Okay, there's a chunk of detailed information in here, but it makes for 
an interesting set-up.  I took a good deal of time to research it, and I 
know there's at least one person out there who can call me on the 
details, so I tried hard to get 'em right.

Disclaimer: Characters and associated details are property of HB and are 
used for non-profit, entertainment purposes only.

Archiving permission granted.

THE REAL ADVENTURES OF JONNY QUEST

Synopsis:  A quiet day on ship lets Jessie and Jonny share a few things.

"FORTUNE'S WIND", chapter 7

by Eric R. Umali

"Steel and Silk"

The *Questor* was two weeks out of Kingston.  They had gone ashore for 
provisions a few days after leaving, and between their head start and 
Hadji's piloting, they had managed to elude Surd and the *Talon*.  By 
now, they were sure, they had lost them completely, since only they had 
the map.

It was nearly sunset, and the sea and the sky were turning the same 
gold-tinged crimson.  Quest and Bannon were in the captain's cabin, 
trying to decipher the clues and markings on the treasure map.  Hadji was 
at the helm, and the dozen or so other crewmen were mostly belowdecks.

Jessie sat on the railing, watching the sun set.  She looked up at the 
sails, pulled taut by the good, steady wind they were following.  She 
noticed movement out of the corner of her eye and turned towards the 
cabins.  Jonny exited, nodded to Hadji, and walked silently to the bow of 
the ship.  He carried his sword beside him, in a black lacquered scabbard.

She watched as he knelt on the deck, eyes closed, laying the sword before 
him.  He stayed that way for a minute or two, not moving a muscle.  
Slowly, one hand slipped beneath the sword and deftly flipped it into the 
air.  Jessie blinked, and suddenly Jonny was on his feet, three feet of 
shining steel in his hand.  Jonny began what seemed to Jessie almost like 
a dance-- his movements were fluid, graceful and deliberate.  The sword 
sliced through the air, and, having seen it up close, Jessie believed it 
would cut through almost anything with the same ease.

After several minutes of constant action, Jonny came to a smooth stop.  
He pulled the back of the blade across the crook of his arm, then 
sheathed it.  The young man dipped his hand into the nearby rain barrel 
and splashed himself in the face.  He took a long draught from his cupped 
hands and looked up to see Jessie standing before him.  She stood with 
her back to the setting sun, her long red hair flying around her like a 
halo.  She had one hip out, and a hand on the hilt of what used to be her 
father's sabre.  Jonny was convinced he had never seen anything as beautiful.

He dunked his head into the cold water and didn't come up until he 
believed he was able of carrying on a conversation.  Jonny's hair 
splashed water all around when he did.

"Thank you, Captain," said Jessie, wiping her face.

"My apologies, Miss Bannon.  Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Where did you learn to use a sword like that?"

"Ahh.  That would be Japan."

Jessie's eyes lit up.  "You've been all the way to Japan?"

"That's right.  'Black Dog' and I laid up there for several months.  We 
came for silks and spices, and found ourselves in the middle of an 
assassination attempt on one of the major nobles.  'Black Dog' was hurt 
in the process of helping him out, and had to stay landlocked.  Oh, he 
was miserable."

"I'll bet.  Is that where you got that sword?"  Jonny nodded.  "May I see 
it?" she asked cautiously.

Jonny thought for a moment, then held it out to her.  She took it 
gingerly and sat on a bench.

He sat beside her as she drew the sword and took the scabbard.  She held 
it up to the light, fascinated.

"It's so light."

"But very strong," he added.

"I know that firsthand," Jessie replied, bringing a smile to his face.  
She turned her eyes back to the sword before she started staring at him.  
"How?"

"Do you know how your sword was forged?"

"A piece of steel is heated and hammered into shape, yes?  This sabre is 
Toledo steel-- it's supposed to be the best."

"The quality of the metal, perhaps, but it's in the construction.  This 
sword is called a 'katana.'  The blade is made of two kinds of steel-- 
the core, lighter and more flexible, the outside, harder.  The outside is 
heated and folded again and again.  Do you see the graining in the 
metal?"  She nodded.  "This blade has more than _thirty thousand_ 
layers.  This wavy line along the blade is called the hamon.  It comes 
from the tempering of the blade, and is unique to every sword."

Jessie placed her finger near the edge.  "No!" he said, pulling her hand 
back.  "The edge is very sharp.  After it was polished and sharpened, I 
saw them drape a piece of silk on the edge-- it cut through it without 
effort."  He handed her the scabbard, and she replaced it, now looking at 
the handle.

The handguard was beautiful-- a black metal with a golden inlaid design.  
"That," Jonny went on, "is called the tsuba.  The making of it is an art 
separate from the making of the blade, as is the polishing.  Look here," 
he said, indicating something on the handle.  Jessie looked closely.  
Under the silk wrapping was a golden dragon.  "The decoration is called a 
menuki.  The dragon on the handle is supposed to give the warrior strength."

Jessie handed the katana back.  "It sounds more like an art than a 
craft," she said.

"Very true.  The swordmaker prays and cleanses himself before beginning.  
All the artisans learn for long years before they ply their trade.  A 
sword is supposed to be like a part of the warrior.  When they were first 
made, they had straight blades.  The curvature was added to make it look 
more graceful in motion."

"It is at that.  When you were practicing-- it has a kind of beauty to 
it.  And it certainly does seem to be a part of you.  You learned that in 
Japan, too?"

Jonny nodded, then smiled.  "They gave me the sword in appreciation, but 
weren't about to let me keep it without knowing how to use it properly."

Jessie smiled.

"You should do that more often," he said.

"What?"

"Smile.  You have a beautiful smile, Jessie."

The young woman blushed.  "Can you show me?" she asked, indicating the sword.

"Sure."  They stood.  Jonny spent the next hour showing Jessie some of 
the elementary practice forms he had learned.  Soon, they were both very 
tired, and called it a day.

"Do you have anything else left from your visit to Japan?" Jessie asked.

Jonny thought for a moment, then smiled.  "Yes.  Rest a bit in your 
cabin.  I'll send for you in a bit."  Jessie nodded uncertainly and went 
into the cabin area.  Jonny turned to Hadji.  "Mr. Singh, hand over the 
wheel.  I need some help in the hold."

**********

Jessie looked at herself in the small mirror on her desk.  She wore the 
long silk robe Hadji had brought for her.  The kimono was a jade green 
with a white collar and cuffs, and a flower pattern woven into it.  A 
wide dark green belt went around her waist, and slippers on her feet.  It 
was beautiful-- Jessie had never worn such a garment.  Her hair was 
pulled up into a bun in the way she had seen in pictures of Japanese women.

She spun around, all at once admring herself and chiding herfelf for vanity.

Hadji knocked.  "Are you ready, Miss Bannon?"

Jessie took a deep breath and opened the door.  Hadji's eyes widened.  
"You look very beautiful," he said.

"Thank you."  They walked towards the captain's cabin.  "Tell me, Mr. 
Singh-- what does the captain have in store for me?"

"Oh, no, Miss Bannon, you will not get me to talk."  They came to Jonny's 
door.  Hadji opened it, and Jessie stepped in.  The door closed behind her.

Jessie couldn't believe her eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED...