Isoroku did not understand and before Kuwahara could explain, Takeo said, rudely, "The old man babbles. Don't shame him by encouraging him. Come on, let's get to the motorcycles."

Before they got to Isoroku's machine, Takeo said he had forgotten something and dashed back inside. "Master," he said, "please forgive my rudeness. I was afraid you would tell him too much. We can't take any chances."

"I appreciate your caution," said Kuwahara. "Just continue to be cautious in your own conversations with him. Now run along. I'm anxious for the work on the motorcycles to proceed."

When Takeo got onto the motorcycle behind Isoroku, Isoroku asked for directions to the machine shop where the motorcycles were being stored. When they got there, Isoroku examined them and pronounced them a major project he looked forward to helping with.

The chief mechanic, Mr. Nishimura, was there and offered his services in the repairing. Takeo then said, "We intend to rebuild them in a revolutionary new design. If the design is marketable and if you have lent your services and kept quiet about the project, you can be fitted into a position of management.

"At any rate, all we need at this point is the disassembly and cleaning of every part of the machines. Isoroku and I will have to remachine many of the parts and I'm sure you and your mechanics can be of use if you will do only as instructed. Can you?"

Nishimura was a good mechanic and proud of his skills. He was not used to taking orders from his juniors. But Takeo was so serious and matter-of-fact that he took no offense.

"Alright," he said, "I am willing to do such apprentice work. But we have other work, so if you want your project to go on without interruption I will have to hire a couple of spare workmen. Also, I suggest we move the work to the outbuilding as the main shop is usually taken up with our regular trade."

Takeo agreed and when the outbuilding was cleared and the new machinery installed, they all got to work at tearing down and cleaning the motorcycles, including Isoroku's. Nishimura was an excellent mechanic and cooperative. He and his men worked like robots, never making a move not ordered by Takeo.

Within a week, all eight machines were dismantled, degreased and cleaned to the last screw. Even the paint was removed down to the bare metal.

On his off-hours, Nishimura's welder put a new surface on all the cylinder walls. Takeo, often referring to Sakai's diary, reamed the cylinder walls to a tolerance no one up until then would have believed possible. Even so, in order to get the tolerance possible on Sakai's equipment on the island, Takeo had to buy a computerized meter and have Yoshi install it into the lathes.

In only three weeks the motorcycles were completely renovated, with an entirely new design. They were slimmer, more compact, bare of all non-essentials and uniformly black. Yoshi had also computerized them to self-correct in case of turns which could unbalance them. The mufflers, of Takeo's design, allowed them to run silently at cruising speed. But with the mufflers disengaged, they could hit speeds of up to 250 miles per hour.

When the motorcycles were ready, Isoroku went back to the States to research a market for them. With him out of the way, the old priest sent for the young men.

That evening they all came to his home and were shown the motorcycle. They were delighted. They were also presented with specially tailored motorcycle outfits. These were made of layers of Kevlar, bullet-proof cloth, covered with soft, shiny black leather. Within moments, each had put on his own suit.

But the main surprise was the presentation of the helmets. They had been repainted black, and as each was handed his own, he expressed a feeling of strangeness while holding it.

Kuwahara then said, "These helmets have great powers. Since the spirits of their former owners live on in you, you will have a greater awareness of your surroundings. Your reflexes will be quickened. The helmets will also give you the power to see one second into the future. Hideki, put on your helmet."

Hideki put on the helmet and exclaimed that he saw everything in slow-motion. Also, he was suddenly enveloped by a flickering, reddish glow. Alternately, he appeared in his black helmet and motorcycle uniform and a few seconds later appeared as an ancient samurai warrior in full battle armor.
The young men were amazed at this transformation. The old priest then took Saburo's sword from its scabbard and told Hideki to be on guard against an attack. Then he lashed at Hideki with a sudden slash which would normally have cut him from shoulder to waist.

Hideki, seeing the attack in slow-motion, and having his reflexes almost doubled, simply reached out and snatched the sword away from Kuwahara. The others were astonished as the old priest smiled and said, "Wearing these helmets, you can parry any blow, maneuver your machines in traffic no other cyclist could get through and be little short of invincible.

"But this is a sacred trust and you must never put on the helmets unless you are fighting the enemies of our country. And the enemies I have in mind are the spiritual descendants of those serving the most evil being ever to live in our land.

"Thousands of years ago, before Japan was a nation, and even China, there was a great war in space. Many beings now living on Earth were marooned here when their ships were shot down or crippled and had to land on this out of the way planet.

