Read Online The Way Of The Sword by Chris Bradford - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Chris Bradford
Ads: Link
kettle into the tea bowl, he spoke once again. ‘When tea is made with water drawn from the depths of the mind, whose bottom is beyond measure, we really have what is called
cha-no-yu
.’
And so the Way of Tea began.
12
TAMASHIWARI
‘Four hours for a cup of tea!’ exclaimed Jack as they made their way back to the
Shishi-no-ma
under a star-filled night.
‘Yes, how wonderful!’ enthused Akiko, misinterpreting Jack’s incredulity for awe. ‘The ceremony was perfect. The
daimyo
certainly has a flair for
cha-no-yu
, a rare master of
sado
. You should feel greatly honoured.’
‘I feel greatly sore!’ mumbled Jack in English, still suffering from his knees having locked up after the first hour. ‘God forbid tea ever arrives on our shores!’
‘Sorry, what was that?’ asked Akiko.
‘I said, we have yet to have tea in England,’ Jack mistranslated in Japanese.
‘Your countrymen can sail so far, but you don’t have tea! How sad to miss out on such perfection.’
‘We have other drinks,’ countered Jack, though he had to admit the drink on-board ship was an acquired taste too.
‘Oh, I’m sure they’re nice… but what about the Golden Tea Room?’ she continued. ‘To think that the
daimyo
once moved the entire tea room to the Imperial Palace to entertain the Emperor himself ! We are
truly
honoured guests.’
Jack let Akiko talk uninterrupted. The Japanese were usually very reserved in expressing their emotions and he was happy to see her so buoyant. While Akiko continued discussing the ceremony with Yamato, Jack thought about Nijo Castle and its inner palace. He was astounded at the lengths the
daimyo
had gone to protect himself. Takatomi was clearly proud of the new security features he had installed since Dragon Eye’s assassination attempt. Hence the escape challenge the
daimyo
had arranged to demonstrate its effectiveness.
‘Ninja-proof,’ the
daimyo
had said.
If that were so, reasoned Jack, then the bolt-hole behind the hanging of the crane was the most secure location to hide the
rutter
from Dragon Eye. Certainly far better than under a flimsy
futon
or in the grounds of the
Niten Ichi Ryū
. Besides, the school was the first place the ninja would look. Jack realized he had no choice but to somehow arrange a return visit to the castle and hide the logbook.
‘KIAI!’ screamed Akiko.
Her fist slammed into the solid block of wood.
And rebounded…
The strike looked exceedingly painful and Jack winced for her. Akiko cradled her hand, tears welling up in her eyes, her joy of the previous night completely extinguished by their first class of the day,
taijutsu
.
‘Next!’ shouted Sensei Kyuzo, without a hint of sympathy.
Akiko knelt back in line to allow Jack to take up position in front of the short rectangular plank. The cedar was as thick as his thumb and appeared indestructible with bare hands. Still Sensei Kyuzo had placed it upon two stable blocks in the middle of the
Butokuden
and instructed every student to break the board with their fists.
So far no one had even dented it.
Jack clenched his right hand in preparation to strike. With all his might, he drove his arm down on to the cedar plank. His fist collided with the block, sending a shuddering jolt up his arm. The wood didn’t even splinter, but Jack felt as if every bone in his hand had shattered.
‘Pathetic,’ snarled Sensei Kyuzo, waving him dismissively back into line.
Jack rejoined the rest of class, who were all nursing bruised hands and aching arms.
‘Iron is full of impurities that weaken it,’ lectured Sensei Kyuzo, ignoring the suffering of his students. ‘Through forging, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Samurai develop in the same fashion. Those wishing to prove they’re strong enough to be chosen for the Circle of Three will be required to break through three such blocks, at the same time.’
Sensei Kyuzo suddenly attacked the cedar block, dropping his tiny body downwards
cha-no-yu
.’
And so the Way of Tea began.
12
TAMASHIWARI
‘Four hours for a cup of tea!’ exclaimed Jack as they made their way back to the
Shishi-no-ma
under a star-filled night.
‘Yes, how wonderful!’ enthused Akiko, misinterpreting Jack’s incredulity for awe. ‘The ceremony was perfect. The
daimyo
certainly has a flair for
cha-no-yu
, a rare master of
sado
. You should feel greatly honoured.’
‘I feel greatly sore!’ mumbled Jack in English, still suffering from his knees having locked up after the first hour. ‘God forbid tea ever arrives on our shores!’
‘Sorry, what was that?’ asked Akiko.
‘I said, we have yet to have tea in England,’ Jack mistranslated in Japanese.
‘Your countrymen can sail so far, but you don’t have tea! How sad to miss out on such perfection.’
‘We have other drinks,’ countered Jack, though he had to admit the drink on-board ship was an acquired taste too.
‘Oh, I’m sure they’re nice… but what about the Golden Tea Room?’ she continued. ‘To think that the
daimyo
once moved the entire tea room to the Imperial Palace to entertain the Emperor himself ! We are
truly
honoured guests.’
Jack let Akiko talk uninterrupted. The Japanese were usually very reserved in expressing their emotions and he was happy to see her so buoyant. While Akiko continued discussing the ceremony with Yamato, Jack thought about Nijo Castle and its inner palace. He was astounded at the lengths the
daimyo
had gone to protect himself. Takatomi was clearly proud of the new security features he had installed since Dragon Eye’s assassination attempt. Hence the escape challenge the
daimyo
had arranged to demonstrate its effectiveness.
‘Ninja-proof,’ the
daimyo
had said.
If that were so, reasoned Jack, then the bolt-hole behind the hanging of the crane was the most secure location to hide the
rutter
from Dragon Eye. Certainly far better than under a flimsy
futon
or in the grounds of the
Niten Ichi Ryū
. Besides, the school was the first place the ninja would look. Jack realized he had no choice but to somehow arrange a return visit to the castle and hide the logbook.
‘KIAI!’ screamed Akiko.
Her fist slammed into the solid block of wood.
And rebounded…
The strike looked exceedingly painful and Jack winced for her. Akiko cradled her hand, tears welling up in her eyes, her joy of the previous night completely extinguished by their first class of the day,
taijutsu
.
‘Next!’ shouted Sensei Kyuzo, without a hint of sympathy.
Akiko knelt back in line to allow Jack to take up position in front of the short rectangular plank. The cedar was as thick as his thumb and appeared indestructible with bare hands. Still Sensei Kyuzo had placed it upon two stable blocks in the middle of the
Butokuden
and instructed every student to break the board with their fists.
So far no one had even dented it.
Jack clenched his right hand in preparation to strike. With all his might, he drove his arm down on to the cedar plank. His fist collided with the block, sending a shuddering jolt up his arm. The wood didn’t even splinter, but Jack felt as if every bone in his hand had shattered.
‘Pathetic,’ snarled Sensei Kyuzo, waving him dismissively back into line.
Jack rejoined the rest of class, who were all nursing bruised hands and aching arms.
‘Iron is full of impurities that weaken it,’ lectured Sensei Kyuzo, ignoring the suffering of his students. ‘Through forging, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Samurai develop in the same fashion. Those wishing to prove they’re strong enough to be chosen for the Circle of Three will be required to break through three such blocks, at the same time.’
Sensei Kyuzo suddenly attacked the cedar block, dropping his tiny body downwards
Similar Books
