Read Online Young Samurai 06 - The Ring of Fire by Chris Bradford - Free Book Online Page B

and black as tar, and his face seemed to be chiselled out of granite.
    ‘Yuudai is big for his age,’ granted Hayato. ‘But that’s what makes him such a formidable warrior.’
    A stick-thin woman with narrow eyes and grey papery skin marched out of the warehouse.
    ‘What’s taking you so long?’ she demanded, waving a slim bamboo cane threateningly in the air. ‘We’ve three more shipments to unload. Get moving!’
    She chased Yuudai and the other porters into the warehouse, barking orders and abuse as if she was the Shogun herself. One porter was apparently too slow for her liking and she whipped him across the legs.
    ‘That woman’s worse than my mother!’ commented Saburo as her victim limped rapidly inside.
    All of a sudden a high-pitched scream pierced the air.
    ‘Sounds like the samurai’s had enough of her?’ said Jack, and they ran to see what was causing the commotion.
    They found the woman standing upon an empty cart, her face greyer than ever and her kimono held tight to her skeletal body.
    ‘Kill it! Kill it!’ she screeched, pointing a gnarled finger at a tiny brown mouse on the floor.
    A porter grabbed a broom and tried to beat the creature over the head. But the mouse was too quick. It darted up the cart’s wheel and the woman became hysterical as the mouse scurried about her feet. She jumped around like a maniacal puppet, while the porters struggled to stifle their laughter.
    ‘ You , samurai boy!’ squawked the woman, her eyes bulging with terror. ‘Help me!’
    Cornering the little creature, Yuudai bent down and scooped it up in his huge hands.
    ‘Squash it!’ she cried.
    Yuudai, ignoring the frenzied woman, strode out of the warehouse. Going over to the far side of the dock, he released the mouse on to the riverbank and watched it scamper safely away.
    The woman stood at the warehouse door, fuming at him.
    ‘I ordered you to kill the wretched creature!’
    ‘What harm did the mouse ever do to you?’ asked Yuudai, his voice low and gentle.
    The woman’s lips appeared to chew themselves as she sought for a suitably vicious reply. Eventually, she spat, ‘How dare you disobey me! You get half-rations today. Now back to work, all of you!’
    Resuming her tyrannical abuse, the woman lashed out with her cane and the porters scattered to their posts, their moment of amusement over.
    With a weary sigh, Yuudai followed the woman inside.
    ‘A bit soft for a samurai, isn’t he?’ commented Saburo.
    ‘But very strong!’ said Jack.
    ‘I like him,’ said Yori. ‘He respects life.’
    ‘What good is that if he’s facing a bloodthirsty bandit like Akuma?’ argued Toge.
    ‘He’s trustworthy and loyal,’ replied Hayato. ‘That counts for a great deal.’
    Toge still wasn’t convinced. ‘If he’s samurai, then what’s he doing working as a porter?’
    ‘Yuudai has no family left,’ revealed Hayato. ‘He must fend for himself – any way he can. And not many lords are hiring young samurai.’
    ‘Do you think he’d be willing to join us?’ asked Jack.
    Hayato nodded confidently. ‘It doesn’t look as if he’s enjoying his current position. And he needs food to keep his strength up.’
    Turning to Yori, Jack whispered, ‘Remind you of anyone?’
    Yori glanced at Saburo and smothered a giggle.
    They waited until midday when the porters took a short break for lunch. Yuudai sat by himself at the end of the dock, his long legs dangling over the edge, his feet almost touching the water. Hayato made the approach, since he knew the boy.
    Jack and the others watched from a distance as the two of them conversed. Hayato pointed to the farmers, then to the three samurai. Yuudai slowly chewed his food as he listened. Hayato finished and, bowing, awaited his reply.
    Everyone craned their necks, anxious for Yuudai’s response.
    The boy mountain wiped his hands on a cloth and stood – then walked slowly back along the dock, the wooden planks creaking under his weight. When he reached