The Ring Of Water Part 24

THE ANSWER.

As the vice-like grip on their souls increased, Jack felt as if he was fighting the monk not with swords, but with the mind, each riddle an attack and every answer a parry. His mind strained under the stress of battle. It was now almost impossible to think of the Answer. Hana writhed upon the ground in agony, gibbering to herself. The disciples chanted louder, beating the floor with their fists.

'The Answer! The Answer! The Answer!'

Jack clamped his hands over his ears, his brain fit to burst. He felt as if he was dying... The beating sounded like a hammer... Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!... The cooper's wrinkled toothless face swam before Jack's eyes... Funny, isn't it? How the person who pays for the coffin never wants it and the one who gets it never knows... Funny, isn't it? How the person who pays for the coffin never wants it and the one who gets it never knows...

'A COFFIN!' screamed Jack. 'THE ANSWER IS A COFFIN!'

Silence descended upon the paG.o.da.

Then a whispering, no louder than the wind, began. 'Is it? Is it? Is it?'

The Riddling Monk threw his th.o.r.n.y crown across the room in disgust.

'Co-rr-ect!' he howled. Distraught, he jumped up and down upon his throne like an infuriated monkey. 'Riddle me this! Riddle me this! Riddle me '

'No more!' said Jack, drawing his sword and pointing it at the monk. His disciples rushed to protect their master. 'We've answered all your riddles. Now answer me.'

The Riddling Monk stopped, neatened his robes and plonked himself back upon his throne. 'No need for violence,' he said, as if he he was the one hard done by. ' was the one hard done by. 'Where is it? Here. Here. Do I have it? Do I have it? Yes!' Yes!'

'Then hand over the logbook and we'll leave you, unharmed,' said Jack as he helped a trembling Hana to her feet.

The Riddling Monk wagged a bony finger at Jack, the mad glint in his eyes back again. 'No, no, no. You've still your first to go,' he taunted maliciously.

Hana stared at Jack in horror. 'None of those was your riddle?' of those was your riddle?'

The Riddling Monk's demented cackle echoed around the hall.

'Riddle me this this, young samurai! What is greater than G.o.d, more evil than the Devil? Poor people have it, rich people need it, and if you eat it you'll die. Tell me this and I shall shall give it to you.' give it to you.'

Jack and Hana stared blankly at one another. Their faces were beginning to take on the gaunt strained look of the Riddling Monk's disciples. The web of riddles he'd cast had captured their minds. And each one they escaped only led to a more complex maze. Feeling his mind stretch and rip like a sail in a storm, Jack fought to control his sanity.

Think like Yori! Think like Yori!

He banged his fists against his skull, willing the Answer. 'What is it? What is it?'

'Only... the wisest of men... could work this out...' gasped Hana as she felt herself collapsing under the strain.

'What did you say?' asked Jack.

'Only the wisest '

'You're right!' he said, grasping Hana by the shoulders with joyous relief. 'And the monk's already given us the Answer.'

She blinked uncomprehendingly at him.

'Only a fool thinks he knows everything. It's the wise man who knows he knows nothing nothing,' explained Jack. 'Nothing is greater than G.o.d, is greater than G.o.d, nothing nothing is more evil than the Devil. Poor people have is more evil than the Devil. Poor people have nothing nothing, rich people need nothing nothing, and if you eat nothing nothing you'll die. The Answer is NOTHING.' you'll die. The Answer is NOTHING.'

'Co-rr-ect!' fumed the monk.

'He has the Answer!' the disciples gasped in awe. has the Answer!' the disciples gasped in awe.

They all began to bow before Jack. But the Riddling Monk made a show of being less impressed. Indifferently inspecting his fingernails, he acted like a child bored with torturing an insect. 'You outfoxed a fox, but is the fox a fox at all?'

'Enough of your riddles, monk!' said Jack.

'As promised, you tell me the answer and...' The Riddling Monk rummaged in an old chest beside his throne. 'That is what I give you...' He opened his empty hands and crowed with laughter. '... NOTHING!'

Jack strode over and held the blade of his katana katana to the Riddling Monk's throat. The disciples didn't intervene this time. The monk swallowed and went pale. to the Riddling Monk's throat. The disciples didn't intervene this time. The monk swallowed and went pale.

'Here's a simpler riddle for you,' said Jack. 'What one object can save a life?'