"The being now known as Namoto had fled his planet after losing his criminal forces to those known as 'Space Police'. They were those who destroyed such as were attracted by such magnets of evil. They chased this evil one through the fleet, hoping to confine him. They cornered him on the very ship which was the last one to be marooned here.

"Over the centuries these Space Police had awakened to their cause whenever this monster began recruiting. Their system was to wait until he had built an organization of the worst enemies of society and then destroy them. The goal was then to kill or confine him so as to reduce his influence. But this last had proved difficult.

"Nearly 500 years ago, during the age of the country at war, all factions but one wanted to serve the interests of the Emperor. They were willing to disrupt society for decades in order to gain the honor of being the Emperor's chief servant.

"But Kenzo Yorisada, now known as Namoto, took his time in attracting allies who would conquer the country and proclaim him emperor. In his province, there also lived a black-robed priest who had been one of the Space Police. He was known as 'the priest of death' and served the shogun around whom Yorisada was attracting those who desired power over honor. The priest observed and when he saw Yorisada had gained his base of followers to train for conquest, he went to his monastery in another province and brought back a string of seven black war horses. Each carried a suit of black armor, a helmet and a Muramasa sword.

"He then went about the countryside picking up the other Space Police and awakening them to their identity and purpose. He first went to a blacksmith's shop where a stocky lad, Michio Sakano, was shaping a horseshoe at the forge. The priest dismounted and approached the young man.

" 'Well, my boy', he said, 'it is time that you resume your career as a warrior. Japan needs you.'

" 'But Sir,' said the lad, 'my father considers me to dullwitted to be a warrior.'

" 'Go bid your parents farewell,' said the priest. 'I have six more stops before nightfall.'

"The lad went into the house and soon his father, Lord Sakano, confronted the priest. 'I recognize you as the one known as the priest of death,' he said. 'My son says he is to go with you.'

" 'Yes, Lord Sakano,' said the priest. 'Give him your blessing now as I must be on my way.'

" 'And if I do not permit this, will you kill me?' asked the father.

" 'I will take the young man,' said the priest, firmly.

" 'Alright then,' said Lord Sakano. 'He is of the age to find his place in life. He is a good boy. I'm sure you'll treat him well.'

"The boy's mother patted his shoulder as his father clasped his hands. After a few soft words between them, Michio took a hamper of food from his mother and a small bundle of personal effects from his father. Then he mounted one of the snorting war horses and rode off without glancing back.

"In the middle of the hamlet the priest stopped the train of horses before a small counting house. Inside were three clerks and their chief, the owner of the concern. Kneeling before a table on which were an abacus and sheaves of paper strung with rows of figures was Joji Yamashita. The priest held him in a gaze of imperious command and said, 'You are to come with me. Your country needs you.'

"Before Joji could answer, his master said, 'Priest, don't think to lead my best clerk from his apprenticeship. Go find someone else.'

"Not even looking at the counting house owner, the priest said to Joji, 'Young man, gather what treasures you have at hand and pick a horse. That is not a request.'

"Joji looked at his master and the counting house owner made as if to lay hands on the priest. In a movement those watching could see only as a blur, the priest unsheathed and sheathed a knife in the folds of his robe. The master of the counting house gave a look of amazement and crumpled to the floor. Joji then put his abacus into one of his sleeves and quickly walked to the string of horses.

"A mile outside the hamlet, the priest stopped in front of the Nakajima estate. Young Matsuo was simpering words of love to a serving girl he had trapped in the bamboo grove by the garden pond. The priest opened the courtyard gate and beckoned to him.

"Matsuo looked up and instinctively ducked out of sight behind the girl. 'Come out of there, silly one,' commanded the priest.

"On hearing the priest's command, Mr. Nakajima stepped out on the veranda, accompanied by his timid wife, who peeped shyly around her husband. He was a tall, slim warrior who carried the samurais' two swords in his sash as if ready to fight at a moment's notice. This was in stark contrast to his irresponsible son. 'What business do you have with my youngest, Holy One?' asked Nakajima.

" 'I gather the greatest warriors in Japan,' said the priest. 'Only the finest can contend with the evil soon to threaten.'

" 'Then do you come to shame us, Sir?' roared Nakajima. 'I, who am my shogun's ranking military aide? I have been victorious in eighty battles. For hundreds of years we Nakajimas have produced a line of the fiercest of warriors, until that one. For you to choose the least of what our family has to offer is uncivil, Sir. Priest or no, you will apologize and leave quickly.'

" 'I will leave when your son is on the horse I brought for him,' said the priest. 'But there is no insult in my choice. He is a natural warrior and with training, will become a great one.'

