54

SECRET BLADE

‘HELP ME!’ cried Kazuki.

Jack stood there, watching his rival flounder in the river. He held no love for Kazuki and made no attempt to rescue him. In a matter of moments, all Jack’s problems with the Scorpion Gang would be over. Akiko would be safe from any reprisals.

‘Please!’ begged Kazuki, his face stretched taut with panic. His right hand slipped and he let out a cry.

But he still managed to cling on with his left.

Jack had witnessed many men drown in the treacherous seas of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It was the worst fear a sailor faced. He recalled the poor unfortunate Sam, who’d been knocked overboard during the tempest that had shipwrecked the Alexandria upon Japan’s shores. Jack could still hear the sailor’s pitiful scream as he was dragged beneath the waves. Drowning was by no means an honourable death.

Jack’s indifference to his rival’s plight wavered. He was finding it hard to simply stand by and let another human being drown before his eyes. Whatever his feelings were towards Kazuki, the samurai code of bushido taught rectitude – the ability to make the right moral decision – and benevolence, the principle of being compassionate towards all. For Jack, that meant even his enemies. Coming from a Christian family, his father had read the Bible to him every night and those teachings now returned …

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Was this an opportunity to change Kazuki for the better? A foreigner had unintentionally killed the boy’s mother. Could his prejudice now be reversed if a foreigner rescued his life?

A difficult choice faced Jack – Kazuki’s life was in his hands. He could let his rival drown … or save him.

Kazuki’s desperate grip upon the stilt was weakening, his fingers slipping off one by one.

Hoping he wouldn’t regret his decision, Jack sheathed his sword and leapt across to the remaining section of walkway above Kazuki’s head.

‘Take my hand!’ he said, lying down and reaching for his enemy.

Kazuki stared in disbelief at the gesture.

‘You’ll drown otherwise.’

The river surged and Kazuki panicked. He clasped on to Jack’s wrist.

But Jack didn’t pull him up.

‘Hurry … gaijin!’ spluttered Kazuki as river water rushed into his mouth.

‘Promise you’ll leave Akiko alone.’

Kazuki didn’t answer.

‘Promise!’ demanded Jack.

Another wave rolled over Kazuki’s head and he choked.

‘Yes! Yes! I’ll not harm her,’ he shouted, nodding furiously.

‘And that you’ll let me get to Nagasaki.’

‘Whatever you want!’

With an almighty heave, Jack pulled Kazuki out of the river. They stood and faced one another, the cold hard rain falling around them. For a moment, Kazuki glared at Jack. Even having lost his katana, he appeared to consider continuing the fight.

But then he bowed his head.

‘Arigatō gozaimasu,’ he mumbled by way of thanks.

Jack smiled with relief. It seemed his act of mercy had changed Kazuki.

Then Kazuki clenched his right-gloved hand and a gleaming blade sprang out from his kimono sleeve. Taken completely unawares, Jack had no time to react.

The secret blade drove straight for his heart.