Young Samurai 06 - The Ring of Fire Read Online Free PDF

return to the village, unwilling to let go of his arm until he agreed. Jack could only presume that Akuma was raiding the farmers’ rice store, the harsh snows having encouraged him to seize provisions early.
    The two of them burst from the forest and ran along the muddy track into the village centre. All the farmers had gathered in the square and were now staring in horror at the inferno before them. The thatched roof of the farmhouse was alive with flames. A few men were trying to douse the blaze with buckets of icy water from the pond, but their efforts were making little impact and the fire continued to spread.
    A woman wailed, struggling in the arms of a round-faced man with thinning hair, who appeared just as tormented. She seemed desperate to throw herself inside the burning building.
    Neko and Jack came to a halt beside Sora, whose face was more anguished than ever.
    ‘Where’s Akuma?’ demanded Jack, looking around for the bandits.
    ‘Akuma?’ gasped Sora, shocked by the name almost as much as by seeing Jack again. ‘No … no bandits. A cooking pot full of oil spilt and set the house on fire.’
    Jack sheathed his katana , annoyed that Neko had dragged him back just for this. Tragic as it was, it was of no concern to him. He turned to resume his journey.
    ‘B-b-but their baby’s still inside,’ Sora exclaimed.
    Above the roar of the flames and the mother’s own cries, Jack now heard the screams of a small child. The farmhouse was close to collapsing, but the farmers still stood doing nothing. It was clear they were all too scared to risk their lives.
    Jack lost no time. Passing Neko his swords and pack, he ran over to a nearby shed and ripped away the cloth sacking that hung from a window. He then seized a full bucket from one of the farmers and threw it over himself. Shuddering with the cold, he grabbed a second bucket and soaked the sack too. Wrapping himself in the sodden cloth, he took a deep breath and charged into the blazing farmhouse.
    Jack was hit by a wave of heat so intense it almost knocked him off his feet. The air was scorching and burnt all the way into his lungs. Hacking violently, he peeked from beneath the sacking. The room was a swirl of smoke, ash and flames. To his right, one wall was engulfed in fire, the kitchen area a brimstone hell in which no one could survive. To his left, the raised wooden sleeping area smouldered but had yet to catch alight.
    In the far corner he caught a glimpse of a makeshift cot and heard the high-pitched screams of the abandoned baby. The infant began to wheeze and choke as smoke descended over the cot.
    Pulling the wet sacking closer round his face, Jack dashed across the room. Even through the soles of his sandals, he could feel the blistering heat of the wooden deck. It wouldn’t be long before the whole floor burst into flames.
    Reaching the baby, he was amazed to find it unharmed, its face protected beneath an old shawl. Snatching it from the cot, he wrapped the little infant protectively within the sacking. But the cloth was almost dry and would soon be useless. He started to run back outside when all of a sudden an almighty crack sounded. Looking up, he saw a flaming roof beam split in half.
    At the last second Jack dived out of the way, rolling across the decking with the baby in his arms as the beam crashed to the ground. The infant screamed even louder as its world was turned upside-down. Jack flipped to his feet, only to discover they were now encircled by a ring of fire.
    He could see the doorway tantalizingly close, but he would have to run a gauntlet of flame to reach it.
    The sacking on his back, now dry as tinder, ignited and he was given no other choice. Shrugging the cloth from his shoulders, he clasped the baby to his chest and threw himself towards the only exit. Flames licked at him as he ran, his soaked kimono his last defence.
    The farmhouse creaked and groaned, then caved in on itself as Jack tumbled out into the square. Coughing