"With the threat to his pride gone, Nakajima considered the priest to be slightly insane. He laughed. His wife gained courage and shrieked hysterically while clinging to her husband and pointing derisively at her son. 'That one a warrior? Him?'

"The priest then said, 'Enough dawdling, young man. Get on a horse.'

" 'But, Sir,' whimpered Matsuo, 'my parents are right. I don't want to be a warrior. I want to study things of beauty, like flowers and women. Not war!'

" 'What you want or do not want is of no importance when weighed alongside your duty,' said the priest. 'You have ten minutes to choose a few things and take leave of your parents.'

" 'Well, go on boy,' said his father, sarcastically. 'Greatness calls and by all the gods, you'll answer.'

"With the weeping Matsuo mounted up, the priest led the column to the next prospect, Kenji Nishizawa. Kenji was a young guard at the border of the province. His job was to examine all strangers coming from the eastern province. He was only twenty but had developed a knack for detecting spies and smugglers.

" 'Young man,' said the priest, 'notify your superior so he can assign a replacement. You're coming with me.'

"Kenji pulled a string which rung a bell further up the line in a hilltop guard hut. His superior and three other guards came running, swords drawn. 'There is no trouble,' said Kenji. 'This priest wishes to recruit me for some purpose and I feel I should go.'

" 'That is for me to decide,' said his superior. 'Priest, do you have orders from my lord, that I should release this guard?'

" 'Your witness to your lord that I came for the lad is all you need,' said the priest. 'I will not wait.'

" 'I will have a written order or I will not release him,' said the chief of guards. 'Moreover, I will search your baggage and detain your party until I am relieved at the next watch.'

"As he said this he clutched his chest and examined the knife handle protruding from it. Then he crumpled.

"By nightfall the other three horses had riders and the party headed for the shogun's manor. The young men were taken to a soldiers' barracks where they were assigned spaces by the chief instructor, Ihara Tange. Tange was a huge bear of a man, the strongest of the garrison. He was loyal only to Kenzo Yorisada, the captain of the palace guard. The young men were to be trainees for a strengthening of the guard, due to the many civil wars going on in Japan at that time.

"The priest had left the young men and had not communicated with them in a week. They did not think of this as strange, since they were now samurai. Even Matsuo Nakajima knew that all protest stops at the barracks door.

"Several days later, Kenzo Yorisada sought out the priest, filled with suspicion and anger. 'Explain yourself, Priest,' he ordered. 'What trick was it to have placed those seven misfits with Tange?'

" 'They are recruits, as ordered by the shogun,' said the priest. 'Is the fact that I recruited them the reason for your fear?'

" 'I'm not afraid of them, Priest,' said Yorisada. 'It's the great progress they've made in so short a time after coming here that makes me suspicious. They are too good for recruits. Are they not previously trained soldiers you have put in with my troops to act as spies?'

" 'Would a spy be worth his hire if he revealed himself as you say my recruits have?' asked the priest.

" 'I hadn't thought of that,' said Yorisada. 'But I suspect you, just the same. I thought to break the whimpering Nakajima. But he took all the punishment Tange could give the recruits and seemed to thrive on it. Then I had my toughest man insult him, hoping I could at least get him crippled. But he beat my best warrior as if Takedai were a child.

" 'The others are the same They are quicker to learn than anyone we have trained. I don't like it, Priest! I don't like it; I don't like you and I don't like them!'

" 'I am not concerned with what you don't like,' said the priest. 'But lest you waste time from their training, I'll tell you their real function. They are indeed superior and that was my reason for choosing them. They are to be trained for duty as the shogun's personal guard. If you can't handle them, maybe a new captain can.'

"Yorisada left in a foul mood. He found Tange and took him aside from the recruits. 'Tange,' he said, 'I suspect the priest's recruits. I don't know their danger to me but I sense it. From now on, do not give them any special workouts.'

" 'Well,' said Tange, 'if you sense a threat, I can arrange for them all to be injured, or even killed, if you'd like.'

" 'That is not my plan,' said Yorisada. 'They are to be part of the shogun's personal guard. Our plans for him can include them. In the meantime, you must not seem to single them out. Give them no cause to keep us in mind after they have moved up. When we make our move we want them off-guard.'

"For several months the training proceeded and the seven young men proved themselves to be the best warriors in the province. They were finally assigned to the shogun's personal guard and left the rough barracks life. Although little familiarity with the lords and ladies of the court was permitted, the young men gradually became fixtures at the highest levels of palace life.

