Turtle Reader

There were moments when the junk was balanced on the crest of a wave, both stern and bow out of the water, the rudder cutting uselessly through empty air. Jebu tried to imagine the size of a wave that could lift an enormous vessel like this out of the water. He had never heard of [...]

The terrible rolling motion of the ship had stopped. It felt, there in the cabin, as if the ship had righted itself and was plunging forward, like a whale, through the waves. Jebu looked out the open cabin door. There was nothing but blackness ahead and rain was spraying in through the door in sheets. [...]

There was a monstrous crack. The huge bronze tube of the hua pao broke loose from the deck, smashed through the side of the shed and was sliding towards them. Jebu danced backwards along the railing. Like a falling elephant the enormous mass of metal struck Arghun and crashed with him through the railing. There [...]

Red Tiger could hardly last much longer. The mast to which Sametono was tied might break off at any time. With each roll of the ship the boy’s body swung out over the waves. If the rope holding him broke, he would be thrown into the sea. With his arms bound he would have no [...]

“We have come to ask what you want in return for the release of the boy.” Jebu wanted to have done with the masquerade and strike as soon as possible, but he needed something to distract Arghun’s men. If only the storm would get more violent.Arghun laughed, a harsh, brassy sound. “Is he really your [...]

Red Tiger was due south. Sakagura ordered Shimmering Light’s steersmen and rowers to point the ship’s bow obliquely into the great waves rolling from south-west to north-east across the bay to keep the galley from being swamped. Jebu’s robe was already soaked and plastered to his skin by rain and spray. Pitching violently, Shimmering Light [...]

Kagyo and the other Former Zinja had already donned the costume sent by Taniko. Kagyo wore what the courtiers called a hunting costume, an outfit that had nothing to do with actual hunting, a tall, shiny black cap advertising high rank, an embroidered dove-grey jacket with trailing sleeves and billowing apricot trousers with legs as [...]

“What are we going to do, shiké? Sakagura and I must commit seppuku at once, don’t you agree?”“There will be no more talk about anyone’s killing himself,” Jebu said. “We will do what we can to help Sametono. That should be enough to satisfy anyone’s lust for self-destruction.” He realized that the Self was speaking [...]

The samurai moved out into the hills behind the town and set up camp. A light rain had begun to fall, and many of the men sought shelter under trees. Rain-soaked armour was a nuisance. It took days for the lacings to dry. Jebu made a one-man tent out of his riding cloak and a [...]

“It is you who have clouded my mother’s mind. Stay far from me. I do not wish to see you. You are dismissed.”Jebu knew that if he spoke another word Sametono would draw the sword Higekiri that hung at his belt. He stood up reluctantly, bowed deeply and backed away. Sametono turned on his heel [...]