Arms caught me, lifting me to my feet. A hated face loomed before me, smiling. Then I knew that I was not going to be allowed to expire peacefully; my mortal enemy wanted me alive—for a time.
"Hotheaded fool," Kan-Sen said. "You and I have no quarrel. I tried to call out to you, but you gave me no chance to explain. I would dearly like to boil you in oil, but I cannot. I must help you, for we are on the same side now."
"Why lie to me?" I demanded. "We shall be enemies as long as either lives!"
"Hate, yes. Enemies, no. I killed your woman, you destroyed my empire. But now I am Fu Antos' right-hand man."
"Fu Antos!" How could he know of that?
"It is for him I need the weapons. I serve him; he freed me from my demon addiction and turned my eyeballs white again. I am as loyal to him as I was to the drug. He tells me I must work with you, so I obey."
Then I perceived hell. I hated Kan-Sen with unrelenting passion. I remembered his leering face as he slid the knife across the fair throat of my beloved and let her blood gush out. Ever since that time I had dreamed of new ways to slaughter him, if only he were not dead already. Now he was alive, after all.
But what he said had to be true, for nothing else would have compelled him to spare me. And his eyeballs were white, instead of red from the Kill-13 addiction. Only ki could do that, and only ki of the power Fu Antos possessed. I knew, for I had wrestled with that addiction myself, and brought Ilunga out of it after a terrific struggle. Kan-Sen had been no short-term addict, but the master of the demon cult.
The demon and I were expected to work together now. What sane entity would seriously believe that I would ever tolerate such an abomination?
"Fu Antos, you are Satan!" I whispered, meaning it.
Kan-Sen nodded agreement.
Epilogue:
Ninja's Minions
Fu Antos smiled as he read the note. It was in Chinese symbols, so similar to the Japanese writing that he had no trouble with it. He returned the homing pigeon to its hutch. The message was from Kan-Sen. The demon had made contact with Jason Striker and located a superlative cache of modern barbarian weapons. Not merely rifles and ammunition, but portable antitank launchers and missiles, red-eye anti-plane missiles, and similar artifacts. Arrangements were being made to transport these across the sea and up the Amazon River to the ninja enclave hidden in the jungle.
This would enable him to defend his campsite from any likely attack. As his other far-flung minions performed, gaining him necessary supplies, he would construct the third Black Castle. From it he would manage his crusade against the physical and philosophical poisoning of his world.
Too bad he had not been able to prevent that decay by killing Lord Ii. He had severely underestimated the decadent trend. Now he knew that complete isolation was not practical, and that no single assassination could be depended on to reverse the tide of history. He had to be more aware of the world, and work toward its improvement.
Gradually, inevitably, the ideal would be restored—bushido, the samurai warrior code of medieval Japan. All over the world!
Glossary
Aikido [ai-KEE-doh] A martial art, strictly defensive in philosophy and application, specializing in avoidance of brute force. It is noted for its application of the inner power of the mind, or ki. Aikido is extremely effective for self-defense, utilizing wrist and arm locks, not strikes or bone-crushing techniques. atemi-waza Judo striking techniques, special blows taught only to black belts. Deadly.
Bo A wooden staff used as a weapon.
Budo [BOO-doh] The proper spirit of martial art.
Bushido [BOO-shee-DOH] The way of the samurai or warrior in Japan; roughly equivalent to European chivalry.
Daimyo A feudal lord.
Dan A master grade in judo, karate, aikido, and other martial arts, usually indicated by a black belt. The highest grade achieved is Tenth Dan, or judan; there are no living judans today. Jason Striker is a fifth-degree black belt, or godan; Roberto Fuentes, co-author of this novel, is a second-degree black belt, or nidan.
Dojo [Doh-joh] The exercise hall in judo, karate, and aikido. The equivalent term in kung fu is kwoon.
Gi [GEE, hard G as in Good] Short for judogi, the judo costume.
Hara-kiri Literally, "belly-slitting"; formal suicide, or seppuku, accomplished by disembowelment with a short sword. An honorable way to die, but most uncomfortable. The hara, or belly, was considered to be the seat of the soul, the ultimate source of strength.
