Saturday, January 28, 2012

Sweet Saturday Sample


Welcome! I have another short sample from my historical novel. Hiro, a former samurai soldier, has come to Hanako's farm in northern Japan and offered to help her for the season. Here, he is fishing in the stream behind her home:

            He found a sturdy old tree with a thick branch overhanging the stream.  Carefully inching out on the branch, he found that it could accommodate his weight, and lay face down along its length.  He waited, his sword poised and ready for his prey.  The rippling water played a calming melody, and the shade from the rest of the tree enveloped him in a blanket of security that he hadn’t experienced in years. 
As a warrior in the elite forces of the bushido, he had not known serenity, only anger and death.  What would it be like to live in peace and beauty, instead of constant pain and needless bloodshed?
            A splash in the water below reminded him of his task.  A school of carp, making its way upstream, swam into his vantage point.  Drawing on his survival training, he lowered his sword, spearing the largest of the group.  Quickly he raised and lowered the sword again and again, until the still-moving fish covered half his blade. 
            The water beneath him turned murky, and his arm froze as the haunting memory of another time, another knife, overtook him.  His stomach churned as he remembered a man he had known all his life, one he loved and revered, dying by his own hand.  Though Hiro had fought nobly and had observed the death of many, this time it had brought him to his knees.  It was then that he knew he could not continue as a warrior. 
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            Thanks for stopping by! Find samples from other great authors by going to Sweet Saturday Samples. Please leave a comment!

9 comments:

  1. You always take us into the most enchanting worlds, Pat! Love this one. And the last sentence makes me beg you to post more next week :) Thanks so much for sharing!

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  2. Wow! This is powerful. Excellent job!

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  3. So many wonderful emotional connections here. Amazing. Brought tears to my eyes.

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  4. What a powerful sample, and I loved this - "The rippling water played a calming melody, "

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  5. What a swordsman! I hope he can find love to brighten his life. Why do I think he will? Beautifully written, Patty.

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  6. I love ow you were able to bring the past and present together with such a simple act like fishing

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  7. Intriguing sample, Patty. Hope to see more next week!

    Lucy

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  8. I love the descriptions you use, and your samurai's voice. He sounds like a really interesting character.

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  9. I can't wait for you to finish this so I can read the book. ;-)

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