With an unsteady hand, the Riddling Monk reached back into the chest and pulled out the familiar black oilskin that contained the rutter rutter and Jack's pack, with Sensei Yamada's red silk and Jack's pack, with Sensei Yamada's red silk omamori omamori still attached. still attached.

'Co-rr-ect,' said Jack, slipping the pack over his shoulder and carefully stowing the logbook.

Backing out slowly, Jack and Hana emerged from the torchlit confines of the paG.o.da into the temple courtyard. A pale moon shone, rain clouds skudding across the night sky. The monk's disciples parted to allow Jack and Hana through.

As they pa.s.sed beneath the torii torii gateway, the Riddling Monk appeared at the paG.o.da door. Scuttling around his feet was a small furred badger-like creature with sharp teeth... a gateway, the Riddling Monk appeared at the paG.o.da door. Scuttling around his feet was a small furred badger-like creature with sharp teeth... a tanuki tanuki.

With a malicious smile, the Riddling Monk waved Jack and Hana goodbye.

'There are many paths but only one journey,' he cried, 'and the only true journey is the one within.'

He held a bony hand to his chest.

'Find your heart and you'll find your home, young samurai. But be prepared to lose far more than a book before your journey's end.'

50.

THE LAKE.

Glad to be leaving the malevolent monk behind, they stumbled through the forest, blindly following their old route down the mountain. They pa.s.sed by the screaming statue and weaved through the labyrinth of cedar trees. The noise of a waterfall grew louder, so Jack knew they were getting close to the lake.

In the darkness it was hard to see more than a few paces ahead, so he used the blind fighting skills Sensei Kano had taught him the year before and navigated by his hearing only. They broke through some undergrowth and Hana cried out, dropping suddenly.

Only by the luck of the G.o.ds, Jack caught her arm as she tumbled over the lip of a craggy rock face, the waters of the lake s.h.i.+mmering below.

With an almighty heave, Jack dragged her back to safety.

'It's too dangerous in the dark,' he said, letting Hana recover from the shock. 'We need to find a place to rest until daylight.'

They gingerly skirted the edge of the drop until they rediscovered the main trail down to the lake. Taking shelter beneath a tree, they ate the remains of the cold rice, then bedded down for the night.

Jack was awoken by the sensation of water lapping against his feet. Looking around, he saw the lake had risen during the night and their chosen path was now completely flooded. The sky was overcast, but he guessed it was long past dawn so nudged Hana. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, she yawned, then saw the lake.

'It's twice the size!' she exclaimed.

They waded round the edge to its outflow. Among the debris and trees that formed the dam, Jack spotted several dead fish caught up in the branches. With great care, he clambered across the creaking structure and managed to retrieve several of them.

Keeping two for breakfast, they stowed the rest in his pack. After a prolonged search, Hana found dry tinder and wood. In the meantime, Jack gutted the fish and plucked some wild herbs to season it. Once the fire was going, the mouthwatering smell of cooking fish filled their nostrils.

While they waited, Jack flicked through the pages of the rutter rutter. His father's handwriting and codes brought comfort to him and he could almost hear his father's voice, instructing him in the craft of being a pilot. There was so much knowledge contained within the logbook: knowledge his father had discovered and that could change the fortunes of a nation. Jack was relieved to have it back in his hands, but the nightmare of the Riddling Monk's temple and the crazed looks of his disciples would haunt him forever.

'Do you think Ronin's all right?' Hana asked as she turned the fish on the fire.

'He's tougher than an old boot,' replied Jack, imagining the samurai propped up in some inn, a bottle in his hand. 'I only wish I had the chance to take back what I said. To let him know I no longer blame him.'

'I heard a storyteller once say, "Words are like water. Easy to pour but impossible to recover,"' said Hana. Then, sadly: 'I wish Ronin was with us now. I know he can be grouchy, but I do miss him.'

They both lapsed into silence, lost in their own thoughts.

'The fish is ready,' announced Hana.

They ate, savouring the smoky herbed flavour, and their spirits were lifted slightly.

Breakfast over, Jack stood and observed the dam. 'I think we should cross here.'

Hana eyed the rickety pile of trees and debris mistrustfully. 'But it could collapse at any time.'

'We'll have to take the risk. Unless you fancy swimming!'

Hana shook her head firmly. 'You know I can't.'

