Samurai Spirit by Burt Konzak

Author:Burt Konzak [Konzak, Burt]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-77049-065-9
Publisher: Tundra
Published: 2002-03-11T05:00:00+00:00

THE KIDNAPPED CHILD

A thief, chased by a band of villagers, had taken a young boy hostage. Threatening to slit the throat of his prisoner if anyone came near, he sat with the boy in a bam while the villagers waited anxiously a short distance away. When the boy’s mother approached in tears, the thief became nervous. She fell back, terrified for her child’s life. The kidnapper became more and more agitated as other, calmer people tried to reason with him. He made no demands. He just sat with his knife to the throat of the child. Everyone feared the worst, but couldn’t think of anything to do without endangering the boy.

A traveling samurai entered what appeared to be an abandoned village. Then, in the distance, he saw a crowd of people and heard a woman wailing. He approached and asked what was happening. People saw a sign of hope in his arrival, but what could he do? As soon as he tried to get close, the thief would become agitated and perhaps murder the child.

The samurai, an admirer of the teachings of Musashi Miyamoto, sat down to think things out. Musashi had always stressed the importance of developing a strategy and approaching a problem with an intelligent and resolute mind. What would Musashi do in a situation like this?

Suddenly the warrior jumped up. He asked his hosts to get him a pail of hot water and a razor. It seemed a strange time for a shave, but they were sure he must have an idea. When the implements arrived, he asked their help in cutting off his spectacular hair. They watched in horror as he shaved his head and began to resemble a Buddhist priest. Somebody found a priest’s robe and, removing his swords and elegant clothing, the samurai put on the plain, rough garment.

It was amazing how his demeanor changed, from that of a fierce warrior to that of a gentle priest. The villagers were aware of the great sacrifice he had just made. His swords and clothes could be put on again later, but what of his hair, which a samurai always kept long and tied in a distinguished style?

The samurai himself was undisturbed by these thoughts. He asked the boy’s mother to bring him some rice cakes. Carrying the cakes on a large plate, he approached the barn, gently explaining that he was a Buddhist priest here to offer some rice cakes for the thief and his hostage to eat. “You need some nourishment. And the boy must eat as well. I am here to bring you some food, and then I will immediately turn around and go back.”

The kidnapper let him approach a little closer and then cried out: “Stop! That is close enough.” After eyeing the “priest” carefully, the kidnapper reached for a rice cake. “I can’t reach,” he said as he tried to keep his grip on the boy while reaching to take the cakes. “But you can’t come any closer!”

The samurai threw the kidnapper one of the rice cakes.

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