Ippon [ee-PONE] One point in a match, sufficient to win. In judo an ippon is scored by a clean throw, a thirty-second holddown, an armlock, choke, or strangle.
Ippon Seoi Nage The one-arm back-carry throw in judo. Essentially, you haul your opponent's arm over your shoulder and heave him over you so that he lands on his back.
Jodo [JOH-doh] The art of fighting with sticks or short staffs.
Judo [JOO-doh] Literally, the "gentle way." A leading unarmed martial art, consisting primarily of throws, holds, and chokes but also employing atemi striking techniques and locks against the joints. It is distinguished from most other martial arts by its worldwide standardization: a first-degree black belt must meet the same criteria of proficiency and attitude in America, Japan, or Timbuktu. Jason Striker's primary proficiency is in judo.
Jujitsu An ancient martial art, the forerunner of judo. Also spelled jiu jitsu or ju jutsu. It faded in Japan when the feudal system ended there.
Karate [kah-RAH-teh] Literally, "empty hand." A leading martial art consisting primarily of striking with the hands or feet or other parts of the body, so as to subdue opposition. Since direct application of its techniques can be dangerous, some karatekas specialize in breaking boards or bricks with strikes of their bare hands. Such strikes against the head or body of an opponent are often fatal.
Ki [KEE] A special inner force or power, possessed by every person but developed by few, associated primarily with the martial art of aikido. Stories of ki, such as those represented in this novel, are exaggerated, but there is no question that this remarkable force exists.
Kiai [kee-AI] A battle cry, used to add strength to a technique while dismaying the enemy. Ear-splitting.
Kyoketsu-Shogi A ninja two-bladed knife attached to a rope made of woman's hair with a ring at the other end.
Kuji-Kiri The ninja's hypnotic movement of the fingers.
Kung Fu The Western term for the family of Chinese martial arts consisting primarily of strikes with the feet, fists, or fingers. It is said to be the oldest of all martial arts, the forerunner of karate. Recent TV coverage has exaggerated the scope of kung fu, and motion pictures and fiction have made it into virtual fantasy, but at the root it is a formidable fighting art.
Kusarigama A weapon consisting of a chain with a sickle on one end and an iron ball on the other.
Kwoon The exercise hall in kung fu, equivalent to the dojo.
Kyu A lesser or student grade in judo, indicated by belts of assorted colors: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, purple, or brown. Piers Anthony, coauthor of this novel, is a green belt, yonkyu, a middle grade.
Manriki-Kusari A weighted chain used as a weapon.
Maitta A cry of surrender: "I give up!"
Ninja A practitioner of ninjitsu (or ninjutsu); an expert spy or espionage agent. Ninjitsu incorporated the medieval bushido warrior code as well as every form of martial art known. Fu Antos, master of ninjas, is fictional (derived from FUenteS and ANTHOny, co-authors); but the ninjas were real, and they performed astonishing feats.
Nunchaku [nin-CHA-koo] A weapon consisting of two clubs strung together, sometimes three. Now becoming popular in America, but illegal in many states.
O-Soto-Gari The "big outside clip" in judo, in which you catch your opponent's leg behind yours and throw him back and down. Easy for the beginner to learn, yet effective.
Randori [rahn-DOH-reel Free practice in judo, like a mock match, in which the players strike to overcome each other without taking it too seriously or
counting points.
Ronin A masterless samurai warrior.
Sake [SAH-keh] Japanese rice wine, very potent.
Samurai [SAH-moo-rai] The Japanese warrior, or warrior class. Equivalent to the European knight.
Saya-ate Striking the scabbard of a samurai with your own; a deadly offense, often atoned for by blood.
Seppuku Ritual suicide; hara-kiri.
Shogun Hereditary commander-in-chief of the Japanese army; the true seat of power for some centuries.
Shuriken Small starlike throwing weapons used by ninja.
Tonki Small throwing knives or needles used by ninja.
Ukemi [oo-KEM-ee] Breakfalls. It is important to be able to take a fall without getting hurt, so this is practiced.
Piers Anthony, Bamboo Bloodbath and Ninja's Revenge
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