The full moon was shining bright in the eastern sky and was halfway to
the zenith. There were few clouds floating in the far corner. He could
feel light wind on his left cheek. There were no indications that it
would rain and so he calculated that if he could maintain the pace, he
would make it to wherever he was going. But by no means it would be an
end of his journey. Occasionally the silver streak of the river would
show up through the trees and confirm that he was on the right path
following the river. He could hear crickets chirping. As he would get
closer, the chirping sound would change it's rhythm indicating that the
crickets were aware of his presence. With his one hand on his katana and
his sharp instincts trained to sense any danger, he was a formidable
warrior. Occasionally checking on his footsteps to conceal his presence,
for tonight he did not want to attract any undue attention of some
animal or something more dangerous lurking in the dark. Not that he was
afraid, he just didn't want to loose time in an unnecessary encounter. Tomorrow lay a big day before him and he was hoping to catch couple
of hours sleep before the break of first light in the morning.
He being his sole companion, he could not help but reflecting over his past life. Bittersweet memories of his childhood. At the age of four he knew he wanted to be a warrior. The country was involved in a war.The news would come from the front with stories of brave warriors and he would be all ears. He remembered when he was five years or so, there was a competition at school, where kids would dress up as different characters or professions. All he wanted to be was an imperial soldier and his mother went around looking for a uniform in kid's size but she could not find one. He was very upset and cried for quite a while. Ultimately his parents convince him and had him dress in plain clothes - because he did not want to be anything else. He carried a toy sword and when it was his turn, he went on stage and told everyone that he was a soldier in plain clothes. Everyone laughed and it hurt him a lot. Years later, today he thought how true it was that he was never meant to receive an imperial soldier's uniform.
To be continued ...
He being his sole companion, he could not help but reflecting over his past life. Bittersweet memories of his childhood. At the age of four he knew he wanted to be a warrior. The country was involved in a war.The news would come from the front with stories of brave warriors and he would be all ears. He remembered when he was five years or so, there was a competition at school, where kids would dress up as different characters or professions. All he wanted to be was an imperial soldier and his mother went around looking for a uniform in kid's size but she could not find one. He was very upset and cried for quite a while. Ultimately his parents convince him and had him dress in plain clothes - because he did not want to be anything else. He carried a toy sword and when it was his turn, he went on stage and told everyone that he was a soldier in plain clothes. Everyone laughed and it hurt him a lot. Years later, today he thought how true it was that he was never meant to receive an imperial soldier's uniform.
To be continued ...
