Chris Bradford - The Ring of Earth

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Praise for the Young Samurai series:

A fantastic adventure that floors the reader on page one and keeps them there until the end. The pace is furious and the martial arts detail authentic Eoin Colfer, author of the bestselling Artemis Fowl series

Fierce fiction captivating for young readers Daily Telegraph

More and more absorbing vivid and enjoyable The Times

Bradford comes out swinging in this fast-paced adventure and produces an adventure novel to rank among the genres best. This book earns the literary equivalent of a black belt Publishers Weekly

The most exciting fight sequences imaginable on paper! Booklist

School Library Associations Riveting Read 2009 Shortlisted for Red House Childrens Book Award 2009 and longlisted for the Carnegie Medal 2009

Books by Chris Bradford

The Young Samurai series (in reading order)

THE WAY OF THE WARRIOR

THE WAY OF THE SWORD

THE WAY OF THE DRAGON

THE RING OF EARTH

For World Book Day 2010

THE WAY OF FIRE

For the Pocket Money Puffin series

VIRTUAL KOMBAT

Chris Bradford likes to fly through the air. He has thrown himself over Victoria Falls on a bungee cord, out of an airplane in New Zealand and off a French mountain on a paraglider, but he has always managed to land safely something he learnt from his martial arts

Chris joined a judo club aged seven where his love of throwing people over his shoulder, punching the air and bowing lots started. Since those early years, he has trained in karate, kickboxing, samurai swordsmanship and has earned his black belt in taijutsu , the secret fighting art of the ninja.

Before writing the Young Samurai series, Chris was a professional musician and songwriter. Hes even performed for HRH Queen Elizabeth II (but he suspects she found his band a bit noisy).

Chris lives in a village on the South Downs with his wife, Sarah, and two cats called Tigger and Rhubarb.

To discover more about Chris go to youngsamurai.com

C HRIS B RADFORD

PUFFIN

Disclaimer: Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth is a work of fiction, and while based on real historical figures, events and locations, the book does not profess to be accurate in this regard.

Young Samurai: The Ring of Earth is more an echo of the times than a re-enactment of history.

Warning: Do not attempt any of the techniques described within this book without the supervision of a qualified martial arts instructor. These can be highly dangerous moves and result in fatal injuries. The author and publisher take no responsibility for any injuries resulting from attempting these techniques.

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Published by the Penguin Group

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Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL , England

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First published 2010

Text copyright Chris Bradford, 2010

Cover illustration copyright Paul Young, 2010

Map copyright Robert Nelmes, 2008

All rights reserved

The moral right of the author and illustrators has been asserted

Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publishers prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

ISBN: 978-0-141-96161-3

For Karen,

a sister to me

Japan, 1614

My dearest Jess,

I hope this letter reaches you one day. You must believe Ive been lost at sea all these years. But youll be glad to know that I am alive and in good health.

Father and I reached the Japans in August 1611, but I am sad to tell you he was killed in an attack upon our ship, the Alexandria. I alone survived.

For these past three years, Ive been living in the care of a Japanese warrior, Masamoto Takeshi, at his samurai school in Kyoto. He has been very kind to me, but life has not been easy.

An assassin, a ninja known as Dragon Eye, was hired to steal our fathers rutter (you no doubt remember how important this navigational logbook was to our father?). The ninja was successful in his mission. However, with the help of my samurai friends, Ive managed to get it back.

This same ninja was the one who murdered our father. And while it may not bring you much comfort, I can assure you the assassin is now dead. Justice has been delivered. But the ninjas death doesnt bring back our father I miss him so much and could do with his guidance and protection at this time.

Japan has been split by civil war and foreigners like myself are no longer welcome. I am a fugitive. On the run for my life. I now journey south through this strange and exotic land to the port of Nagasaki in the hope that I may find a ship bound for England.

The Tokaido Road upon which I travel, however, is fraught with danger and I have many enemies on my trail. But do not fear for my safety. Masamoto has trained me as a samurai warrior and I will fight to return home to you.

One day I do hope I can tell you about my adventures in person

Until then, dear sister, may God keep you safe.

Your brother, Jack

Japan, summer 1614

Hey, stranger, youre in my seat! snarled the samurai warrior.

Jack stopped slurping his noodles. Even though there were plenty of empty benches in the dilapidated inn at Shono, a post station that served those travelling along the Tokaido Road, Jack didnt dare question the samurai. Without looking up from beneath his straw hat, he slid himself across to the next table. Then he returned his attention to the steaming bowl and took another mouthful.

I said, youre in my seat, repeated the man, his hand now resting upon the hilt of his samurai sword in a clear threat. Behind him, two other pairs of sandalled feet appeared.

Jack tried to remain calm. So far on his journey, hed managed to avoid any serious confrontations. He hoped to keep it that way.

But with Japan in upheaval, he knew it would be difficult. Following and newly acquired power, they bullied the local people and any person of lower status.