The Ring of Water by Chris Bradford

Author:Chris Bradford
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780141332543
Publisher: Penguin Books, Limited
Published: 2011-05-01T10:00:00+00:00

28

PLUM FLOWER POLES

Jack burst into the garden as Hana’s cry of pain turned to laughter – the same laughter he’d heard from the Buddha Hall. Ronin sat cross-legged upon the garden’s veranda, his chin resting upon the hilt of the bokken he’d picked up. Hana was lying on the floor amid a small forest of poles.

‘You must be relaxed and free-flowing –’ instructed Ronin.

‘How can I? I’m always falling off!’ said Hana, rubbing her rear.

Ronin scowled at her. ‘Don’t interrupt! If you want to learn, keep your mouth shut.’

Hana nodded obediently and sealed her lips.

‘A rigid body is easily knocked off centre,’ he explained. ‘A flexible fighter, one relaxed as if drunk, can easily dodge, recoil and strike from any angle. To master the art of balance you need to find your centre.’

Hana spotted Jack. ‘I’ve saved you some food,’ she said, pointing to a dish piled high with rice and fish. Then she saw the worried expression on Jack’s face. ‘Are you all right?’ she asked.

‘I thought you were in trouble.’

Hana laughed again. ‘I am! Ronin’s teaching me.’

‘And I have an inept student!’ huffed Ronin, taking a swig of saké and turning to Jack. ‘I hope you prove better.’

‘What are they?’ asked Jack, eyeing the peculiar arrangement of wooden stumps. At least a dozen of them stood in a spiral pattern, driven into the earth at different heights.

‘They’re plum flower poles,’ explained Hana eagerly. ‘Ronin built them to help improve my balance.’

She leapt on to the first stump, then stepped up to the next level.

‘The higher you go, the more they wobble.’ Her arms wavered as she climbed. ‘And the harder it is to –’ She fell, this time managing to stay upright. ‘It isn’t easy!’

Ronin tutted. ‘Keep your centre!’

He irritably strode over and mounted the plum flower poles with ease. Halfway up, he leant back until his body formed an arc. To all appearances, he was completely off-balance and about to topple over.

Ronin pointed to his stomach. ‘See, when I move, my centre is always above my point of balance –’ indicating his feet – ‘That way I always stay in control.’

Jumping from one stump to another, he reached the topmost pole and stood on one leg, arms primed in a fighting guard.

‘Be nimble like a cat.’

He leapt off to land lightly beside Jack. ‘Now you try. Remember, put the weight on the balls of your feet.’

Jack tested the lowest pole with one foot. It hardly moved and he had little problem standing on it. As he climbed higher, he compensated for the growing sway of the poles with his body, while his feet instinctively sought the best placement. He discovered the plum flowers were just like being atop the main mast of the Alexandria.

‘You’ve done this before!’ said Ronin.

‘I was a sailor –’

Without warning, Ronin threw his bottle at Jack. But Jack was ready this time and caught it confidently, not even wavering.

‘Good, you’re learning,’ said Ronin as Jack stepped down to return his prized saké. Picking up his swords from the veranda, Ronin offered them to Jack.

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