White Crane by Sandy Fussell

Author:Sandy Fussell [Fussell, Sandy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-7636-5440-5
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Published: 2008-09-23T04:00:00+00:00

“I am pleased with your progress, student.” Sensei bows to show his respect. “You are now a novice samurai warrior, having traveled halfway along the path. Bushido go with you as you continue on your way.” He takes the dagger and hands it to me. I grasp it firmly and tuck it safely into my belt. Kneeling again, I bend my forehead to the dirt. “Master,” I say.

“Rise, samurai.” Sensei’s eyes shine with pride.

Leaving my childhood behind, I return to my place beside Yoshi. I am still Niya. Sensei was right. I don’t need a new name.

Finally we all have our swords and daggers.

“Now, my Little Cockroaches, let us eat,” Sensei proclaims.

Mrs. Onaku uncovers the second table and reveals the ceremonial last meal of a samurai. Just as we left one life behind when we came to study with Sensei, we are now dead to our childhood. The table is set with dried chestnuts, kelp, and abalone. There is sake in red lacquered drinking cups. But there’s one extra smell. Something new. Roast pig! It’s Black Tusk. He won’t be bothering us again.

“Why do you still call us Little Cockroaches?” I ask. “We have grown older today.”

“Do you feel any bigger?” asks Sensei.

“No,” I admit.

“That’s because you are still little.” Bacon grease dribbles down Sensei’s chin, and he wipes it with his cloak. “But you are much wiser. What is it you have learned?”

Teacher sits cross-legged, waiting for pearls of wisdom to drop in his lap.

“If you are chased by a boar, run fast,” says Yoshi. Clink. The first pearl.

“Run very fast,” Taji elaborates.

Kyoko grins. “A true samurai doesn’t need a sword.”

“Not if he can yell loud.” I think of Sensei, weaponless as he screeched in to attack the boar.

“The point of the sword is very sharp,” Mikko says.

Clink, clink, clink. Sensei’s lap is full.

“I am such a good teacher. I think I deserve a nap.” Leaning back against his tree, our master closes his eyes.

Onaku looks at us and winks. “Let’s go fishing. Maybe I can poach some fish out of your river before Ki-Yaga catches me.”

We leave Sensei to snore and Mrs. Onaku to clear away the lunch. Grinning, the Sword Master produces a fishing rod from under his ceremonial cloak. He planned this all along!

As we pass the kitchen, I sneak a dollop of pudding for Uma. Our horse gallops to meet me, licking my fingers until every honeyed rice grain is gone. Then he walks beside us to the river.

“Do you think we should have left Sensei behind?” I ask.

“Do you think he would have let us, if he did not want us to go?” answers Onaku.

He’s right. Even asleep, Sensei is wide awake.

Kyoko pulls at the pin in my topknot. “How long have you known our teacher?” she asks Onaku, ducking behind Uma so I can’t retaliate.

“Since I was a boy.”

“What was Sensei like as a boy?” Taji wants to know.

The swordsmith shakes his head. “Ki-Yaga wasn’t a boy. He was old even then. He chooses his students carefully.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.