The mass of dried skin and reddened welts fanned out like molten lava from
above Masamoto's left eye, across his cheek and down the line of his jaw.
His remaining features were otherwise even and well-defined. He had the
solid and muscular build of an ox and his eyes were the colour of honeyed
amber. He wore a dark-brown and cream kimono which bore the circular
emblem of a phoenix and, like Godai, he had a headband, but his was
crimson red.
Unlike Godai, Masamoto had a completely shaved head, though he
maintained a small trimmed beard that encircled his mouth. To Jack,
Masamoto appeared more monk than warrior.
Masamoto surveyed the scene before turning to retrieve his swords from
the boat. He slipped them, along with their protective sayas, into the obi of
his kimono. First the shorter wakizashi sword, followed by the longer
katana. Taking his time, he walked up the beach towards the torii.
Furious at his opponent's late and disrespectful arrival, Godai screamed
insults as he approached.
Unperturbed, Masamoto maintained his stoic pace, even pausing to
acknowledge his samurai. At last he came face to face with Godai and
bowed ceremoniously. This infuriated Godai even more. Blinded with rage,
he charged at Masamoto in an attempt to take him off-guard before the
contest officially commenced.
Masamoto, however, was prepared for just such an offensive. He
sidestepped Godai, the massive nodachi narrowly missing him. In a single
motion, Masamoto unsheathed both his swords from their sayas, his right
hand raising the katana to the sky and his left drawing the wakizashi across
his chest to protect himself from any counter-attack.
Godai brought his nodachi round for a second assault, the sword arcing at
lightning speed towards Masamoto's head. Masamoto shifted his weight,
angling his katana to deflect the strike off to the left. Their swords clashed
and the nodachi scraped along the back of Masamoto's blade.
Masamoto pressed forward under the crushing blow, cutting his
wakizashi across the midriff of Godai. The sword sliced through Godai's
kimono, but failed to meet flesh. Godai spun away to prevent Masamoto
extending his strike and drawing blood.
Masamoto pursued the retreating Godai into the sea, his two swords a
furious blur, but he was immediately cut short by the returning nodachi and
barely had time to leap beyond its reach.
Jack was astounded at the skill and agility of these two warriors. They
fought with the grace of dancers, pirouetting in an exquisite yet deadly
ritual. Each strike was executed with the utmost accuracy and commitment.
Masamoto wielded his two swords as if they were natural extensions of his
own arms. It was no wonder that his fellow crewmen had been slaughtered
so effortlessly by the Japanese wako. They stood little chance against an
enemy so proficient in such fighting arts.
Godai drove Masamoto back up the beach, his samurai cheering him on.
Despite its massive size, Godai was devastatingly adept with the nodachi,
wielding it with ease as if it were no more than a shaft of bamboo. Godai
continued to force Masamato backwards and into the throng of spectators,
right where Jack was standing.
Godai bluffed a strike to the right then switched his attack and sliced at
Masamoto's exposed arm. Masamoto managed to avoid the strike, but
Godai's immense effort to connect drove his weighty sword onward into the
crowd.
In panic, the villagers scattered, but Jack remained rooted to the spot,
paralysed with fear at the man's unwavering determination to kill.
At the very last second, Taka-san wrenched Jack out of the way, but the
villager behind Jack was not so fortunate. The little man tried to protect
himself, but the sword sliced straight through his outstretched fingers.
Godai, ignoring the screaming villager, flicked the blood from his blade
and began yet another onslaught on the retreating Masamoto.
This was no practice match, Jack realized with astonishment. This was a
fight to the death.
Two of Masamoto's samurai dragged the wounded villager away as the
crowd surged forward, anxious not to miss the action, the amputated fingers
trampled under a sea of feet.
Concerned at the sight of Jack's ashen face, Akiko signed to Jack if he
was all right.
'I'm fine,' replied Jack, forcing a smile, though in truth he was sickened
to the pit of his stomach.
