Part 3 (1/2)

'But we can't let you know where the village is,' added Soke, producing a strip of cloth from the folds of his kimono.

Jack looked doubtfully at the grandfather. Was this some cunning trick? A means of leading him to the Shogun, so they could claim the reward?

'It's a matter of trust,' explained Soke.

Against his better judgement, Jack let the old man blindfold him.

6.

THE V VILLAGE.

Jack, guided by Hanzo, had no idea where he was going. Despite the sensitivity training Sensei Kano, his blind bjutsu bjutsu master, had once taught him, their route twisted and turned so much that Jack could no longer tell if they were walking north, south, east or west. For most of the morning, he gauged they were headed uphill. A number of times, Soke made them hide in bushes and climb trees until one of the samurai search parties pa.s.sed by. master, had once taught him, their route twisted and turned so much that Jack could no longer tell if they were walking north, south, east or west. For most of the morning, he gauged they were headed uphill. A number of times, Soke made them hide in bushes and climb trees until one of the samurai search parties pa.s.sed by.

Stopping for lunch on a ridge, they feasted on mulberries, nuts and mushrooms, together with some of Jack's dried rice.

'Where did all this food come from?' said Jack, biting into an especially juicy mulberry. He couldn't remember either of them carrying a bag.

'The woods and fields are our kitchen,' replied Hanzo proudly.

'I'm teaching the boy survival skills,' explained Soke. 'How to cook rice under a fire, recognize which berries are poisonous and trap animals.'

'But I thought it would be more fun to trap a man!' interrupted Hanzo. 'Never thought I'd capture a tengu tengu, though.'

'I'm not a tengu tengu,' stated Jack for the umpteenth time. He turned to Soke. 'Must I still still wear this blindfold?' wear this blindfold?'

'I'm afraid so,' replied the old man. 'Our village's location has to remain secret.'

'But why?'

'Our very seclusion means we've avoided most of the conflicts that have blighted the rest of j.a.pan. We wish to keep it that way. Now we must press on if we're to get there before nightfall.'

Following a stream into a valley, they scaled the opposite side. Here they remained high for a while, but Jack was tiring, dead on his feet from his sleepless night suspended in the tree.

'Not much further now,' promised Soke who, despite his age, showed no signs of slowing.

But it was almost sunset before they finally came to a halt.

'Welcome to our village,' announced Soke, removing Jack's blindfold.

Jack blinked and rubbed his eyes. On the tree-lined ridge, where he stood, was a simple Buddhist temple with a small graveyard and s.h.i.+nto shrine. This overlooked a lush, hidden valley. Cradled in its bowl was a community of well-maintained thatched buildings. These were dotted within a maze of terraced paddy fields that fanned out like a patchwork quilt to fill the valley basin.

A large wooden farmhouse dominated the village's centre. Built upon a raised earthen bank and surrounded by a bamboo fence and dense thorn hedge, the building fronted an open square. To its left was a large pond fed by a mountain stream. Jack could see only one road leading into the village, but a network of narrow pathways and little bridges criss-crossed the rice fields and funnelled the farmers back to their homes. The whole setting was idyllic, a haven of peace. Jack could appreciate why they wanted to keep its location secret.

'Come,' said Soke as Hanzo raced on ahead. 'You'll need food and a good night's rest before I introduce you to Shonin.'

The sun was dropping behind the mountains by the time they reached Soke's home, two paddy fields from the main farmhouse. Surrounded by a small fenced enclosure, it was a modest affair constructed of roughly hewn timber beams and white clay walls. Soke opened the st.u.r.dy door that served as its only entrance and ushered Jack through.

Inside, the house was more like a covered yard than a room. Basic and functional, with a compacted earth floor, the entrance area appeared to serve as both kitchen and storeroom. By the wall to Jack's left was a clay furnace oven, housing two circular pots with domed lids. Next to the stove stood a wooden sink, a large jug full to the brim with water and two barrels that Jack guessed contained food. Resting against the opposite wall was a collection of farm implements: a hoe, four wooden flails and some very sharp-looking sickles. The only other items were a grappling hook attached to a length of rope, a broom and a basket for collecting firewood.

'My apologies for the mess,' said Soke. 'I've been meaning to clear up the doma doma for a while.' for a while.'

'It looks fine to me,' replied Jack, who even after three years was still amazed at the cleanliness of j.a.pan compared to England.

'That's kind of you to say, but it's far more pleasant through here,' said Soke, leading Jack into the other half of the house.

This area, overlooking the doma doma, had a raised wooden floor and was divided into four rooms by sliding shoji shoji screens. screens.

Slipping off his sandals, Jack stepped up to join Soke in the first room. Most of the floor was matted, though the tatami tatami felt much coa.r.s.er and thinner than the ones at Akiko's mother's house. But that was to be expected. A farmer certainly couldn't afford the same quality as a samurai. In the centre of the room was a sunken square hearth, above which was suspended a long iron pot hook with a lever shaped like a large fish. felt much coa.r.s.er and thinner than the ones at Akiko's mother's house. But that was to be expected. A farmer certainly couldn't afford the same quality as a samurai. In the centre of the room was a sunken square hearth, above which was suspended a long iron pot hook with a lever shaped like a large fish.

'Hanzo will get the fire going,' said Soke. 'Then I can brew us some tea.'

A moment later, the boy entered with some kindling and a smouldering piece of charcoal he'd removed from the oven. Soke knelt beside the hearth and invited Jack to do the same. 'Make yourself comfortable. You're holding on to that bag like your life depended upon it!'

Jack warily put his pack to one side, along with his swords, and sat down. He expected the old man to question him further, but Soke seemed more interested in preparing the tea than discovering the contents of his pack.

With the fire built, Hanzo scurried off to the doma doma again, while his grandfather gently fanned the flames and added logs from a neat pile next to the hearth. again, while his grandfather gently fanned the flames and added logs from a neat pile next to the hearth.

'Do you like sencha sencha?' asked Soke.

Jack nodded. When Akiko had first introduced him to the drink, he hadn't enjoyed its bitter gra.s.sy flavour. But over the years he'd become used to it and was now quite fond of green tea.

Hanzo returned, struggling with a heavy iron kettle full of water. Jack helped him place it on the pot hook. Soke added some tea leaves, then used the fish lever to lower the kettle into the fire.

'Tell me, Jack, where are you headed?'

'Nagasaki. It's where all foreigners have been banished to.'

Soke nodded his head in sympathy. 'Such a long journey isn't undertaken lightly. But you've done the hardest part the first step. And where have you travelled from?'

Jack saw no reason not to tell the old man. 'Toba.'

'That's on the Ise coast. Why did you not go by sea?'

'No one was willing to take me. Any person found helping or hiding a foreigner could be punished ... Soke-san, I '

The old man held up his hand. 'No, just Soke, please. That's respectful enough.'

'Soke, I appreciate all you've done for me, but I really should leave as soon as possible. I don't want to get you or Hanzo into trouble.'

'You need to rest first,' replied the grandfather firmly. 'Besides, no one will find you here. You're perfectly safe. And so are we.'

'But what if someone in the village tells the local samurai?'

Soke chuckled. 'I can a.s.sure you that won't happen.'