"Meanwhile, Yorisada and Tange worked at their plan to overthrow the shogun. Most of the offices among the soldiery were loyal to Yorisada's faction, since he had had Tange methodically send away such troops as would not join their conspiracy.
"The priest knew of their plan even before recruiting the seven young men. He had little loyalty to the shogun and was mainly interested in preventing Yorisada from assembling an army which would be a threat to the nation. But he could not move until all of those Yorisada could recruit were assembled. Otherwise, Yorisada would have time to assemble a new army.

"When the court was lulled to apathy by Yorisada's show of strength to the outside, Tange summoned his chief conspirators. As he was doing this, the priest called the seven young men to him and ordered their presence on a trip to the next province.

"As they reached the hill above the town, they heard the commotion of Yorisada's revolt. Looking back they could see fires being lit. Mobs of men-at-arms swarmed over the betrayed defenders and it was finished before the young men could have gotten back.

"Don't worry about the shogun,' said the priest. 'He was a fool and could not have prevailed. You are not ready yet. Your duty is to bide your time until you can engage in the last battle against Yorisada. This cannot happen until he has all the followers he can get and is in a position to exercise all his power. Then you will join his most able opponents and crush his attempt to take over the country.

"For the next three years the priest led his young men over the countryside, offering their services to the highest bidders. As they took over and led diverse armies against other warring factions, they gained a fearsome reputation. The priest and his black-armored lieutenants became known as the priest of death and his seven ronin from Hell.

"They had but to offer their services to an embattled shogun and his enemies often melted away. Each of them became masters of cavalry units, teams of archers, sappers, spies and other military cadres. 'Victory for Sale' was their motto and they never failed to deliver, or to take as much cash as was agreed upon.

"While his young men were distinguishing themselves on the fields of battle, the priest was planning to make a certain province a garrisoned state against Yorisada. He offered the highest wages to all the best weapons makers from all the surrounding provinces. While normal life went on in the province, a steady trickle of artisans and ronin come to the province's small capitol.

"On a cold December morning, Yorisada's armies ringed themselves about the province, their fearsome banners awing all but the boldest. The shogun was meeting with Yorisada's emissaries and negotiating a surrender when the priest and his small following demanded entrance to the court.

"When admitted, the priest ordered the shogun to put his army under the authority of the seven. Yorisada's chief emissary quickly threatened immediate attack if their own demands were not met. Matsuo knocked an arrow and shot him in the forehead. As he collapsed over the treaty he had brought for the shogun's signature, the others cut down the rest of his party.

"The shogun's military staff quickly accepted the authority of the priest and his seven ronin. They knew that only a man with a plan and the means to implement it could save the province from Yorisada. Quickly, the priest set the leaders to drawing lines of defense and gathering every able-bodied citizen to man them.

"With his emissaries murdered and a new element being added, Yorisada delayed the attack and sent his reinforcements on testing forays. As the days wore on, lines were strengthened and Yorisada's troops found mounting resistance at every formerly weak point. With quick action by the seven, it was soon impressed upon Yorisada that he would have to withdraw and redefine his strategy.

"While he was doing this, the priest reinforced every road, pass and byway into the province. Matsuo Nakajima's archers split into groups manning every possible place of entry. Michio Sakano had designed and had built wondrous weapons. One was a multi-arrowed catapult which would send two dozen arrows at a time against any entry point. Another was a rack of rockets set off simultaneously. Each had a shrapnel-filled head and a volley of them caused consternation and retreat among the attackers.

"Joji Yamashita had inventoried all the loyal troops, spear men, archers, swordsmen and various other groups as to category.

"The leader of the seven, Tajiro Yonikawa, used the inventory along with maps drawn by Ninichi Niori. Niori's talent for gauging the strength needed to hold any position helped Yonikawa to place the troops at the most critical points.

"Kinsuki Hatori was the orator of the group. Aside from being a master swordsman who struck fear in all lesser swordsmen, he could also make his subordinates believe that their skills, combined with his, was all that was needed to save the day. He went from unit to unit inspiring all the troops with a zeal they could not understand. Soon, there was not one group which was not ready to hold its position and even to advance.

"When the battle finally began, Yorisada launched his best troops against the route leading to the castle. Yonikawa anticipated this and had Nakajima's archers hidden out of sight on both sides. As the perimeter's defenders made what Yorisada considered a frightened withdrawal, he had his best swordsmen press forward. As they forced the defenders to within yards of the castle's gate, the hidden archers arose and selectively picked off the best fighters.

"While the archers did their deadly work, the seeming halfhearted defenders of the causeway rushed inside the castle and closed the gate. Within minutes, the trapped attackers were sprawled all over the causeway, most with more than one well-placed arrow in his body. When the archers had destroyed one group, they would withdraw along special paths which took them to their next stations.

