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

"Down in the valley the valley so low, hang your head over, let the wind blow…" his voice faded as he headed into the canyon.
Chihiro moved into a stand of trees nearby to await Kingsley's return.
An hour later a distinctly wobbling in the saddle Kingsley returned. Chihiro rode out to meet him, the Englishman's face was redder and more bloated than when he entered the canyon.
"Ah dear Sheerio there you are," he looked at Chihiro through glazed eyes, "Sorry for my unsightly state of hin ebrehation, I had to partake of the hospitality of the house you see."
"Never mind, what did you find out."
"Uh, oh yes, " he took a deep breath and burped loudly, "Thass better, there was only two of the men in camp, Savio and the others, he has fifty men with him, including your quarry; have gone into Red Bluff."
Kingsley wobbled in the saddle and for a moment he looked like he was going to slide off his horse .
"Well, did you find out what they are up to?"
"Oh yes they are going to attack a train carrying twenty five thousand dollars in gold bullion."
Chihiro felt his quest nearly at an end, to Red Bluff they would ride and he would deal with Sygo once and for all, he knew that there was no chance Sygo would return willingly, a fight to the death was in his future, his or Sygo's, who had a reputation as a formidable foe.
"Come on lets go, and do not slip off your horse."
"I will have you know I am the best rider England,"he said and under his breath,"Bloody peasant, I was riding horses while you were still bathing in rice fields."
Red bluff was fifteen miles from the canyon and they mad it after two hours of hard riding, only stopping three times for Kingsley to be sick and once for Chihiro to dump the drunk lord into a ice cold stream to sober him up.
They hitched their horses at a stable at the edge of town and stepped out onto main street.
"How are we going to find this Syco?"
"You can always spot a wolf in a flock of sheep," Chihiro said.
"Is that a proverb from the Japans?" Kingsley asked,"In this situation I prefer, never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear and a fool from any direction, you sir are the fool."
Chihiro looked at him,"You think so?"
"Indeed my boy, the odds are against you, a gang of no doubt drunken Long Riders waits for you." He brushed down his jacket and ran a his fingers through his hair, " I know you may be good with that pig sticker but they have guns and you can not out run a bullet."
"Well it is good I have you to watch my back yes?"
Kingsley laughed, "You are brave or a damn fool, either way gets you dead."
They looked along main street to the train station at the other end, it was filled with a mixture of drunken cowboys and mine workers, plus the more sober elements of town folk going about their daily business. Red Bluff had a deadly reputation in this part of the country, only the deadly and dangerous attempted to make a living here. The only women who frequented the town being the whores who frequented the brothels, or the partners of ruthless gunmen who were just as deadly as their male counterparts.
"The train will not arrive until eight tonight, so what shall we do till then?"
"You my English friend go do what you do best, drink with the devil, but not too much, and wait for my signal."
"What will it be?"
"You will know it, when the signal comes, get to the station and warn the train some how."
Kingsley walked off down main-street rubbing his hands with glee at the thought of the drink he would partake in.
Chihiro looked up at the ball of fire hanging like a swollen golden orb in the sky and preyed to his ancestors to give him the strength to see his quest through. He melted into the deep shadows of the barn and sat in seiza position behind some hay bales. Forming the hand positions of the Kuji Kiri, the nine hands cutting, he began to prepare his mind and body for the trial ahead. Going from Rin, the position for strength in mind and body through to Zen, enlightenment, his mind drifted back to Japan and his master the teacher Za To Chi, he was a Shingon Mikkyo priest and thirty sixth grandmaster in a direct line from the founder of their clan Mako Hatsumi. They had been walking in the cherry tree orchard near the village just before his journey began. Pausing next to a stream his teacher turned to him, his serene wizened face hid a deadly ability that was wondrous to behold in one so old.
"Why are you strong Kitagawa san?" Za To Chi asked as he stooped to pick up a hand full of blossoms, he was eighty years old but still sprightly.
"I am strong because I have been weak Sensei."
"And why are you fearless?" he dropped the cherry blossoms into the stream.
"Because I have been afraid." Chihiro watched the blossoms sail away.
"Why is it that you are wise?"
"I am wise because I have been foolish."
"You answer well young Kitagawa San, when you first began your journey in the ways of Ninpo you could not answer those questions."
