SAMURAI

Chapter 12; Surprising Meeting

    I looked for a tool I could use to cross. There were no lifeboats. Not even a small boat was seen. I circled the stern to the lower deck. There's nothing I could use. Swimming to the beach made my clothes wet, the cold night was getting biting. Luckily, I got a long plank wide enough to tread two feet, and a stick that was leftover from the broken mast. 

    I threw the plank into the water. Before the plank touched the surface of the water, I jumped lightly, supporting my weight with the long rafters. My two feet rested directly on the plank. Wave ripples from the middle of the sea hit the plank where my feet were standing.

    Before the planks sank under my weight, I exerted my strength to push the posts that were embedded in the bottom of the beach. The inner force that was channeled into my feet made the board sticky with the cloth shoes I wore. 

    I absorbed the board particles. I pulled the milestone and stuck it in again while my strength pushed the board forward. The water rippled calmly. The waves from behind pushed my body who was standing on a board, moving closer to the shore.

    Arriving at the place where I was headed, I jumped using a stake so that my shoes and pants wouldn't get wet from the seawater. I ducked for a moment, making sure not even a human figure saw me. My eyes traced the shoreline. There were no guards like a sea defense post. In the darkness of the night that was only lit by the stars, I found gaping coals burning.

    About ten meters from the shoreline, several groups gathered around the bonfire. The flames made the sky a little brighter. I could not stay long. My body leaned slowly toward the dune, ducked in the dark, then sprinted in the same position leaving the beach. My right hand held the hilt of the sword, my left hand felt the shurikens in the pouch. 

    Every suspicious move that was suspicious appeared mercilessly as I prepared to s***h it. My eyes and ears wide opened. My nose actively smelled suspicious. A bush under a coconut tree became a hiding place so that my body could not be seen.

    Slowly in a sedentary position, I approached the smoke that was surrounded by the five pirate soldiers. They enjoyed grilled mutton. The dagger in his hand was cut into a small cut of meat interspersed with a sake spice in his left hand. Not far from them, five large cleavers cupped each other with their blade handles below, brandishing their sharp ends against the sky. They cut off pieces of goat thigh, chewed slowly.

    I swallowed hard, my Adam's apple flew up and down. My face flushed with tension. My stomach moaned. The smell of grilled meat that was conveyed to my nose through the puff of smoke allowed me to kill these five pirates without pity. 

    However, it's not good to kill a human in exchange for a piece of grilled meat. I threw a fist rock ten meters to the right. My fishing rod hit. The five pirates aimed at my throwing place full of suspicion.

    As they inspected the undergrowth, I sped up with all my might. My hand quickly drew the sword, grabbed a piece of goat thigh. Before the five pirates noticed, I was back in my hiding place under the bush in the dark with a large slab of the mutton thigh.

    My stomach must be filled first before doing a physical fight. It's ridiculous to die on an empty stomach. For the large chunk of goat that I stole, I decided to let the five pirates breathed for a while.

    I continued my journey into darkness by hanging from one coconut tree to another like a wild monkey. The branch waved as a place to stretch my body. The branch shook softly as my body moved. Within a few swings, I was soon into the forest, leaving the coastline several kilometers behind. 

    As I entered the forest, the screams and harps became clearer. Shouts of male laughter accompanied by cries of flirtatious women echoed boisterously. I kept floating above the tree, moving from branch to branch.

    In the middle of the forest, I found a sturdy building like a weathered fortress that had been abandoned. It looked like a temporary fortress used for reconnaissance or waiting for troops to follow. In the courtyard of the fort, a large yard was filled with hundreds of small tents. Different flags were drawn on the tent poles. 

    In front of their respective tents, five to seven men who were rudely dressed in modest clothing surrounded the fire. They danced, jumped, laughed. Swords, spears, machetes laid at the mouth of the tent. Sheep, goats, deer, pigs, snakes, peeled off without skin. Bamboo covered their burning bodies, spun over a fire that seared flesh, causing smoke to rise. 

    My stomach was full. If only I hadn't filled my stomach first, I'd be happy to join in. Of course, when invited.

    The large jar of liquor took turns rotating. The servants were women and men dressed in rags and walked quickly to fill empty glasses with liquor. Their faces were pale with closed mouths. Their eyes did not shine. Despair, suffering, horror was visible on their faces.

