Swords of Silence by Shaun Curry

Author:Shaun Curry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harper Inspire
Published: 2019-09-05T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

26 June 1626

‘I need to rest,’ Tonia said.

‘Rest will come,’ Master Watanabe replied. ‘Do you see that small hill?’

‘Yes,’ Tonia nodded.

‘Underneath, there’s a cave where we can rest. So, please, we must continue.’

Pushing themselves, the group continued for another mile, until they arrived at the base of the hill where Watanabe pointed out a small, hidden cave.

As they entered, Tonia fell to the floor, exhausted. Miguel, lay down next to her. They were both asleep in minutes.

Father Joaquim sat against the cave wall. ‘Now I must ask, Master Watanabe: Who are you, and what is going on?’

Watanabe sat across from Joaquim. ‘I am an old friend of Master Yamaguchi. And, like Yamaguchi-san, over the years I have learned to listen to the still, small voice inside when it speaks. The voice told me something terrible had happened to my old friend and his village. When I arrived I found his head, the charred remains of his body, the houses burned to the ground, and the village deserted.

‘For the entire day, I prayed, and then that little voice told me to make my way to Omura Prison – and to take Master Yamaguchi’s sword. I have learned that miraculous things happen when I obey that voice. It has saved my life more than once, so I listen now.’

‘Where did you find his sword?’ asked the priest.

‘In his home, by the front door, uncharred by the fire,’ answered Master Watanabe. ‘It felt like he left it there for me.’

Captivated by the sword and intrigued by the mysterious man before him, Joaquim felt both confused and in awe. As he pondered a myriad of thoughts at the same time, he wondered about this man who had risked himself for them and rescued Yamaguchi-san’s sword. The thought of Yamaguchi brought back fond memories of his friend and sensei.

‘Perhaps, Father, we too should sleep now,’ the old man said, noticing the priest’s eyes flutter.

Joaquim shook his head trying to shake himself awake. But he was as exhausted as his catechists. ‘What’s your plan?’

‘To continue our retreat and regroup in a place of safety.’

‘Where?’

‘The Goto Islands. They are not far, and some of them are sanctuaries for Christians.’

‘What will we do there?’

‘Plan the rescue of your villagers.’

‘Good,’ Joaquim replied. ‘Do you think a large force is hunting us?’

‘Yes, Father. A very large one.’

* * *

28 June 1626

Hizen Province, Kyushu

Lord Shigemasa’s plan to recapture the escapees was simple: the city and prefecture were on the south-west part of the island, with water on three sides. The only logical escape route was to head north-east following the direction of the land. Based on Nagasaki’s density and the number of officials in and around the city, Shigemasa determined that Father Joaquim would not head south. He and his retainers calculated how far Father Joaquim and the two catechists could have travelled given the time available to them, and thus established a perimeter based on their expected distance from Omura Prison.

He then dispatched horsemen to the edges of the

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