Chapter 41 : Mind Over Matter

The waterfall thundered down from the second highest peak in the Iga

mountain range, cascading in one long roaring curtain of white. Over the

centuries, it had gouged a narrow high-sided ravine into the mountain, as if

some god had driven a mighty axe into the rock and cleaved it apart.

The monks, students and sensei stood in a large semicircle round the

churning rock pool at the base of the fall. They held their hands together,

praying in honour of the mountain spirits and the ancient kami of the

waterfall, while the High Priest recited a Buddhist blessing and scattered

salt as part of the purification ritual.

Jack, dressed in a fresh white robe, looked on with the other entrants,

each of them petrified at the prospect of this second challenge. They were

to stand upon a large flat rock under the waterfall for the time it took a stick

of incense to burn through, using only the power of the mind to defeat the

physical. In doing so, they risked the very real danger of death due to

freezing in the icy waters.

With the rites over, the priest beckoned the five remaining young

samurai to line up along the ledge that ran behind the fall.

First to enter, Jack kept his back close to the rock face, being careful

not to slip on the slimy stone. The spray billowed everywhere and his thin

monk's robe was soon plastered to his body. The cold damp air revived him,

but he wasn't looking forward to stepping under the freezing falls. On the

other side he could just make out the semi-circle of spectators, their forms

and faces distorted and twisted by the turbulent veil of water. It was as if he

was peering into an asylum of Hell.

The others followed close behind, each of them staring in terrified awe

at the torrent. Then, with a wave of his arm, the High Priest signalled for

the challenge to commence. Bowing as one, the five entrants stepped from

the ledge and entered the waterfall's thunderous power.

Jack almost blacked out, instantly overwhelmed by the numbing cold.

He had to fight the urge to escape the furious cascade as the water

smashed on to his head as hard as hailstones. He tried to resist the flow, but

his muscles were being pummelled into heavy knots of tension.

There was no way on earth he could last a stick of time.

Frantically, he mumbled the mantra he'd been taught to ward off the

cold, but it was no use. He was simply too weakened from the Body

challenge. His mind had gone blank, he was hyperventilating and his whole

being was racked with convulsing shivers. He was vaguely aware that

Harumi had exited the waterfall, its power too great for her to bear. Jack felt

himself caving in too.

He desperately clung on to the challenge, determined to outlast Kazuki

at the very least. But it was no use. His body couldn't take much more of

this punishment. He would have to leave.

His feet, though, refused to move.

Something deep within him defied the waterfall. Defied his own will.

The impossible becomes possible if only your mind believes it.

Jack gave one final mental push, trying to detach his mind from the

bone-chilling pain. He summoned up the mantra again, but was doubtful

whether a Buddhist chant would help a Christian heart. Nevertheless, he

repeated the mantra faster and faster until it became a continuous circle of

words:

My mind is limitless,

a horizon never ending,

a sun never setting,

a sky forever stretching…

Amazingly, by focusing his mind on the mantra, he felt his body transform.

With each turn of the phrase, his muscles became softer and more supple so

that the waterfall no longer hurt. For a brief moment, the pounding water

felt as gentle as a mountain spring.

Then he lost all feeling.

The strange thing about this numbness was that he also lost all care.

He didn't mind any more. He realized that the mantra had transported him

into one of the curious Buddhist states of meditation. Regardless of his own

beliefs, he was experiencing the strangest sensation of his consciousness

opening up to the universe around him.

He lost all sense of time.

Had a stick of incense burnt down yet?

A moment later he lost his concentration as Tadashi, escaping the

waterfall, bumped into him. The collision disrupted his trance and his body

turned instantly ice cold. Despite his best efforts to regain his previous

meditative state, Jack was forced to give up.

'Di-di-did I make it?' stammered Jack, stepping out of the falls.

'Of course you did, you frozen idiot!' replied Yamato, laughing

incredulously and handing him a dry robe. 'You've been under for ages.

The monk has already lit a second incense stick.'

'A-A-Akiko?' shuddered Jack.

'She's still in there, along with Kazuki.'

Akiko and Kazuki shimmered within the cascade of water like ghosts.

Jack resigned himself to the fact that Kazuki had defeated him once again,

but that didn't mean his rival had to win.

Come on, Akiko, willed Jack. Outdo Kazuki!

Akiko was struggling to keep her footing on the slimy rocks and Jack's

heart leapt for her as she slipped. Miraculously, despite the pounding of the

water, she regained her balance.

Then, without warning, Kazuki crumpled and fell.

Two monks rushed to retrieve him, carrying him out of the falls and

rubbing him vigorously with a thick robe. As Kazuki came round and

shakily got to his feet, the school applauded his valiant effort. Jack joined in

the clapping, but more in support of Akiko. She still stood under the torrent,

at one with the waterfall, her hands clasped in front of her, her lips

constantly moving with the mantra.

How much longer could she keep going? wondered Jack.

By all rights, the waterfall should have claimed Akiko's life by now.

The incense stick had burnt through a second time and a third one was now

lit. Akiko had survived twice the required duration.

'Take her out now!' ordered the High Priest, looking alarmed as the

third stick reached its end.

Akiko emerged to triumphant cheering. She walked across to Kiku,

who quickly wrapped her in a robe. Jack hurried over and, ignoring

Japanese formality, began to rub her hands for warmth. The strange thing

was, although Akiko shivered slightly, her body was hot to the touch as if

she'd stepped out of a volcanic hot spring instead of a freezing waterfall.

Jack raised his eyebrows in surprise, but she just smiled serenely back

at him.

Leaving Kiku to assist Akiko with getting into dry clothes, Jack and

Yamato rejoined the rest of the students on the far side of the pool. Passing

the High Priest and Masamoto on their way, Jack couldn't help overhearing

their conversation.

'Truly remarkable,' said the priest. 'That girl stayed beneath the

waterfall longer than any person I've witnessed in my lifetime. She's

clearly been taught mind control by a great master.'

'I would agree with you,' said Masamoto. 'Sensei Yamada, you have

done a remarkable job in training our students.'

Sensei Yamada shook his head gently, his shrewd eyes glancing over at

Akiko in curiosity. 'This is not a skill I've taught my class.'

'In that case, she is a samurai of rare talent,' commended the High

Priest.

The priest turned to address the school, casting a considered eye over

the remaining Circle entrants. Harumi was now standing to one side with

her friends, who were trying to console her.

'In life sometimes you must do the things you think you cannot do,'

said the High Priest. 'But always remember, the only limits are those of the

mind. By pushing the limits of what you believe, you can accomplish the

impossible.'

The High Priest beckoned to Akiko, and Jack felt his heart swell with

pride at her achievement.

'This girl is proof that you can expand your mind beyond anything you

think it's capable of. And the mind, once expanded, never returns to its

former dimensions. Learn from this challenge to be the master of your

mind, rather than being mastered by your mind. This knowledge will aid

you greatly in tomorrow's Spirit challenge.'