Chapter 3 : The Daruma Wish

'Your father's rutter!' exclaimed Yamato, confusion turning to disbelief.

'But when Dragon Eye attacked Akiko's house, you denied all knowledge

of it!'

'I lied. I had no choice at the time.'

Jack couldn't bring himself to meet Yamato's eyes. He knew his friend

felt betrayed.

Yamato turned to Akiko. 'Did you know about this?'

Akiko nodded, her face flushing with shame.

Yamato fumed. 'I don't believe it. Is this why Dragon Eye keeps

coming back? For a stupid book?'

'Yamato, I would have told you,' said Akiko, trying to calm him, 'but I

promised Jack I'd keep it secret.'

'How can a book be worth Chiro's life?' he said, rising to his feet. 'She

may only have been a maid, but she was loyal to our family. Jack's put all

of us in danger because of this so-called rutter.'

Yamato stared in silent rage at Jack, the old hatred flaring in his eyes.

To Jack's horror, Yamato turned to leave.

'I'm going to tell my father about this.'

'Please don't,' Jack pleaded, grabbing Yamato's kimono sleeve. 'It's

not just any book. It must be kept secret.'

'Why?' Yamato demanded, looking down at Jack's hand in disgust.

Jack let go, but Yamato didn't leave.

Jack wordlessly passed him the book and Yamato flicked through its

pages, glancing at but not comprehending the various ocean maps,

constellations and their accompanying sea reports.

Jack explained the significance of its contents in hushed tones. 'The

rutter is a navigational logbook that describes the safe routes across the

oceans of the world. The information is so valuable that men have died

trying to get their hands on this book. I promised my father I would keep it

secret.'

'But why's it so important? Isn't it just a book of directions?'

'No. It's much more than that. It's not only a map of the oceans. My

father said it's a powerful political tool. Whoever owns it can control the

trade routes between all nations. This means that any country with a rutter

as accurate as this one rules the seas. That's why England, Spain and

Portugal all want it.'

'What does that have to do with Japan?' Yamato said, handing the

book back. 'Japan's not like England. I don't think we even have a fleet.'

'I don't know. I don't care about politics. I just want to get back to

England one day and find Jess. I'm worried about her,' explained Jack,

caressing the leather binding of the logbook. 'My father taught me how to

use this rutter so I could be a pilot like him. That's why, when I do leave

Japan, the rutter is my ticket home. My future. Without it, I have no trade.

Much as I love training in the Way of the Warrior, there's little call for

samurai in England.'

'But what's stopping you leaving now?' challenged Yamato, his eyes

narrowing.

'Jack can't just go,' interjected Akiko on his behalf. 'Your father's

adopted him until he's sixteen and of age. He would need Masamoto-sama's

permission. Besides, where would he go to?'

Yamato shrugged.

'Nagasaki,' answered Jack.

They both stared at him.

'That's the port my father was piloting us to before the storm blew us

off course. The port might have a ship bound for Europe, or even England.'

'But do you even know where Nagasaki is, Jack?' asked Akiko.

'Sort of… there's a rough map in here.'

Jack began to flick through the rutter's pages.

'It's in the far south of Japan in Kyūshū,' said Yamato impatiently.

Akiko rested her hand on the logbook, stopping Jack's search for the

map. 'With no food or money, how would you get there? It would take you

more than a month to walk from Kyoto.'

'You had better start walking now then, hadn't you?' Yamato said

sarcastically.

'Stop it, Yamato! You two are supposed to be friends, remember?' said

Akiko. 'Jack can't simply walk to Nagasaki. Dragon Eye's out there. At

school, he's under your father's protection and Masamoto-sama seems to be

the only person the ninja fears. If Jack left here alone, he could be

captured… or even killed!'

They all fell silent.

Jack put away the rutter, padding the futon back over the top. It was

such a poor hiding place for something so precious and he realized he

needed to find a more secure location for it before Dragon Eye returned.

Yamato slid open the door of the room to leave. Glancing back over

his shoulder at Jack, he asked, 'So are you going to tell my father about it?'

They held each other's stare, the tension between them growing.

Jack shook his head. 'My father went to great lengths to keep it

hidden. On-board ship he had a secret compartment for it. Not even the

Captain knew where my father held his logbook. As his son, it's my duty to

protect the rutter,' explained Jack, knowing he had to get through to

Yamato somehow. 'You understand duty. You're samurai. My father made

me promise to keep it secret. I'm bound to that promise.'

Yamato nodded ever so slightly and slid the door shut again, before

turning back to him.

'I now understand why you haven't told anyone,' Yamato said,

unclenching his fists as his anger finally died down. 'I was annoyed that

you hadn't told me. That you didn't trust me. You can, you know.'

'Thank you, Yamato,' replied Jack, breathing a sigh of relief.

Yamato sat back down next to Jack. 'I just don't understand why you

can't tell my father. He could protect it.'

'No, we mustn't,' insisted Jack. 'When Father Lucius died, he

confessed that someone he knew was after the rutter and would kill me for

it.'

'Dokugan Ryu, of course' said Yamato.

'Yes, Dragon Eye wants the rutter,' agreed Jack, 'but you told me

ninja were employed for their skills. Somebody's hiring him to steal the

rutter. It could be someone Masamoto-sama knows. Father Lucius was part

of his entourage, so I can't afford to trust anyone. That's why I believe the

fewer people who know about it, the better.'

'You mean to say that you don't trust my father? That you think he

may want it?' Yamato demanded, offended at the implication.

'No!' replied Jack quickly. 'I'm saying if Masamoto-sama had the

rutter, he might be murdered for it like my father was. And that's a risk I

can't take. I'm trying to protect him, Yamato. At least, if Dragon Eye

believes I have it, he's only after me. That's why we must keep it secret.'

Jack could see his friend weighing the options and for one horrible

moment he thought Yamato was still going to tell his father.

'Fine. I promise I won't say anything,' Yamato agreed. 'But what

makes you think Dragon Eye will come after it again? We haven't seen him

since he tried to assassinate daimyo Takatomi during the Gion Festival.

Maybe he's dead. Akiko wounded him pretty badly.'

Jack recalled how Akiko had saved his life that night. They'd spotted

the ninja entering Nijo Castle, the home of Lord Takatomi, and followed

him. However, Dragon Eye overcame Jack and was about to sever his arm

when Akiko had flung a wakizashi sword to stop him. The short blade

pierced Dragon Eye's side, but the ninja had barely flinched. Only the

timely arrival of Masamoto and his samurai had prevented the assassin from

retaliating. Dragon Eye escaped over the castle walls, but not without

promising he'd be back for the rutter.

The ninja's threat still haunted him, and Jack didn't doubt that Dragon

Eye would return. The ninja was out there, waiting for him.

Akiko was right. While he was at the Niten Ichi Ryū, he was under

Masamoto's protection. He was safe. But he was dangerously exposed

outside the school walls. Travelling alone, he would be lucky to make it

beyond the city outskirts.

Jack had no option but to remain in Kyoto, training at the Niten Ichi

Ryū. He had to learn the Way of the Sword if he was ever going to survive

the journey home.

While the choice wasn't his, the idea of perfecting his skills as a

samurai gave Jack a sharp thrill. He was drawn to the discipline and virtues

of bushido and the thought of wielding a real sword was exhilarating.

'He's out there,' Jack said. 'Dragon Eye will come.'

Reaching across the room, Jack picked up the Daruma Doll. He looked

it squarely in the eye and solemnly remade his wish.

'But next time I'll be ready for him.'