The Lost Scroll of Fudo Shin by Jon F. Merz Page B

The sooner you get used to that, the easier it will get.”
    “If you say so.”
    “I do.  Now go get some rest.  I’ll wake you in six hours for a quick meal and then we’re getting started.”
    Jimmy groaned.  “I could sleep for twelve.”
    “I know you could.  But you get six.”
    Jimmy started for the door and then stopped.  “Aren’t you going to rest, too?”
    “I will.  I’ll probably doze for a few hours.  Not much more.  I want to keep on my usual schedule.”
    “Which is?”
    “About six hours a night.”
    Jimmy blinked.  “That’s normal?”
    “It’s my normal,” said Vanessa.  “Now get going.”
    Jimmy tuned back to the super structure and walked inside and down the flight of metal steps before him.  The ship was huge and he hadn’t had a chance to get to know it all that well yet.  He felt tiny and insignificant amid the rest of the giant vessel.  
    Congratulations on your journey thus far.
    Jimmy stopped.  The voice.  It hadn’t left after all.
    Where did you go?
    Nowhere.  I’ve been with you all the time.  
    But you didn’t talk to me, thought Jimmy.
    Doing so would have distracted you.  And as you know, that might have proven deadly for you.  
    I guess.  But what is this all about?  Vanessa said that I’d find out once we got on our way but I’m still confused.
    You must sleep first.
    But I want to know now.
    For a moment, the voice didn’t respond and Jimmy felt sheepish for sounding so rude.  It had been a long night, though and he was tired of not knowing exactly what all this was about.
    Impatience is often the cause of death.  You must learn to keep your mind, body, and spirit disciplined so as to not rush or act with haste.
    Easier said than done, thought Jimmy.
    You will learn how.
    How?  From Vanessa?
    She will teach you a great many things.  But I will teach you even more.  Eventually, you will learn things that you have never dreamed possible.  But to reach that level, you must train always as if this is your last moment alive.
    I’m still confused, thought Jimmy.  Nothing anyone says seems to make any sense to me.
    All will be revealed in time.  For now, you should move.
    Jimmy opened his eyes, unaware that they’d even been closed.  “Whoa!”
    He jumped back, seeing the boy standing before him for the first time.  He was Asian with a mop of black hair and wore a sneer across his face.  Jimmy guessed he must have been a few years older than he was.
    Jimmy grinned.  “Sorry, I didn’t see you there.”
    The boy leaned closer and made a gesture as if he was sniffing the air around Jimmy.  Then he looked deep into Jimmy’s eyes.  “I do not like you.”
    “You don’t know me,” said Jimmy.  “I just got here.”
    “I do not need to know you,” said the boy.  “I see a spoiled little brat in front of me.  And right now he is blocking the path to the galley.  I am hungry.  And you are in my way.”
    Jimmy turned and moved so the boy could pass.  “Really sorry about that.  I was just going to bed.  I’ve been up for a long time.”
    “Why would I care?”
    “I’m just saying-“
    The boy held up his hand, silencing Jimmy.  “I do not care what you are doing.  I only care that you make sure you are not in my way.  If you cross my path, I will slice you open.”  His black eyes gleamed in the dull light.  “Do you understand me?”
    “Slice me open, yeah,” said Jimmy.  “I got it.”
    The boy glared at him and drew a finger across his throat.  
    Jimmy took a breath.  “Look, I said I was sorry.  You have a good breakfast and I’ll make sure I don’t make the mistake of bumping into you again.”
    “Make sure you don’t.”
    Jimmy watched him vanish down the hallway and let out a breath of air.  “Well, that was some kind of nice welcome.”
    He is dangerous.
    You don’t say, thought Jimmy.  And here I thought he was going to ask me to play poker with him after dinner.
    What is… poker?
    You