Night fell.
Thin clouds like mist floated intermittently across the sky, but the moon shone brightly. The occasional chirping of insects filled the air.
When the insects stopped, silence enveloped the mountain again.
On the northern side of the fort, figures began descending one by one from the mountain peak. Soon, five shadows gathered at the root of a single pine tree. All of them carried bows.
They grasped the rope wound around the tree trunk with both hands and climbed the pine tree swiftly. Upon reaching the top, they found a rope stretching to the fort. They looped the rope around their waists and, shifting their weight, traversed the rope.
One by one, the five of them reached the fort via the rope.
They silently ran to the entrance. Upon reaching the gap in the fence, they split into two groups. All of them nocked arrows in their bows.
Two of them burst in, bows drawn. The remaining three followed suit.
The square was empty.
The central bonfire was still burning. The men’s tense faces were illuminated by the flames.
Two of the three who spread out pressed their backs against the doorframes of the huts. One quickly opened the door while another aimed their bow inside.
The hut was empty.
“What!?”
Another person opened the door of another hut. This one was also empty.
One of the men who had moved to the edge of the square ran back.
“Hey, the black guys aren’t here either.”
“What!? That’s impossible!”
Another man ran over.
“No one’s in the other hut either. What’s going on?”
They looked around. The five of them gathered in the center of the square.
“I’m certain they entered the fort. No mistake.”
“Then why isn’t anyone here?”
One of them, wearing a straw raincoat, scratched his head.
An arrow suddenly pierced his neck. He clutched his throat and collapsed. Another arrow hit the chest of another man who turned to look.
The remaining three looked up and realized the arrows were coming from above the fort. At that moment, five Ainu men emerged from behind a row of planks leaning against the outer fence and attacked them simultaneously.
“Gah!”
“Gwaaah!”
Ikrui’s sword slashed horizontally across one man’s throat. The other two were stabbed from the sides by the charging Ainu and fell, screaming.
Silence returned to the square.
The Ainu gathered around the bodies. Demba and the others emerged slowly from behind the planks. The women had been evacuated from the fort beforehand.
“I’m surprised… They really attacked, just like the girl Menoko said,” one of the Ainu, lowering his bow, muttered incredulously.
“Mmm…” Ikrui swung his sword once and sheathed it, nodding reluctantly.
Emariya looked up at Ikrui’s face. “Do you trust us now?”
Ikrui looked away, embarrassed. “N-no, it’s not that I trust you… I just considered the possibility.”
“Oh, really?” Emariya gave him a sidelong glance.
Kanga was examining the faces of the fallen men. “These two were there the other night. The rest are unfamiliar. I should’ve made sure they couldn’t stand.”
“Did they call for reinforcements? But they can’t gather many men. I don’t think they can bring too many from the mainland,” Demba said, and Irika nodded in agreement.
“Moving many people would draw attention.”
“But,” Ikrui looked at Demba, “what does this Samaykachi intend to do by targeting Elder Tono? Does he think he can replace him?”
“He seems to think so,” Emariya said. “He plans to kill everyone in this fort, including us, then head to Kitami and spread the word that the fort’s people were killed by black men and that he avenged them. The people of Kitami will lower their guard and he’ll strike down the elder.”
She mimed slashing with a sword.
“I’ve heard that part, but who will he blame?”
“He’ll say there were more black accomplices. Then he’ll publicly execute someone and burn a house, claiming he dealt with the culprits.”
“But… General Karheka won’t stay silent…”
“Yes, but if a few people start blaming Karheka for letting the black men go, what do you think will happen?”
She looked into Ikrui’s eyes.
“If the good-hearted Ainu people aren’t deceived…”
Ikrui’s face paled. “That’s serious.”
“Yes. If the people of Kitami are swayed, the Ishikari Ainu could split. There could be an internal conflict. If they start calling for Samaykachi as their leader, he’ll get what he wants.”
The listening Ainu exchanged glances. Ikrui nervously looked around.
“Will we make it in time if we chase after them now?”
Emariya thought for a moment.
“Probably… I think we still have time. Samaykachi must have seen us enter the fort himself. Without that, none of this starts. If we hadn’t entered, he’d have to rethink his plan.”
“A day at most,” Irika said, looking at Demba.
“We might need to run,” Demba replied.
“We can use our boats,” one of the Ainu suggested. “Faster than running.”
“That’s our only option. We need to hurry. Rukeshi, you come with me. The rest, guard the fort,” Ikrui instructed.
The riverbank was about half a mile from the fort.
By moonlight, the four, along with Ikrui and the young man called Rukeshi, reached the Ishikari River.
They split into two dugout canoes, with two men each pushing with poles, and hurriedly began to ascend the river.