Eastern Fury and The Drunken Lord, Andrew Scorah [top 100 books to read TXT] 📗

His name is Chihiro Kitagawa and he tugged at the bindings which held him fast to the cruciform platform. All around came the chitinous rasping of tiny claws emanating from the thousand or so Scorpions who shared this pit with him. He had been assured by his captors their poison glands had been removed, this he hoped because he had already been stung a few times. He cursed himself for a fool, having listened to that drunken scoundrel Lord Kingsley Pugh who had led him into this trap. Above him swung a scything blade which dropped ever lower if he struggled against his bindings. He tried to ignore the scurrying things that creeped and crawled about his person, using his breathing to calm himself. Chihiro examined his surroundings, what he could see in the darkness. Above him, beyond the blade, the pit was sealed by a stone plug with only a window sized opening in which he could see the starry night sky. One of the cowboys who had abducted him was standing over the opening, he unbuttoned his pants and urinated into the hole.
"That should keep the critters off ya a while longer," he said and walked off laughing. A year ago Chihiro had come to America looking for his teachers son, who was wanted for the murder of a fellow Ninja of the Iga Kansetzu Ryu clan member. Sygo Takagi had left a clear trail behind him leading Chihiro to the town of Red Bluff. He had happened upon Lord Kingsley Pugh, a drunken foul mouthed English man, who claimed he knew the whereabouts of Sygo Takagi-his quarry. Chihiro had trusted him and they traveled to a canyon some miles outside Red Bluff. Sygo was indeed there, he hit Chihiro with a sleep dart and here he found himself in this pit of death.
It had been some time since he had come round when he heard a noise from above, it sounded like wood hitting flesh, a face appeared at the opening. It was the pudgy reddened face of Kingsley.
"Cheerio, I am so sorry dear fellow," he said, "I had no idea they was going to do this to you, he said he only wanted to scare you away." His voice was slurred and raspy from his constant whiskey and laudanum abuse.
"You going to get me out or bore me with one of your stories."
"My, that is gratitude damn your eyes, I think I may leave you to rot by God."
"Okay, see you."
"Don't be like that dear boy, I shall have you out in a trifle."
"Watch for the Scorpions and the blade."
"Scorpions, scorpions," panic flitted across his face.
"It is okay they are not poisonous, just look out for the blade."
A rope dropped down from the opening and Kingsley's rear end shuffled into view, gripping the rope for dear life as he slowly descended.
"This is no pissing place for a nephew of the Queen," he grumbled.
Shortly he was down among the scorpions feet dancing like he was on a hot tin roof.Kneeling down next to the cruciform platform he produced a Bowie knife and freed Chihiro from his bonds. He grabbed Kingsley by the throat, pushing him away as the blade slammed down into the platform.
"Give me one good reason why I should not kill you now?" His face was up against Kingsley who whimpered.
"C, ca, can't breath my boy."
Chihiro shoved Kingsley to the floor of the pit, he screamed and jumped to his feet.
"I came back for you when I found out what happened, come let us not tarry in this place any longer, I have your clothes above."
Chihiro looked up at the opening fifteen feet above. He took the knife from Kingsley then vaulted up through the hole and landing in a ukemi role, coming to his feet he scanned the area. The pit was in a small Forrest clearing on the side of a valley, he could make out, in the light given off by two flaming torches either side of the pit, a body on the ground nearby. He crossed over to it and using the knife, slit his throat from ear to ear. He turned back to the pit to see Kingsley emerge from the hole puffing and panting. He lay on his back and pointed to a pile of clothes and a pack next to the pit.
Quickly Chihiro dressed, he had affected the American way of dressing soon after his arrival except for a pair of Tabi boots and a red Obi which held his Ninja-To, Chihiro was pleasantly surprised to find all his weapons with the clothes. A trail led from the clearing into the Forrest, he led Kingsley down it. A gibbous moon hung low in the sky, illuminating their way down the side of the valley.
"I thought about going to get the Sheriff, then I remembered he is on the pay roll of the Savio gang," Kingsley said, puffing along behind him, "The Long Riders they call them selves, the baddest bunch of desperado's this side of Tombstone, or so I am reliably informed by their leader Dan Savio."
The trail led down a tree lined slope, they both walked along, pushing branches out of their way, Chihiro wished he could have left Kingsley behind, but Kingsley had saved his life so like it or not he was obligated to him. He stopped and turned to Kingsley.