    The servants with no purpose in life were ordinary citizens of various nations who were caught at sea and made slaves. The pirates would sort out their catch. Men-women, old-young-children. Young men became workers, children became servants, women became slaves to the satisfaction of lust. And, the old person would be released from this life forever.

    Heavy breathing repeatedly filled my chest cavity. Such is war. It's always like that in every era. The strong overpower the weak. When a region or country is conquered, stories of terrible suffering will appear. Humans are sometimes more animals than animals themselves.

    Even though I felt sorry, my arrival at the pirate's nest with the golden skull flag was not to free the slaves. They were destined to suffer for a while in this world. I didn't save them not because I wasn't human. My aim came not to save slaves, although I would be happy if I could. I was alone, unable to carry out all sacred tasks for humanity. The samurai being held captive was my priority right now.

    According to my father's teachings, humans are born equal, without caste, without boundaries. However, seeing the reality that occurs in the world, the caste and divides created by the rulers make the nature given by the Almighty Creator to be discarded.

    I continued my journey. After passing through a field inhabited by hundreds of tents, I found a small hill-like step. Behind the small hill, there was a wide field. Not so wide as the previous field, but quite special the views contained in it. A large stage stood proudly in the middle. The stage was supported by nine large pillars as high as five meters made of trees supporting a tasseled roof. Bamboo served as a holder for tassel leaves wrapped in colorful cloth. Four large torch lights lit at its four corners, two dots in front, two dots behind.

    In front of the stage, which has a height of approximately one and a half meters from the ground, there was a thick red carpet. The beauty of the stage was all the more amazing, covered with golden silk cloth combined with maroon cloth rolled up to form an inverted mountain that chases each other all over the roof. The black flag depicting a skull head in four colors fluttered in the wind.

    The largest flag featuring a golden skull looks striking. Measuring two square meters, the golden skull flag looked the biggest of all the flags. Smaller than the golden skull flag, the red, green, blue skull flags followed. On the carpet that covers the stage floor, perched a pair of golden yellow chairs with dragon carvings. The colorful flowers were beautifully shaped as booklets.

     White paper in kanji with the words "Happy Married" "Lucky" and all kinds of encouraging writings as a wedding party was stuck in a row behind the chairs. Each post contained the name of the sender.

     It seemed the pirate ruler of Oshima was celebrating his wedding day, stiffly amused. Three skull flags of various colors indicated the ruler of the island of Oshima also invited three other pirate families. Since when could pirates be at peace? Amassing eternal foes at a wedding reception? I laughed to myself.

    Like a bat, I floated down. Settling slowly under a shady tree, moving like the wind, stepping as thin as a mist. My goal is not to celebrate pirate weddings. I looked for directions for prisoners, but I could not find them. There was no other choice.

    A group of five pirates with the closest golden skull flags who happened to be separated from the others would be my first targets. I silently threw three metal rays of shurikens in the shape of a triangular star.

    The two topless men widened as their three friends enjoying the wine clutched his neck. Three shurikens pierced their throats, preventing the wine from reaching their stomachs, spurting out with fresh blood. The harps and shouts of joy covered the moans of the three large bodies. They fell with a thud, smothering their throats.

    While the other two weren't yet aware of what was happening, the metallic flash of my blade moved swiftly through the air. One neck suffered the same fate, while the other complained when the blow of my left hand landed hard on the nape of his neck. He passed out for a moment. I purposely left one person who I considered the leader.

    Half of the wine jar still left. I drank part of the contents, the rest I poured into the face of the leader who was still unconscious. The pirate's eyes blinked half-open. My left hand covered his mouth, my right hand thrust the tip of the sword into his chest. Right where the heart was. His eyes widened in fear.

    "You will be safe if you show me where the samurai detention room is."

    He groaned, shaking his head. I slowly lowered the tip of my sword tearing the skin of his chest. Blood oozed slowly from the stab wound. When he tried to scream, I stuffed his mouth with the cloth.

    “Look at your four friends! You will meet them if you fight!” I directed the pirate's head to the four corpses that were covered in pathetic blood. 

