Part 20 (1/2)

'Did you have to work?'

'Not really, we trained most of the time,' admitted Jack. 'Our duty was to Masamoto and our lord, daimyo daimyo Takatomi. I suppose we earned our keep by fighting on his side when the time came.' Takatomi. I suppose we earned our keep by fighting on his side when the time came.'

s.h.i.+ro smiled appreciatively.

'What's Kyoto like? That's where you lived, wasn't it?'

'Busy. There are always festivals, crowds, markets. It's so much more hectic than your village.'

'Sounds exciting ...' said s.h.i.+ro, gazing into the peaceful valley below.

'It can be,' Jack replied, making a move back towards the village. 'I'd better go. Hanzo will be waiting for his sword lesson.'

s.h.i.+ro nodded noncommittally and Jack just prayed the boy wouldn't mention their encounter to Momochi. But as he headed down into the village, he felt s.h.i.+ro's eyes on him all the way.

38.

NINJA M MAGIC.

'No, like this,' said Miyuki, gently repositioning Jack's fingers into the hand sign for Rin Rin strength. strength.

As one of the clan, Jack now found himself being taught the ninja's hidden knowledge, the secret teachings of the densho densho scrolls. A week in, he was still familiarizing himself with the intricate finger-knitting patterns of scrolls. A week in, he was still familiarizing himself with the intricate finger-knitting patterns of kuji-in kuji-in. These nine secret hand signs, each with their own mantras, triggered extraordinary powers in the ninja.

Magical powers.

Jack had been sceptical. Soke had claimed kuji-in kuji-in could give a ninja great strength, forewarn of danger, read another person's thoughts, even control the elements of nature. Although Jack had witnessed his Zen master, Sensei Yamada, perform some astonis.h.i.+ng feats at the could give a ninja great strength, forewarn of danger, read another person's thoughts, even control the elements of nature. Although Jack had witnessed his Zen master, Sensei Yamada, perform some astonis.h.i.+ng feats at the Niten Ichi Ry Niten Ichi Ry school, he could not bring himself to believe in these mystical arts. They seemed school, he could not bring himself to believe in these mystical arts. They seemed too too far-fetched. far-fetched.

That was until Soke, invoking Rin Rin, had lifted a tree trunk above his head. Now he was a believer.

'Can you remember the mantra?' asked Miyuki, who sat beside him in the lee of the Buddhist temple.

Jack nodded. 'On bais.h.i.+raman taya sowaka.'

'Perfect,' she said, smiling her approval.

Having made the correct hand sign, Jack closed his eyes and repeated the mantra over and over. He visualized a flame within him growing brighter, spreading throughout his body, filling him with energy.

During their first lesson in the clan's hidden knowledge, Soke had explained, 'Kuji-in is a combination of hand posture, meditation and focus. Together they unlock the powers of the mind and tap into the energy of the Ring of Sky.' is a combination of hand posture, meditation and focus. Together they unlock the powers of the mind and tap into the energy of the Ring of Sky.'

Jack had yet to achieve this. But he thought it was possible. He'd experienced the power of ki ki, his own spiritual energy, during his meditation training as a samurai. So he knew what to strive for. Kuji-in Kuji-in, however, was on a far higher level and would need a lot more practice.

Out of nowhere he felt a hot rush and a burst of energy. It was very brief like a bolt of lightning.

'Are you all right?' asked Miyuki.

Jack opened his eyes.

'You shook like a tree in a storm.'

'I'm fine,' Jack replied, his body tingling all over.

'You just channelled into the Ring of Sky,' explained Soke, walking over to check on their progress. 'It can be a bit unnerving first time, but you'll learn to control it. Even a brief connection can be useful, though, giving you a vital burst of energy in times of crisis.'

Soke beckoned the other students together in front of the temple.

'Now I wish you to focus on Sha Sha, healing. This is the hand sign,' he instructed, clasping his hands together, his fingers interlaced, the index finger and thumb both extended. 'Of all the kuji-in, Sha kuji-in, Sha is the most worthy of your attention. The ability to heal is far more valuable than the ability to kill.' is the most worthy of your attention. The ability to heal is far more valuable than the ability to kill.'

He formed his students into a semi-circle overlooking the village.

'For the time being, concentrate on self-healing. Once you've mastered this, you can bestow your healing properties on others.'

One by one, the students settled into their postures and began their meditation.

'On haya bais.h.i.+raman taya sowaka ...'

The chanting of the Sha Sha mantra echoed out across the valley as the sun slowly set over the mountains. Jack could smell a mix of jasmine and sandalwood incense drifting upon the breeze, and soon fell into a deep trance. The peace and serenity of his surroundings seeped into him, easing his mind, body and soul. mantra echoed out across the valley as the sun slowly set over the mountains. Jack could smell a mix of jasmine and sandalwood incense drifting upon the breeze, and soon fell into a deep trance. The peace and serenity of his surroundings seeped into him, easing his mind, body and soul.

By the time the sun dropped behind the mountains, Jack felt reborn.

39.

MOVING T TARGET.

'Welcome to my hideout,' said Tenzen proudly.

Jack gazed around in awe at the grotto, its high ceiling glimmering with quartz and crystals. He'd been surprised enough when Tenzen had led him to a waterfall in the mountains for his shuriken shuriken training. But then he'd been astounded as Tenzen had stepped through this cascade and into the hidden cavern behind. The bright suns.h.i.+ne filtering through the waterfall made the grotto appear light and airy, though the cavern receded into darkness. training. But then he'd been astounded as Tenzen had stepped through this cascade and into the hidden cavern behind. The bright suns.h.i.+ne filtering through the waterfall made the grotto appear light and airy, though the cavern receded into darkness.

'How far back does it go?' Jack asked.

'These mountains are riddled with caves, tunnels and pa.s.sageways,' replied Tenzen. 'I've yet to fully explore them.'

'Who else knows about this place?'

'It's my secret. But I know know I can trust you not to tell anyone.' I can trust you not to tell anyone.'

'So why bring me here?' asked Jack.

'Target practice,' he replied, handing Jack three shuriken shuriken.

'What's wrong with the posts back in the village?'