Free Risuko by David Kudler Page B

canopy?”
    She nodded and pointed to the right of the tree. “Go. Now. That way. Warn Masugu and the rest that there’s an ambush.”
    Not waiting for another word, I sprinted to the edge of the clearing and clambered to the matted top of the juniper. Glancing back, I saw Mieko hauling Toumi into hiding in the brush.
    The juniper branches were thick and springy. As I burst up through the top layer, I could hear the muted sound of our company. They had just turned at the switchback; squinting, I could just make out Masugu’s tall stallion, where I should have been riding.
    I set out at a sprint, running along one bouncy juniper limb, crossing to the next where they crossed. The branches were so thickly overlapping that, while the going was slower than it would have been on open ground, I was moving much faster than I would have through the underbrush below, and with a much clearer sense of where I was going. I zigged and zagged along the treetops for a few heartbeats...
    When I heard a clatter behind me.
    Glancing back I saw no one. I ran along a few more steps.
    Another clatter. I turned around again. Nothing.
    Then, from out of the trees downhill on the opposite side of the road, I saw a grey speck lancing toward me. Not pausing to think, I ducked.
    The arrow hissed over my head like an angry snake.
    I dropped down into the juniper.
    I heard another arrow thud into a branch just ahead of me.
    Crouching just below the top layer of branches, I tried to think. I needed to warn Masugu -san and the rest of the party. But I was too far away to shout, and if I tried to climb above the canopy again, the archers would be looking for me. I could try to make my way back on the ground, but the going would be slow, and—not going straight downhill, as I had before getting caught earlier—I would have a hard time keeping my sense of direction.
    I could just hear the clatter of our party’s hooves on the stony road, and knew that they would be in the bandits’ range soon. Still, I had to be closer to Masugu and the rest than the bandits were. If only I could scout out a direct—
    I gasped, stunned that it had taken me so long to remember. Placing my hands in front of my mouth—holding on to the branch with my knees, I let out three owl hoots—not caring what kind of owl this time, just making sure that they were as loud as I could make them.
    I listened. The hoof beats continued.
    Hoo! Hoo! Hooooo!
    I thought I heard Masugu’s voice, but it sounded as if the horses were still clopping toward the bandits’ trap.
    I breathed deep, squeezed hard with my knees, and hooted louder than any owl could have.
    I heard the lieutenant’s voice again, shouting this time. “Attack! We’re under attack! Form up!”
    Then there was yelling and shouting, and the clash of swords, and horses and men screaming, just as there had been at the Mt. Fuji Inn.
    Only this time, I had absolutely no intention of sticking my head out where it might get shot.

11— The Full Moon
    T he battle, if that’s what it was, didn’t last very long.
    Quickly, the sound diminished to almost nothing. There was still some shouting, but it was growing more and more distant.
    I snuck carefully out of my hiding place and made my way downhill toward where I knew the road must be.
    It was not quite the scene of carnage that had met us that morning when we had first met Masugu -san and his soldiers. There were three dead men I assumed were part of the bandit gang. They’d been piled by the side of the road. There was also one dead horse, and one of the lancers was growling in pain as one of his comrades pulled an arrow through his thigh.
    Most of the rest of the Takeda soldiers were missing. Aside from the wounded man and his nurse, only Masugu was there. Lady Chiyome and Mieko were talking with him. Mieko held an arrow in her hand.
    The Little Brothers stood guard while Aimaru, Emi, and Toumi were