"Yorisada was willing to waste many troops to learn Yonikawa's strength and tactics. He quickly found that Yonikawa's faction was, and would be, using light flanking and covert hit and run attacks, never allowing Yorisada to take advantage of his superior numbers. As he would send a horde of troops against a position, its defenders would cover up and let the hidden archers rise out of the undergrowth and decimate the attackers' flanks. Spear men would then charge from thickets and attack the rear. As swordsmen rushed in from other points, the retreating defenders would come alive and mop up the demoralized attackers.

"Yorisada, once he had tested the defenses, pulled back his troops and began a war of attrition against Yonikawa. As he saw his troop strength dwindling, he reached out to the petty and unscrupulous shoguns held at bay for years by the shogun of this province.

"They were quick to join with Yorisada, hoping to humble their old enemy and divide his property amongst themselves. But Yorisada intended to use them up, while preserving only those troops loyal to him. He did not yet realize that already too many of those conspiring with him to take over the country had been killed by the priest's seven ronin and the forces they commanded.

"Yorisada could not dictate to the new shoguns and their military chieftains. They knew their own strength and had meant to wait until both the priest's and Yorisada's armies had been weakened enough for them to defeat both factions.

"While Yorisada planned the integration of his own units with the new ones, Yonikawa sent messengers to the new shoguns coming against him with a challenge. He told them all that the commander who could kill him would receive the surrender of all his forces.

"Yorisada was enraged by the challenge. He knew it would prevent his keeping the shoguns in line with his own strategy. Now he could not place their units in the final battle plan he had worked out. Each, wanting the head of Yonikawa, would simply get in everyone else's way. But there was no help for it.

"Yonikawa planned to lure the newly arrived shoguns and the more ambitious of Yorisada's commanders into the kind of man-wasting trap which had cost them so heavily in the first battle for the castle. He would make his stand at the castle's approach, which was hidden from the view of those waiting their turn to attack. The first challenger was Lord Naozane, who used not only his main body of troops, but his reserves in an all out attempt to take Yonikawa.

"As Naozane moved his troops up the causeway, Yonikawa stood in his stirrups and hurled insults at the columns. As the gap between the two groups narrowed, Nakajima's hidden archers arose from the surrounding underbrush and killed Naozane and all his retainers. The withering fire of the skilled archers also prevented Yonikawa from making any kills on his own.

"Yonikawa couldn't even charge, as the causeway was blocked by the dead enemy and their horses. As first one, then another of the shoguns crowded forward into the meat grinder, they were slaughtered. By that evening, all Yorisada's new help and most of his own reserves had died by Nakajima's arrows.

"After that it was just a matter of sending in wave after wave of Yorisada's troops until the priest's were worn down. So for five days more the battle raged over hill and road, up valleys and around the castle itself. But always the seven black armored ronin appeared everywhere. They could finally find none of Yorisada's champions still alive, but his underlings pressed in.

"Finally the castle was torched after a lightning flanking action by Tange and the last of his own best warriors. Tange was cut down by Mikio Sakano, who survived the last charge but found himself almost alone.

"As each of the seven found himself facing more of Yorisada's troops, they broke off the battle and regrouped around the priest. Rather than be taken alive, they fought their way to the sea and made their stand at the edge of a high cliff.

"Soon, hundreds of Yorisada's exhausted troops crowded to the cliff, surrounding the little party on three sides. The seven then put their swords in a hamper hanging from the priest's saddle. Without a word, they wheeled their horses and charged them over the cliff and sank like stones into the sea.

"The priest then rode through the dwindled ranks of Yorisada's troops. Yorisada barred his path and said, 'I ought to kill you now, priest.'

" 'Do as you will, Yorisada,' said the priest. 'My work here is finished.'

" 'Then killing you after your devils have destroyed my best will only make me look more ineffective,' said Yorisada. 'You have whittled me down to the point where I'll be fortunate to keep this province, much less take the country. But I'll be back, priest. Some day I'll be back.'

" 'Then so will we,' said the priest, and rode on.

"The spirit of the evil Yorisada still lives on in Namoto," said Kuwahara. "He is not only the chief of those hoodlums at the karate school, but he is also the greatest crime lord in Japan. The karate students are mostly the sons of his fellow criminals. Others are novices sponsored by criminals training young ninja to implement their programs. In the school, they are taught all the arts of crime; extortion, assassination, thievery, the taking over of legitimate businesses and even political infiltration.

"But now we are together again and have access to great wealth and also the power of the helmets and swords. We must renew the old battle against that evil being. This time we must win, or lose Japan to his evil genius."
 

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