Owl Ninja by Sandy Fussell

Author:Sandy Fussell [Fussell, Sandy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5451-1
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2011-08-28T04:00:00+00:00

Sensei is first to the top. His arms are skinny but strong — thin strands of unbreakable bamboo. The ronin is last. His arms are short but strong — bolts of bamboo matting. Climbing is all about arms, and I’ve got two of those. But it’s hard with only one foot to rest against.

Like a sky ninja, the pale moon creeps from behind the clouds. I can see all the way to the castle keep. In the middle of the compound stands the main building where the Emperor sleeps. Four smaller buildings surround it, connected by passageways. Somewhere inside, Sensei will confront the Emperor and speak out against the drum.

The White Crane likes it up here. It shakes its feathers, itching to fly.

“Someone’s coming,” Taji whispers.

“Which direction?” asks Riaze.

“East.”

“Everyone flat against the top of the wall.” Dropping quickly, Riaze shows us how.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. The sound of samurai boots draws closer. The White Crane huddles paralyzed with fear, and the goldfish in my stomach hold their breath. Ta-thum. Thum-thump. My heart beats a reminder: six days to war.

Directly below me, two soldiers stop to argue. They smell as if they’ve been drenched in sake and rolled in warm mouse droppings. It’s worse than the sulfur steam of Hell Valley.

In front of me, Nezume wriggles. He’s not good at keeping still. He’s usually the first to move when we practice statues.

Tsst. A small stone drops to the ground. Tsst. Another follows.

“What was that?” the first soldier asks.

“I didn’t hear anything.”

The first soldier looks along the wall. “I heard something. We should check.”

“Do it yourself, Jungo. I’m not listening to you anymore. That’s how I got into this trouble in the first place,” the second soldier grumbles. “If you hadn’t convinced me to gamble against the captain, we’d be home drinking hot sake instead of doing extra guard duty.”

“Shh. Stop whining, Shouji, and let me listen,” Jungo says.

“It was probably an owl. The place is riddled with the scraggly, stinking things.”

“Tu-whit. Tu-whoo,” Riaze hoots in protest.

“Hear that? What did I tell you, noodle-head? The only thing threatening to attack the castle has claws and feathers,” says Shouji.

Riaze rustles in his belt bag. It’s a sound as soft as owl wings, but I’m a good listener.

Ssst. Pfft. A white cloud of smoke balloons to envelop us all. Another ninja trick.

“This ocean mist is thicker than day-old miso soup. Do you still want to go owl hunting?” Shouji sneers.

“Nah. I suppose you’re right.”

The two soldiers grumble their way into a farther corner of the night.

“Ninja are always pleased to see the castle defenses in the safe hands of the samurai,” Riaze taunts. “It makes our job easier.”

The ronin’s teeth flash a grin into the darkness, and Sensei snorts in mock indignation.

“It would be different if it was me. I could do it one-handed,” Mikko boasts.

He’d have to. It’s all he’s got. But he wouldn’t be doing it alone. The Cockroach Ryu is a team. We stick together like rice and honey.

After Riaze is sure the soldiers have left, he hauls the rope ladder up and drops it down the other side.

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