Young Samurai: The Ring of Wind (40 page)

Japanese names
usually consist of a family name (surname) followed by a given name, unlike in the Western world where the given name comes before the surname. In feudal Japan, names reflected a person’s social status and spiritual beliefs. Also, when addressing someone,
san
is added to that person’s surname (or given names in less formal situations) as a sign of courtesy, in the same way that we use Mr or Mrs in English, and for higher-status people
sama
is used. In Japan,
sensei
is usually added after a person’s name if they are a teacher, although in the Young Samurai books a traditional English order has been retained. Boys and girls are usually addressed using
kun
and
chan
, respectively.

Acknowledgements

This seventh book in the Young Samurai series was a true voyage of discovery, terror and excitement. For one thing, I didn’t know if I would ever reach my destination – a book is like an open ocean: formidable, unpredictable and awe-inspiring. Luckily, I was accompanied on my voyage by my ever-faithful crew.

Thank you and love to my family: my gorgeous and understanding wife, Sarah, my hardworking Mum and Dad, my supportive in-laws, Sue and Simon, my loyal Steve and Sam, and Karen, Rob and Thomas (
who are family in my heart
). And, of course, with the birth of my son, Zach, I had an extra passenger on-board while writing! Although you stopped me doing my duty as ‘captain’ of the story for the first few months, you quickly turned into an indispensable member of my closest crew – giving me smiles when I needed them most, laughs when I was at my lowest, and love at all times of the day. I couldn’t have written this book without everyone’s wonderful support.

A huge thanks must also go to the engine of this ‘ship’: Charlie Viney, my agent and friend; Shannon Park, my editor; the Puffin team – Wendy Shakespeare, Julia Teece, Jayde Lynch, Vanessa Godden, Sara Flavell and Paul Young; and Franca Bernatavicius and Nicki Kennedy, my overseas agents.

Well done to Toby Cronshaw who won the
Young Samurai
website competition to suggest the name for the fearsome pirate leader who would be Jack’s adversary in this book. Your suggestion of Tatsumaki, which means ‘tornado’ and is also a respected Japanese name, was perfect. My pirate queen needed to be just like a tornado – to be able to appear out of nowhere, cause havoc and then disappear again into nothingness having taken what she needs, only leaving a legacy of confusion and emptiness.

Noah Benoit, long-time fan of the series, needs to be thanked for suggesting that Jack should have a
female
enemy character at some point. I hope Tatsumaki lived up to your expectations!

I’d also like to give credit to Jennifer Bell of Foyles bookshop, London, for suggesting the idea of having a monkey in the story. I hope you like Saru, because you breathed life into the little creature who became vital to Jack’s survival.

Finally, a true bow of respect goes to Tiwa Ethan Adelaja, Luneth Pangya and Sharuk Rahman for their fantastic Young Samurai Duelling Card entries! Anyone who wishes to download these brilliant Duelling Cards can find them at
www.youngsamurai.com

Arigat
ō
gozaimasu
to all my faithful readers, librarians, teachers and booksellers!

Chris

Any fans can keep in touch with me and the progress of the Young Samurai series via the website
www.youngsamurai.com

Disclaimer:
Young Samurai: The Ring of Wind
is a work of fiction, and while based on real historical figures, events and locations, the book does not profess to be accurate in this regard.
Young Samurai: The Ring of Wind
is more an echo of the times than a re-enactment of history.

Warning: Do not attempt any of the techniques described within this book without the supervision of a qualified martial arts instructor. These can be highly dangerous moves and result in fatal injuries. The author and publisher take no responsibility for any injuries resulting from attempting these techniques.

PUFFIN BOOKS

Published by the Penguin Group
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Penguin Books Ltd, Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London
WC2R 0RL
, England

puffinbooks.com

First published 2012

Text copyright © Chris Bradford, 2012
Cover illustration copyright © Paul Young, 2012
Map copyright © Robert Nelmes, 2008

Cover illustration by Paul Young

All rights reserved

The moral right of the author and illustrators has been asserted

Except in the United States of America, this book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

ISBN: 978-0-141-97099-8