Chapter 37 : Body Challenge

The rain fell as hard as nails.

The single-track road, churned up by the horses' hooves and pedestrian

traffic, had become a quagmire of mud slowing their progress to that of a

snail's. The tall trees on either side rose up into a sky pregnant with black

clouds and blocked out much of the evening's fading light. There was a

growing unease among the travellers as they wound their way through the

wooded mountain pass to the town of Iga Ueno, for the dark recesses of the

forest concealed any number of dangers, from wild boars to pillaging

bandits.

The column of students trudged on wearily, headed by Masamoto and

Sensei Hosokawa on horseback. Although only six entrants had been

accepted into the Circle of Three, there had been an open invitation for

supporters to attend. Around half the school had decided to join the

expedition. Many were now regretting that decision.

Suddenly something broke from the undergrowth and flew at Sensei

Hosokawa.

The sensei's sword flashed in the twilight.

But it stopped short as a black-feathered grouse flew overhead. The

bird would never know how close it had just come to death.

Masamoto laughed. 'Scared of an old bird, my friend? Or were you

thinking of killing it for your supper?'

Jack noticed that Sensei Yosa had also gone for her weapon and was

cautiously releasing the tension on her bow and returning the arrow to her

quiver. In fact, out of all the sensei, only Sensei Kano had remained at ease,

seemingly aware from the very start that the threat was harmless.

'Why are the sensei so jumpy?' asked Jack, quickening his pace to

walk beside Akiko. Not that he was any less nervous. Despite being under

the direct protection of Masamoto, Jack was concerned that some unwitting

samurai loyal to daimyo Kamakura might try to expel him from Japan,

either respectfully or by the sword.

'We're passing through ninja territory,' whispered Akiko.

In Jack's mind, every shadow in the forest suddenly grew eyes. He

caught a movement on the edge of his vision, but it turned out to be nothing

more than the swaying of a branch. Behind him, Yamato, Saburo, Yori and

Kiku, who had overheard their conversation, glanced around nervously,

little Yori turning white as a sheet.

'This region is the stronghold of the Iga clans,' continued Akiko under

her breath. 'In fact, these mountains provided refuge against General

Nobunaga's attempted destruction of the ninja thirty years ago. He brought

in over forty thousand troops against some four thousand ninja. The ninja

still survived and somewhere in those mountains is Dokugan Ryu's hiding

place.'

'But how do you know all this?' asked Jack.

'From stories, hearsay, the sensei…' She trailed off and pointed up

ahead. 'Look, we're nearly there. Hakuhojo, the Castle of the White

Phoenix.'

Through the rain and mist, Jack saw that the track had opened out into

a small valley basin ringed by mountains. In the distance a three-tiered

castle of white wood and grey tiled roofs materialized. However, the mist

quickly descended and the castle disappeared as if it were a ghost in a

storm.

Night had fallen by the time they reached the outskirts of Iga Ueno and

the castle was now only discernible by the lanterns that burned within.

Jack was relieved to enter the safety of the town. The journey from

Kyoto had been tough and, like everyone else, he was soaked through, cold

and tired. His back was stiff from carrying his pack and his muscles were

aching and sore from dragging his feet through the mud. He would be glad

to reach their temple lodgings, get a warm bath, food and a good night's

sleep.

'Get up!' ordered Sensei Kyuzo, kicking the sleeping form of Jack with his

foot. 'The Circle of Three begins now.'

Jack struggled to his feet, bleary-eyed. He'd not been asleep more than

an hour when the sensei had begun rounding up the entrants. Jack followed

his taijutsu master along the corridor and entered the main temple, a dark

wood-panelled room lit by softly glowing lanterns. The room was

dominated by a large wooden Buddha, which emanated such spiritual

energy it seemed to have a life all of its own.

As Jack lined up with the others facing the shrine, he was greeted by

several rows of shaven-headed monks in brilliant white robes chanting a

mantra that sounded as if it had been sung since the beginning of time.

'…om amogha vairocana mahamudra manipadma jvala

pravarttaya hum…'

'It's the Mantra of Light,' whispered Yori reverentially. He stood next to

Jack, nervously tugging at a paper crane concealed in his hand. 'The phrase

contains the Buddha's wisdom which helps guide these monks to satori.'

Jack nodded and gave his friend what he hoped was a confident smile.