She warily followed Jack across. The tangle of branches and broken stems made the going treacherous. Water trickled steadily through the criss-cross of tree trunks. Conscious of the pressure building up behind the makes.h.i.+ft dam, Jack recalled the ninja Grandmaster's teachings... Nothing is softer and more yielding than water, yet not even the strongest may resist it. Water can flow quietly or strike like thunder. Nothing is softer and more yielding than water, yet not even the strongest may resist it. Water can flow quietly or strike like thunder.

Jack just prayed it would continue to flow quietly.

'Almost there,' he said, when they were balanced upon the final tree trunk.

Suddenly the tree s.h.i.+fted beneath their feet and a wave of water gushed towards them. Hana screamed. Dropping to all fours, Jack turned to grab her.

But miraculously she managed to cling on and the dam held.

With cautious urgency, they crawled along the remainder of the narrow trunk, knowing that any s.h.i.+ft in weight could send the whole lot cras.h.i.+ng down the mountainside, a lake full of water following in its wake.

Reaching the opposite sh.o.r.e, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Looking back, Jack now wondered how he'd even dared cross the precarious dam. It was a death trap waiting to happen. The familiar pitter-patter of rain began to send ripples across the surface of the lake and Jack and Hana ducked into the shelter of the cedar forest. Retracing their steps, they headed downslope and out of the valley.

'Still raining!' groaned Hana, pulling her head back from the cave's entrance.

After surviving the dam crossing, they had arrived at the lower cliff around late afternoon. Exhausted, they'd agreed it was best to stay the night, then head off at the break of dawn. But there was no sun to greet them. Rainclouds filled the sky, drowning out the feeble morning light.

'Rain's good,' replied Jack, much to Hana's surprise. 'It means less people on the roads.'

Leaving the shelter of the cave, they headed south-west towards the bridge at Kizu. Hana was soaked to the skin in a matter of moments, but the wide-brimmed straw hat Ronin had lent Jack kept him dry a little longer. Back on the main road, Jack walked with his head bowed, in case they met other travellers. But he needn't have worried. It was too early in the day and the torrential rain had convinced people to remain in their homes.

Emerging from the forest, they came upon the raging torrent that was the Kizu River. On the opposite bank was the town of Kizu itself. The wooden bridge, propped up on its legion of stilts, was completely deserted, its walkway now barely above the waterline. Wasting no time, they stepped on to the bridge and began to hurry across.

'I hope this is the last time I see this place,' said Jack.

'Me too,' said Hana, peering over the bridge's handrail at the fast-flowing waters. Then she turned to Jack. 'But I hope to see you again... one day.'

Jack smiled warmly at her. 'My mother used to say, a journey is best measured in friends rather than miles. Nagasaki's still a long way off, but I've travelled further with people like you helping me... and Ronin... than I ever could have done on my own. I'm forever grateful for that.'

'That's what friends are for, aren't they?'

'And I'm blessed to count you as one.'

Hana bowed her head, embarra.s.sed. 'I'm simply happy you've got back Akiko's pearl, your swords and particularly your father's rutter rutter.' She held up the inro inro. 'I'll be sure to return this to you... when we next meet. I wouldn't want you thinking that I steal from friends!'

'It's yours,' said Jack. 'A gift.'

'Really?' she replied, staring at the exquisitely crafted case in rapture. 'I've never been given such a valuable gift before. Thank you.'

She bowed again.

'I'm the one who should be bowing to the one who should be bowing to you you,' said Jack. 'I'm indebted to you for going on this quest.'

'It's an honour,' Hana replied, attaching the inro inro next to her next to her bokken bokken. 'I just pray I can get to Akiko in time.'

'Praying won't help,' said a familiar voice.

51.

THE BRIDGE.

'I said I'd hunt you down, gaijin gaijin.'

Kazuki stood behind them, his shaved head glistening with the rain.

Like warrior statues, the Scorpion Gang formed an unbroken line across the entrance to the bridge. Clad in black kimono, their red sun kamon kamon upon their chests, the five young samurai n.o.bu, Hiroto, Goro, Raiden and Toru glared at Jack, hands upon their weapons, eagerly awaiting Kazuki's command so they could be unleashed. upon their chests, the five young samurai n.o.bu, Hiroto, Goro, Raiden and Toru glared at Jack, hands upon their weapons, eagerly awaiting Kazuki's command so they could be unleashed.

Hana tugged on Jack's arm and they began to back away.

'There's no escape this time,' laughed Kazuki, nodding towards the other side of the bridge.