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noted the subtle change in his bearing, and taken warning. Indeed,
there was a well-dressed samurai in the crowd who took
note, allowing the faintest of smiles to touch his lips. But this man
said nothing.
By this time a fair number of spectators had gathered around,
ranging from street urchins to warriors. Though there were murmurs
supporting the lone ronin, sympathizing with the underdog,
no one offered to intercede directly.
"Yes, I challenge you, dotard!" the offended warrior said loudly,
playing to his own audience.
Fu Antos did not smile. "You alone?" The implication was
manifest, and a chuckle rippled through the crowd. The brash
youngster realized too late that he faced a seasoned warrior: no
easy mark.
"All three of us!" one of the others said, and the third nodded.
Now they had confidence again, for the odds were satisfactory.
"Then I shall identify myself," Fu Antos said, as protocol required.
But he did not speak loudly enough for the crowd beyond
the three to hear, for he hoped no word of this would reach Lord
Ii. The man, no fool, might recognize the presence of the ninja
and be alert.
The three youths gave their names. Then, the formalities com-
309
pleted, all four unsheathed their swords. Fu Antos drew his slowly,
as though he were not accustomed to strenuous activity; the truth
was, no living man could match the speed of his draw. The blades
glittered in the sun.
Fu Antos fixed his gaze on the center samurai, advancing behind
the unwavering point of his weapon. That youth, fixed by
the steely eye and blade, slowly gave way, dismayed by the evident
confidence of his single opponent. Small wonder, for it was impossible
to conceal completely the competence of the finest swordsman
in all Japan. It had been a century since he had actually fought,
but Fu Antos had trained when more stringent standards of swordsmanship
prevailed, and still practiced daily in private.
The youth on his right thought he saw an opening, and rushed
to the attack.
Fu Antos, who had anticipated that very move, parried with
lightning speed, then cut the man down with a stroke across his
neck. Even as the hapless man fell, Fu Antos whirled to meet the
charge of the left-hand samurai. A single motion severed the youth's
head from his neck. The head flew into the air, its startled eyes
staring, then dropped to roll in the street. The masterless body
assayed a few drunken steps, while a crimson fountain of arterial
blood jetted upward a good two hands of=driven by the still
furiously beating heart. There was a gasp of amazement and morbid
delight from the crowd.
The one in the center suddenly revealed himself to be a coward.
He whirled away and started to flee down the street.
Fu Antos hurled his sword like a spear so that it transfixed the
coward's back and stood out from his chest. The youth looked
down, amazed. He tried to claw the steel out of his body, "But he
was so old!" he protested, as though he had merely suffered an
indignity at the hands of an incompetent, an accident, as it were.
Then he died.
The spectators applauded as Fu Antos calmly drew out his
blood-wet sword, wiped it on the dead man's tunic and coolly
310
returned it to its sheath. His feat of arms was warmly congratulated
by the samurai in the audience.
Fortunately, none of the three who had heard his name had
survived. The secret was safe.
Fu Antos turned to go. "Sir!" someone called. "Aren't you going
to the magistrate's office to report?"
Annoyed, Fu Antos paused. He saw that the speaker was one
of the samurai spectators, obviously a man of good breeding. Because
it was the fashion of the ninja to notice everything, Fu Antos
had observed this man's smiling anticipation of the climax. Had it
been mere professional interest, or something more?
But obviously the man intended no offense. "What interest
have I in this offal?" he asked, glancing at the corpses. "What interest
does the magistrate have?"
"It is the law. Do you not remember?"
Fu Antos had not forgotten. He had never known of this law,
as it had not been in force when he was current with affairs of the
world. He had emerged from his seclusive retreat only because of
the urgency of his mission, and would return to it the moment
that mission was done. "I apologize, sir. The quarrel confused me;
I had forgotten."
The samurai smiled. "No apology necessary, but I hasten to
accept, as I hardly wish to share the fate of the three buffoons who
declined your plea! It was a natural error on your part. These regulations
are a nuisance. The office is right down the street, here; I
will escort you, if you have no objection." And he fell in beside the
ninja, though Fu Antos had not solicited his company and did not
want it.
"I do not recognize you," the man continued. "I thought I
knew all the superior swordsmen of Japan-God knows they are [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]