In reality, he was a bundle of nerves and excitement. After four trials and

several months of training, the Circle of Three and its three challenges of

Mind, Body and Spirit would be revealed to them.

A sudden stab of doubt struck his heart. Had his impatience to learn

the Two Heavens clouded his judgement? Was he ready for such a test? He

was so tired from the journey and he now realized their sleep had been

disrupted as a trick to unsettle the entrants at the first stage. The challenge

of the Circle of Three had already begun.

He glanced down the line in Akiko's direction. Despite the determined

look in her eyes, the dark shadows that ringed them showed she too was

exhausted from the long journey. Next to her was Harumi, the other girl

contender, who appeared equally tired. At the end stood Tadashi. He

nodded to Jack and held up a clenched fist as a sign of encouragement.

Kazuki then filed in and stood next to Jack, but ignored him completely.

Led by Masamoto, the teachers entered and seated themselves to one

side. Then the student supporters filed in and knelt behind them in four neat

rows. The monks' chant rolled to an end, receding like the sound of a wave,

and the High Priest stood to greet the congregation. The priest's face was

old and wrinkled, but his body appeared as resilient as stone and, like the

Buddha statue, radiated a powerful inner energy.

'Welcome, Masamoto-sama, to the Tendai Temple,' he said in the

serene voice of a man at peace with himself.

'Thank you for allowing us to stay as your humble guests,' Masamoto

replied, bowing low to the priest. 'May I present to you our entrants for the

Circle of Three? May they prove worthy in Mind, Body and Spirit.'

He gestured towards Jack and the others with a wide sweep of his

hand. The priest surveyed the six young samurai, his eyes falling upon Jack

last. Jack was hypnotized by the intensity of the old monk's gaze. As deep

as a well and as infinite as the sky, it was as if the monk was aware of

everything. Jack felt he was staring into the eyes of a living god.

'We shall begin with the Body challenge,' announced the priest.

Stepping forward, he blessed each of the entrants with words that Jack

didn't understand, but sensed had great power. Once the priest had finished,

six novice monks stepped forward with a cup of water, a bowl of thin miso

soup and a small ball of rice. They handed each in turn to the entrants.

Realizing how hungry he was, Jack drained his soup and water and

devoured the rice ball in a matter of moments.

Next they were presented with three pairs of straw sandals, a white

vestment, a sheathed knife, a rope, a book, a paper lantern and a long straw

hat shaped like the upturned hull of a boat. The monks helped the entrants

into the white robe, tied the hat to their heads and slipped a pair of the

sandals on to their bare feet.

Throughout all this, no explanation was given.

'What's all this for?' whispered Jack to the monk who was helping

him to dress in the strange assortment of clothing and equipment.

The monk, busy with wrapping the rope round Jack's waist, looked up.

'You're wearing a robe of white, the Buddhist colour of death, to

remind you of how close you will come to the limits of life itself,' he

whispered. 'The rope is known as "the cord of death". This, together with

the knife, serves to remind all novice monks of their duty to take their life if

they do not complete their pilgrimage, either by hanging or selfdisembowelment.'

Not being a monk, Jack was glad this rule didn't apply to him.

The preparations complete, their lanterns were lit and the six entrants

were led outside into the darkened temple courtyard. The rain had eased,

but there was a chill wind blowing and Jack gave an involuntary shudder.

The priest, sheltering beneath an umbrella held by one of his monks,

beckoned them into the centre of the courtyard. The six of them gathered

round, each shivering in their own pool of lantern light, their faces drawn

and anxious.

'You are to complete just one day of the Thousand Day Pilgrimage my

Tendai monks have to accomplish as part of their spiritual training,' he

announced. 'Our temple believes challenge is a mountain with

enlightenment at its peak. Climb the mountain and satori is yours.'

The priest pointed into the darkness. Against the thunderous sky, Jack

could just make out the shadowy outline of a mountain backlit by sheet

lightning.

'You will go to the top of the first Circle of Three and back, praying at

each of the twenty shrines marked in your books,' explained the priest.

'You will undertake this challenge alone. You cannot stop to sleep. You are

not allowed to eat. And you must return to this temple before the first light

of dawn strikes the eyes of the wooden Buddha.'

The priest looked at each of them in turn, his gaze seeming to

penetrate their very souls.

'If you hear my monks complete the Mantra of Light, then you are too

late.'