    His eyes widened in horror as he saw the four bodies stretched out, covered in blood. A gaping hole in my neck spraying gore through my throat I continued my gaze to the defense side of his fear.

    "I will not repeat my threat. I won't kill you if you show me where the detention room is.”

     The pirate cowered in fear.

    “Hurry! I don't have time. There are still many of your other friends who want to work together!”

    My eyes pointed to the other crowd surrounding the nearby bonfire.

    I pressed my sword against his chest again. Blood was seeping from the stab wound. Not fatal. The body of the leader of this gang is quite thick. The pectoral muscles were sticking out, and there was not much fat on the skin. If he still didn't open his mouth, his body would be covered in blood with his heart split opened.

    He nodded. I lifted the piece of cloth that had buried his mouth. I still haven't pulled the tip of my sword. His breath was breathless.

    "I'll talk ... I'll talk ... please don't kill me ... Hu ..."

    He cried like a slave girl begging not to be r***d. Both his thighs were wet with urine. How disgusting for a merciless leader of a pirate gang. If only I didn't promise to spare his life if he talked, I'd be happy to submerge the entire blade across his body.

    I pulled my sword from his chest. The man sat down, drawing on the ground the direction I had to take. I told him to repeat while memorizing the directions. After I understood, I smacked the back of his head again with a bare hand. His body fell backward. I pressed a vein in the neck that carries oxygen through the bloodstream to the brain. His eyes widened for a moment, then closed completely.

    He would fall asleep until tomorrow morning until his blood vessels open. Before consciousness completely fades away, I whispered in his ear. "Don't ever lie to me. I'll be back if you trick me!”

    Slowly but surely, I moved to follow the pirate's direction. Wandered around the field, and ducked as the three pirate members left. The pirate who was passed out wasn't lying. After settling and circling for a while following his directions, I found an old building guarded by several pirates.

    The two-door gate connecting the dungeon was visible in the guard of two large men. They stood tall like two guarded samurai. No conversation. Large machetes slung over their shoulders.

    After confirming that no other guards or their companions were joining the guard, I took an offensive move. A shuriken in the shape of a triangular star flew towards the neck of the left guard. Before throwing the shurikens on target, I soundlessly jumped towards the guard on the far right. 

    Just as the shuriken broke his throat, my flashed blade slashed the other guard's neck. Their bodies collapsed, twitched for a moment, then remained silent forever.

    The chain to tie the latch to the main building's door broke in one fell swoop. I admired the sword Moroshige gave me. The matchmaking steel of Moroshige's blade had been tempered in thousands of degrees of heat, making the iron chains feel as if the roots were soft when they were cut. I opened the door, closed it back from the inside.

    Inside the building, there was no yard or furniture, or former dining room-like buildings in general. After passing through the main door, an underground passage that was damp and the smell of rat urine greeted my black cloth-covered nose. The passage continued inward, followed by a few bewildering turns.

    The faint glow produced from the torches on the wall illuminated a path three adult bodies wide. Every five meters, a small torch stuck to the hallway wall. The ground was soft, soiled the sole of my shoe when I stepped on it. Rats running around squeaking beside the road. Seeing the texture of the walls made of stone, this hallway seemed to be used as a link from one building to another.

    I didn't know who and when the passages and fortresses on this desert island were made. Judging by the not very old stones and materials, I believed this underground passage hasn't even reached a hundred years of age.

    With a small torch in my left hand, sword drawn in my right, my brain remembered the clue I got.

    Go straight past the two intersections, then turn right. I had to go through five intersections to get to the detention room. The man who was enjoying his dream was not lying. Turn right, go straight, turn left, the detention room was at the third junction. I found it.

    I stopped. Two grunts sounded softly over my sensitive eardrums. I hung the torch against the wall. The left hand reached into the shirt pocket. Mainstay secret weapon ready to find prey.

    During the trip to the detention room, I didn't come across a single human. All the pirate members are immersed in the excitement of their leader's wedding. Except for the two prison gatekeepers in front of me. Pity. While his friends were wallowing in roasted meat, sake, and women, the two pirates were trapped in a damp and dirty cellar. Maybe they had made a fatal mistake so that the leader did not invite the two of them to join the party.

