isn't mine,' said Jack, returning it guiltily.

'Of course it's not,' fumed the merchant. 'I bought this only yesterday in Kyoto!'

The three of them backed awkwardly away, leaving the merchant to finish his business. Once on the road, Jack felt his frustration explode.

'I can't believe you led us on that wild goose chase!'

'But you said the inro inro looked like yours,' replied Ronin tetchily. looked like yours,' replied Ronin tetchily.

'I didn't get a clear view and now we're halfway back to Kizu again!'

Furious, Jack kicked a branch from his path and pointed accusingly at Ronin.

'If you you hadn't drunk so much plum wine, we wouldn't have wasted an entire afternoon and got sidetracked by that merchant. It's all your fault!' hadn't drunk so much plum wine, we wouldn't have wasted an entire afternoon and got sidetracked by that merchant. It's all your fault!'

'Don't point your finger at me me,' snarled Ronin, swaying on his feet as he took a swig of sake sake. 'Remember, there's always three three pointing back at you! I wasn't the one who was robbed in the first place.' pointing back at you! I wasn't the one who was robbed in the first place.'

'What's your problem?' snapped Jack. 'Why are you always drinking?'

'In order to suffer fools like you!' shot back Ronin.

'Stop! Stop!' exclaimed Hana, stepping between them. 'This isn't helping us get to Kyoto.'

Jack and Ronin glared at each other, neither willing to back down.

'It's no one's fault here. The only people to blame are those who attacked Jack.'

Recognizing the sense in Hana's words, Jack now felt deeply ashamed of his outburst and bowed his head in remorse.

'I'm sorry, Ronin. I should be thankful for all the help you've given me. It's just that I seem to be getting nowhere. We may have the pearl, but what chance do I have of ever recovering my other possessions? It's hopeless.'

Ronin took another swig from his bottle and smiled encouragingly at Jack.

'It's never hopeless,' he said, gripping Jack's shoulder. 'Tomorrow's a new day and I promise we'll find your swords.'

23.

KYOTO.

Jack's breath caught in his throat at the first sighting of the Heart of j.a.pan. The home of the Emperor, of Nijo Castle, of the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry, and of many experiences... good and bad.

He recalled how awestruck he'd been upon his first arrival at the capital city three years before and was no less impressed by its size and scale this time. Approaching from the southern plain, Kyoto lay at the heart of an immense horseshoe of forested mountains. To the north-east, Jack could see Mount Hiei rising up towards the clouds. Perched upon its slopes was the ruined temple complex of Enryakuji, destroyed forty years ago by the samurai General n.o.bunaga. But Jack knew that a lantern, the 'Eternal Light', continued to burn in a crumbling shrine, for he had trained in one of its courtyards under the guidance of his blind bojutsu bojutsu master, Sensei Kano. And, like that flame, his memories now reignited. master, Sensei Kano. And, like that flame, his memories now reignited.

He remembered how he and Akiko had sat on that very mountain, her head resting upon his shoulder as they watched the first sunrise of the New Year.

Drawing closer to the city's boundary, Jack spotted the towering paG.o.da of Kiyomizudera, its spire poking above the tree canopy near where the Sound of Feathers waterfall thundered down the mountainside. That had been where he and Yamato had fought over the Jade Sword and subsequently forged the beginnings of a friendship. A wave of sadness always consumed him when he thought of Yamato, his loyal and brave friend who was now dead, having sacrificed his life to save Akiko and Jack from the ruthless ninja Dragon Eye.

Crossing a wide wooden bridge into the city, Ronin, now sober, guided them along the gra.s.sy treelined banks of the Kizugawa River. Hearing laughter and seeing a family enjoying a picnic together beneath the sakura sakura trees, Jack was reminded of Akiko's trees, Jack was reminded of Akiko's hanami hanami party, the annual flower-viewing celebration in spring. party, the annual flower-viewing celebration in spring.

As they wound through the streets of Kyoto, pa.s.sing the countless Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples, private villas and miniature gardens, busy shops and crowded inns, Jack recognized more and more places from his past. The golden maple leaves of the Eikando Temple caught his eye; the street vendor selling okonomiyaki okonomiyaki, the fried pancakes that his friend Saburo had relished; the store displaying papier-mache masks like the ones they'd all worn for the Gion Matsuri Festival. And down that alley Jack knew was concealed the mysterious Ryoanji, the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon, where a monk with knife-like hands had secretly taught Akiko the Art of the Ninja.

So many memories, so many experiences, but they were just like ghosts now. And the city for all its familiarity felt hostile to Jack.

The throng of the central market made him nervous. Although he could hide in a crowd, there were more people more eyes that might notice him. He kept his head bowed, ensuring Ronin's wide-brimmed hat covered his face.

Ronin forged a path through the streets, congested with shoppers, browsers, samurai and traders. They cut down a side alley before emerging into a small square, quieter and more placid than the others.

'Stay here,' ordered Ronin, stopping beside a tea house on the corner. 'I'll make some enquiries as to Araki's whereabouts.'

He ordered a pot of sencha sencha for Jack and Hana, paid the serving girl and headed off down the street in search of the samurai who now had Jack's swords. for Jack and Hana, paid the serving girl and headed off down the street in search of the samurai who now had Jack's swords.

'How long do you think he'll be?' asked Hana, pouring the tea for Jack.

'Not long, I hope.'

Jack felt terribly exposed having come to Kyoto. He now wished he hadn't taken the risk. It was like entering a lion's den. He had to hope that most of Kyoto's citizens were too busy with their own daily lives to notice a traveller in a non-descript blue kimono and straw hat.

Hana gazed around in awe. 'I never imagined Kyoto to be like this!'

As Jack sipped his tea, she gave him a running description of everything she saw the white-faced geisha girl, the strutting samurai, the lion-dog statue outside the local temple, the hawker selling wooden spinning tops.

After a while, the proprietor of the tea house came over. 'More sencha sencha?'

Hana looked to Jack, who shook his head.

'No, thank you,' she replied.

'You're not from these parts, are you?' observed the man.

Hana smiled sweetly. 'We're on a pilgrimage with our master,' she said, repeating their pre-planned answer.

'Of course,' said the proprietor, glancing with interest at Jack but making no attempt to enquire further. 'A friendly word of warning, travellers don't go unnoticed in this city. And some some are not so welcome as they once were.' are not so welcome as they once were.'

Jack daren't look up.

'You two appear to be of particular particular interest.' interest.'

'What do you mean?' asked Hana.

'To the metsuke metsuke on the other side of the street.' on the other side of the street.'

Hana gave him a blank stare. The proprietor leant in close, as if to clear their table.

'A watcher. One of the Shogun's spies.'

24.

METSUKE.