"If it is my curse to be saddled with you then please be quiet,"he said, Kingsley raised his hands and bowed slightly, "Now do you know where Sygo is now?" Kingsley just stared at him, "Well!"
"You told me to be quiet, I mean…"
"Just tell me."
"He is at the Shamrock canyon with the others, they are planning some kind of raid."
"Then that is where we must go."
"We, oh no , I have done my bloody duty for King and Fannie Addams," Kingsley declared, "I am going to find a nice saloon and some sweet meat." He went to push past Chihiro who grabbed him by the shoulder.
"No you are going to stay with me," Chihiro whispered dangerously, he was not ready to trust him yet so despite obligation he wanted Kingsley where he could see him.
"Anyway how did you get mixed up with these Long Riders." Chihiro started back down the trail.
"They find me useful for certain activities where a bit of decorum and style is needed." Kingsley did not elaborate and Chihiro did not ask.
They were coming to the end of the trail, voices could be heard and the smell of a campfire wafted in on the night breeze. Chihiro held up his hand and dropped to a crouch, Kingsley copied him.
"It is the McCain brothers, there are four of them, Savio left them here to guard the pit, "Kingsley whispered, "They are supposed to dispose of your body once you are dead."
Chihiro looked up at the trees all around them then like a cat he launched himself up one of the trunks, shinning up till he disappeared into the dark. Kingsley looked up but could not see anything.
Seconds later Chihiro reappeared with a birds egg in his hand.
"Cheerio, this is not the time for eating," Kingsley said as he watched him make a hole in the egg then suck out its contents. He took a small bag from his pack and emptied some powder into the egg. One of the disciplines he had learned was the art of Ka-Ton-Jitsu, using powders and fire to distract or blind.
"Stay here till you hear me whistle, and do not make a sound."
Chihiro moved off the trail and stealthily made his way through the trees. Soon he was at the foot of the hill, hiding behind the trunk of a tree. In front of him sat four cowboys, they had a good sized campfire going. A bottle of gut rot whiskey is being passed between them, off to their left they had tethered their horses, at least he and Kingsley would not have to walk from this place. Looking up he saw a thick branch stretched out over the campsite. Silently Chihiro climbed the trunk and shinned out over the branch till he was above them. Drawing his Ninja-To, the razor sharp blade of the Ninja, shorter than the blades of the Samurai but just as lethal. He hurled the egg bomb down into the fire where it exploded, throwing burning embers and blinding smoke into the faces of the McCain brothers. They all jumped to their feet, screaming, as the smoke burned their eyes. Chihiro dropped into their midst, and in four scything movements of his sword, the brothers lay dead; minus various body parts. He performed the Chiburi to remove the brothers blood then with a flourish, he sheathed his sword. The air smelled of fire and blood now mingling with the smells of the forest. He whistled and shortly Kingsley appeared carrying his pack. He looked at the four bodies and grimaced, his face took on a greenish tinge and Chihiro thought he was going to be sick, but Kingsley managed to hold himself.
"Ugh is this the way every one is killed in the Japans, death grinned horrible a ghastly smile,to hear. His famine should be filled," he looked from the bodies to Chihiro,"Paradise Lost, John Milton, looks like these boys lost their paradise and are now burning in hell."
They saddled the horses and rode furiously into the night.
Dawn was breaking when they reached Shamrock canyon, so named after two Irish brothers discovered the first gold seam in the area, the brothers establised the first gold mine. Now played out it was abandoned some years ago. They pulled up shy of the head of the canyon.
Turning in his saddle, Chihiro asked, "What is the set up in there, how many men?"
"When they are not out and about doing dark deeds, there is usually about forty of the Long Riders in there," Kingsley replied," Savio places a few men up in the canyon walls to look out for the various posses that sometimes come after them, now with your friend Syco or whatever his name is a few traps have been set."
Chihiro thought for a moment,"You are going to be my Genin and I your Chunin, they do not know of your betrayal yet," Chihiro said to a confused looking Kingsley,"Go in and see what is happening, how many are there and any other information you can gather."
Kingsley gulped, "I couldn't, they would see my treachery in an instant."
"Pugh you have told me many a tale of your daring and bravery in service to your British Empire, now put your money where your mouth is as our American friends say."He added,"You are braver than you think."
Kingsley took a small flask from inside his red velvet jacket and took a swig, "Purely medicinal."
He kicked his heels into the horses flanks and headed towards the canyon. As he rode off he started to sing.