He swallowed down the bitter shock of what he had just witnessed. How
could a people who invested their time in cultivating idyllic gardens and
decorating kimonos with images of butterflies be so barbaric? It made no
sense to Jack.
Jack turned his attention back to the combat in order to avoid Akiko's
anxious gaze. The two samurai had broken apart, breathing heavily from
their exertions. They circled one another, waiting for the next move. Godai
feigned an advance and the crowd surged backwards, desperate to avoid
being caught up in the attack.
Masamoto, now familiar with Godai's tactics, slipped to his blindside,
parrying the nodachi with his short sword and countering with his katana.
The katana scythed towards Godai's head. Godai ducked and the katana
sliced over the top of his head.
The two warriors spun round on one another and froze. The crowd held
their breath. Then Godai's topknot slipped from his head and fell limp on to
the beach. Masamoto smirked at Godai's public disgrace, and his phoenix
samurai began chanting 'Masamoto! Masamoto! Masamoto!'
Incensed at the humiliation of losing his topknot, Godai screamed a kiai
and attacked. His nodachi struck downward and then, like an eagle
climbing after swooping down on its prey, flicked upward at an angle that
defeated Masamoto's katana.
Masamoto, bending backwards to avoid the blow, brought his sword up
to deflect the blade from his neck, but his katana was knocked out of his
hand and the tip of the nodachi cut deep into his right shoulder. Masamoto
grunted in pain, dropping backwards and rolling away in an attempt to
distance himself from Godai. After several controlled rolls, he flipped
himself back on to his feet.
It was now the turn of Godai's samurai to cheer.
Godai was certain to win now Masamoto had forfeited his katana. The
shorter wakizashi was no match for a mighty nodachi. Masamoto's samurai
realized their champion had little chance of overcoming such an advantage.
For the first time in his life, Masamoto's legendary handling of two swords
had not withstood the onslaught of a nodachi.
Masamoto retreated down the beach, edging towards the fishing boat he
had arrived in. Godai gloated, sensing victory was close at hand. He quickly
manoeuvred himself between Masamoto and the wooden vessel, preventing
his escape.
Masamoto appeared defeated. Blood seeped from the gash on his
shoulder. He weakly lowered his wakizashi. The crowd gave a despondent
groan. Godai grinned from ear to ear as he slowly raised his weapon for the
final blow.
That was the moment of over-confidence Masamoto had been waiting
for. With a sharp flick of his wrist, he sent his wakizashi spinning through
the air. Taken by surprise, Godai stumbled backwards to avoid the flying
blade and lost his footing in the sand.
Little more than a blur, Masamoto shot past Godai and headed for the
boat. Godai, getting back to his feet, screamed at his fleeing opponent.
But Masamoto was not intent on escaping. Instead he grabbed the long
wooden oar from the boat and spun round to face Godai. Now Masamoto
possessed a weapon of equal length to the nodachi.
Immediately Godai charged at Masamoto, who parried his blows with the
oar. Chunks of wood flew through the air. Godai then struck low attempting
to chop off Masamoto's legs.
Masamoto jumped high over the blade and brought his oar straight down
on to Godai's exposed head. The oar connected and Godai's legs crumpled
under the force of the blow. He collapsed backwards like a felled tree.
Masamoto's samurai cheered and the crowd took up a chant urging him
to kill Godai. But Masamoto stepped away from the prone body of Godai.
His victory clear and decisive, he had no reason to kill.
As he approached the crowd, they fell silent and all dropped to their
knees, bowing their heads to the sand. Even Akiko, Jiro and Taka-san
followed suit.
Jack alone remained standing, unsure what to do. He was not one of
them, but the man emanated such absolute authority and power that Jack
found himself instinctively bowing anyway. As he eyed the sand, Jack
sensed Masamoto approaching him.
The bare feet of the scarred man planted themselves directly in front of
him.