    The faces of the two guards looked troubled when faintly heard the sound of harping that carried the wind from outside. To end their turmoil, I was kind enough to help end their suffering. One shuriken in the shape of a star stroked in the neck, one stroke cut the throat, plus the bonus each one stabbed right in the heart.

    I put all the five senses as maximally as possible. The prison gate opened wide after I kicked it. The detention room was pitch black. With the open door, I leaned over my body into the room. In anticipation of a s***h or stab from behind the door, I did three somersaults, rolled four times on the ground, then bent over my stance ready to take the attack.

    I waited. There was no movement at all. Nothing greeted but muffled shouts. In the dim darkness, I found two dark detention rooms that were narrow, dirty, urine, and bordered by a tight iron fence. A round iron the size of a sword hilt locked several of the humans inside.

    "Who are you?" snapped a familiar voice.

    I didn't answer. My eyes widened when used to in that dark room. One detention room measuring two by two meters is occupied by five people. Next to it, a room of the same size was occupied by four people. Five samurai traveling companions on one ship filled one detention room.

    One more room made me gasp. Goro, Saburo, and two boys I don't know were in it!

    Before they asked again, I quickly ran to the previous room, then returned to the detention room with the small torch in hand. My sword was back in its sheath on the back.

    “Goro san? Saburo san?" I asked for certain.

    “Who are you?"

    Without answering I laughed out loud. Half because I was happy to meet a fellow, the other half laughed at an unimaginable meeting. At the last meeting, Goro promised to see me one more year in Hakata. Just six months, I found him confined in detention. I approached. I took off the headcover. I held the torch to my face.

    "Knight?"

    "Yes! Me!"

    It was Goro's turned to laugh out loud. Saburo, who I had never seen his teeth, opened his mouth. His teeth were neat, shiny white in the light of the torch. In my opinion, Saburo should laugh more showing off his healthy teeth. Looked more handsome.

    "Zen Priest?" asked a low voice from the next room.

    "Yes. It's me, Mr. Adachi Goemon, "I replied with a smile. 

    "You guys step back first," I ordered.

    They understood what I mean. The sword Moroshige gave away from its sheath. With full speed and power, I knocked on the iron bars. In one cut, five bars broke. A clang sounded loud. I repeated until the two bars of the detention room were divided.

     Five samurai, I didn't know their name, Goro, Saburo, and their two samurai friends jumped out. Their Hakama pants and haori kimono clothes were shabby in rags. The splash of thickened blood also enlivened the kimono haori color.

    Goemon who used to appear clean looked uncomfortable with his body. His white skin turned black with soot. He used his haori arm to wipe his face, making his appearance blackened even more by the dirt from his sleeve.

    I haven't heated the sword yet, two men in Goro's cell jumped at me. From the whistling wind, they attacked barehanded without their full strength. Their movements were fast, powerful, and deadly. In the dim light of the torches, the silhouettes of their movements were faintly visible, but they were quite clear in my sight.

    One big man with his hands forming claws toward my neck, another short man attacked with his fists clenched toward my heart. The prey attack wind arrived before their two barehanded.

    My heart sank, I recognized the form of the move they used. Iga-Ryu and Koga-Ryu's empty-handed attacks.

    As fast as the attack came, as quickly as I took a restraining motion. I brushed off the claw with my empty left hand. 

    "Duk!" the clash of two bones was heard loudly in the detention room. My left-hand bone felt as if it had hit hard metal as it bumped into Iga-Ryu's claws.

    Without waiting to drown out the pain creeping up my arm, I tilted my body to avoid another attack aimed at the heart.

    "Hold your attacks!" I snapped.

    Paying no heed, my assailants returned following with another attack. I was forced to move backward while slashing the sword Moroshige gave me forward to prevent further attacks. I screamed like crazy.

    “I will have to kill two fellow disciples if you two keep attacking me! Master Masashige and Master Moroshige convey greetings!” I snapped trying to end their movement. 

    I scattered my screams with deep energy so that they could reach their hearts.

    The attacks of the two stopped. The breaths of the two attackers caught.

    "Haa ?!"

    "What do you mean?" they shouted in unison.

    "Yes! We are brothers. This sword was given to Master Moroshige. These clothes and bags were given by Guru Masashige." I brandished a sword in my right hand and a black bag in my left.