The Way of the Fox Read Online Free Page B

were most beautifully glazed! Tonbo, however, had little interest in small talk. He looked about the hut quietly, then wrinkled his nose.
“ What’s that smell?”
    “It is our catch , samurai. Please forgive our rustic home.” The girl measured tiny spoons full of ground green tea into each cup. “Surely it is not too strong?”
    Tonbo shrugged.
    There were some toys on the floor – a man’s garments hung upon one wall. Kuno looked quietly about the hut.
    “Your family are still fishing, honoured lady?”
    “They will be gone for hours, samurai san. We are quite alone.” The girl poured hot water from the kettle. She then briskly whisked a cup of tea. “We may enjoy one another’s company.”
    She turned the cup most properly, and presented it to Kuno. As she reached forward, Tonbo saw her hair ribbons. He reached into his belt, and drew out the ribbon Sura had found beside the road.
    “You’re missing one.” He tossed the matching ribbon to the floor. “Bridal ribbon.”
    Black, vicious eyes flashed in the girl’s face. She drew in a breath, and suddenly she spat.
    Kuno twisted aside like lightning as a green dart spat from the girl’s mouth and missed him by a whisker. He drew his sword in a blur, cutting twice. The girl wrenched herself aside with inhuman speed, and the blade scarcely scored her skin.
    Tonbo slammed his tetsubo forward. The girl span into the blow, seizing the weapon and sending Tonbo – muscles, armour, club and all – hurtling head over heels through the air. Rolling up into a ball, he hit the floor, crashed into Kuno, and sent both of them smashing backward out through the wall and into the yard beyond. Rocks and boards crashed down from the roof. Dazed, both men rolled back up onto their feet.
    The door of the hut shattered. Out strode the girl – her face slit by Kuno’s sword and a sleeve of her robes sliced in two. The skin of her arm split: one side of her beautiful face peeled away, revealing green, warty skin beneath. The woman gave a great, thundering roar – a yell that stunned both men in place. She seemed to swell, her skin and robes bursting open to reveal a massive form beneath. The girl tore away the last shreds of skin, expanding massively to tower over her prey.
    She was now a great, bow-backed knobby figure with pendulous breasts, long muscled arms, huge claws, and a mouth packed full of fangs. The creature stank of old blood and decay.
    Sura came barrelling out of the bushes in fox form. She saw the girl as the last of the woman’s skin split away. The fox looked at the creature and seemed relieved.
    “Oh – you found her then!”
    The monster ripped a porch pillar free from the house. She launched it like a lightning bolt at Sura, who leapt like a grasshopper, squeaking as she dodged the shot. She tripped and plunged into a pile of reeds. Tonbo surged up onto his feet.
    “Sura! ”
    “ I’m on it! Cover me!” The fox erupted up out of the reeds. “Go go go!”
    Kuno held his sword out, trying to keep the monster at bay. The great naked, snarling figure loomed over him, spreading wide its claws. Kuno was awash with panic and bewilderment.
    “ Cover her?”
    “Cover me!”
    Sura made a dash for her clothing. Tonbo set his tetsubo into attack position, and face the monster.
    “Cover her.”
    Sura dove into her clothes and tu rned back into human form. She leapt up from the ground, hair flying, and dug into her sleeve for a sheaf of painted strips of paper. She seized her spear and threw away the sheath, then instantly took off into the long grass nearby. Kuno stared in shock.
    “What? Where is she going?”
    Tonbo was already in action. The huge man thundered into the attack. His great iron staff thrummed through the air, streaking for the monster’s neck. The creature dodged, and the tetsubo demolished part of the porch – but a lightning swift butt strike slammed the hilt of the iron club against the monster’s face. She snarled, staggering back,