"I was just a sapling Sensei and needed to grow, to learn, to experience."
"That you did, you have turned into one of my best pupils, and now you have to go after a brother," he said, "He has been seduced by money and power, all illusions, he has violated our code."
"I will bring back your son Sensei,"Chihiro said.
"I have no son anymore," for just a second a look of sadness passed over his face, "you are my instrument of justice, only one penalty stands for this violation, death." They stood under the falling cherry blossoms and silently watched the sun go down.
It was dusk outside the barn, long shadows enveloped the town and its denizens who pursued their nightly business unaware hell was about to be unleashed in their little town. Chihiro began his preparations for war. He strapped his Ninja-to to his back then from his pack, fixed a pair of shukos to his wrists, these were hand claws which remained flat against his palm till activated; turning his hands into the claws of a tiger. He strapped a bandoleer round his chest which contained throwing knives. Next he hung a short chain, the Kusari Fundo, with weights at each end, to his Obi. He secured a Tanto to a sheaf inside his duster. Finally he blackened his hands and face from the mud on the stable floor. Chihiro was ready to do battle and let the gaijins God have mercy on any one who gets in his way.
Chihiro stepped out of the stable door and silently trotted over to the side of the building next to the stable, it was a two story clapboard affair, moving off his rear foot he sprang halfway up the wall, activating his Shukos, the metal claws dug into the wood securing him there. Hand over hand like a human spider he climbed to the flat roof. Chihiro crawled to the opposite side and looked down into the darkened alleyway. Two men with rifles leaned against the wall at the mouth of the alley, casually scanning the street. Chihiro silently dropped down behind them, drawing his Tanto and with two swift movements he severed their jugular veins, blood spurted in twin crimson arcs, writing the tale of their death on the alley wall. He scaled the next building and swiftly crossed to the next alley. He heard a squeal from the rear of the building, moving to the edge he gazed down to see four Long Riders dragging a young woman across the rough ground by her hair, they laughed as she kicked and screamed. Wasting no time, Chihiro swooped down among them, using Taijitsu, only his hands and feet dispatched these outlaws, breaking the neck of the first with a swift twist he moved to the second who had sensed something wrong and had drew his gun. Chihiro grabbed his gun hand forcing it up before placing a push kick into his armpit then reversing his stance launching the man over his shoulder before snapping his neck with a solid strike. The third died choking on his own blood from a punch to his throat and the fourth who was still holding the girls hair, died where he stood from a twisting kick to his temple, scrambling his brain sending him on his way to hell.
The girl scrambled away from him, terrified that more harm would come to her.
"It is okay, I will not harm you."
"Thank you sir, who are you?"
"Do you know where the leader of the Long Riders is?"
"Yes he is at the Cormorant saloon by the train station with some of his boys and that strange man with the cruel eyes," She climbed to her feet and tidied her dress.
"There is an English man in town Lord Kingsley Pugh, do you know him?"
"Yes he is a drunk but always kind to me, pays well too."
"Go to him and tell him Cheerio said it is time, do you understand?"
"I do, and thank you again," and with that she disappeared down the alley.
Now he knew their location it was time to settle this. He took to the roofs again, over the next half hour death toured the rooftops of Red Bluff as Chihiro dispatched Long rider sentries and snipers, like a ghost he flitted from roof to roof till twenty five men lay dead. He positioned himself opposite the Cormorant, listening to the raucous sounds of the saloon, in his hand he held the severed head of one of the Long Riders. Hopefully the girl had informed Kingsley and he had made his way to the station to halt the train and warn them.
A man stepped out of the bat wing doors of the saloon and lit up a cigar. Chihiro threw the severed head into the street, it landed and rolled to the board walk next to the saloon, its deadened eyes staring up at the man. The reaction was immediate, he threw up his hands and stumbled back through the doors. Chihiro walked out into the middle of the street, drawing his Ninja-To. Several men rushed out through the doors, weapons drawn. Chihiro dispatched them with deftly placed throwing knives. There was a pause of several seconds with nothing happening then a fusillade of shots blasted out of the door way, Chihiro dived and rolled away. A tingle ran up his spine from his Hara, his stomach. It was his Haragei at work, the sense that warned of impending danger close by. He came to his feet and there