Eiko

A Movie Length

Fantasy Action Tale

For Readers

13 and up.

Written by

Kenan Brack.

Lyme, New Hampshire

Copyright © 2011 Kenan Brack

All rights reserved.

Title page illustration:

Character © Kenan Brack

Image © René Robles

All rights reserved.

ISBN-13: 978-1-935655-45-9

ISBN-10: 1-935655-45-0

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011937268

Published by Aisle Seat Books, an imprint of

GrayBooks LLC

1 Main Street

Lyme, New Hampshire 03768

www.Tales2Film.com

www.AisleSeatBooks.com

Electronic Edition

About Tales2Film™ and Aisle Seat Books™

Read a good movie lately?

Every good movie starts with a script, and every good script tells a riveting story. Long before the actors are chosen and the filming starts, a writer sits down, crafts that story, and submits it for consideration by the producers, directors, and other creative talents in the film industry. It can take a long time. A script may spend years making the rounds before getting the elusive Hollywood green light. If it ever does. Some of the greatest movies ever written are ones that none of us will ever see on the screen.

Tales2Film finds the best of those not-yet-produced tales and brings them to you as Movie Length Tales™ just as the writer envisaged them. Each of the tales in this series has been converted by the script’s writer from the technical shorthand of screenplay format into the familiar prose format you see here, a process called novelization.

These little books are not novels, or even novellas. Think of them as written movies. Like the screenplays they come from, each is presented in real time, written in the present tense to allow you to see the movie’s scenes in your mind’s eye as if they were unfolding on a theater’s screen before you.

So. Here’s a movie. Take your favorite aisle seat and enjoy it.

And when it’s over, take a look at out Featured Previews in the back of this book. Your next Movie Length Tale™ is already here...

Now Showing:

Fantasy Action

Ages 13 and up

Theater lights dim.

Fade in:

Water, calm and serene, as insects sing their tune in the distance. A footstep disturbs the water, sending ripples through it.

More footsteps follow causing bigger ripples.

Over 100 ninja—both male and female—are running on its surface, some armed with bows, others with swords, spears or daggers. Every ninja has their face covered to disguise their identity.

Two males lead the ninja force. They are identical in height and build but they dress differently, one wearing a full demon mask and head covering, the other with only a mask over his mouth and a headband with two demon horns protruding. The one with the headband has a dragon-handled katana—a samurai sword—on his back.

>>

What if everything you knew was a lie? says a female voice.

>>

The ninja silently run into a forest. Some ninja leap into the trees and pass through the branches, but none miss a step.

>>

Then you’d know how I felt, the voice continues.

>>

The ninja pass through the trees and leap from branch to branch, covering great distances. The two leaders run on the ground silently but quickly.

>>

You would know…

>>

The two ninja stop. The one with the katana on his back signals the others to stop as well.

>>

…why this man should have died…

>>

The second leader crouches looking ahead.

>>

And this one should have lived.

>>

The two leaders creep forward until they reach an overhang that reveals…

>>

A small village of Eurasian influence. As the perspective sweeps through it’s obvious that this village exists not in a world of our own.

The village is bustling with activity. A blacksmith hammers a piece of metal on an anvil. A hunter with a stall has several skulls from mystical creatures. A butcher cuts the membrane of a dragon-like wing as a woman and her child wait patiently. Toward the village center, a spell-caster entertains onlookers with magic tricks.

>>

In the village a man and his family are sitting outside on the porch of their home. The man is in his early thirties with a large broad frame. His arms are massive and powerful. His unshaven face lends to his ruggedly handsome looks. Next to him is a beauty with long jet black hair and the milky white eyes of a blind person. Her kind face emits an angelic aura. She wears a red hakama—a divided skirt which resembles a wide pair of trousers—and a silver haori—a full-length robe-like jacket with long flowing sleeves. In her arms is a small child. Near to the man is an older girl about seven years old who runs around playfully. Both children resemble their mother, both with jet black hair.

>>

Outside the village the ninja with the katana on his back stands up. Standing next to him are four archers dressed like him with the exception of a half mask over their faces. On the other side of him is the other ninja leader. The archers have their bows nocked, ready to fire.

>>

This was the day that would change my life, continues the voice.

>>

The ninja with the katana on his back steps forward and looks out at the village. He then looks at the other leader. A smile shows in his eyes above the mask. The two men nod in silent agreement.

>>

The ninja with the katana on his back glances over at the lined up archers and nods his head. The archers aim forward. Their arrows twinkle, then burst into flames.

More archers appear with flaming arrows. The lead ninja draws his sword and points at the village.

Let it rain, he says with eagerness in his voice.

>>

On his porch in the village, the family man stands up, stretching his back as his wife bounces the small child on her lap, while following the older one with her head.

I wish you could see me, mama, the older says with a big smile on her face.

But I always see you, Ami, replies says the blind mother with her softest smile. My precious little ones. Ami…

Ami runs over to her, hugging her side. The mother rubs her head, causing Ami to smile.

And Eiko, she continues, enjoying the sound of Eiko’s coos as she touches her. Just because I don’t have sight doesn’t mean…

The blind mother looks up as something seems to have caught her attention.

Around her as though an illusion are images of fire, death and destruction.

… that I … cannot see, the blind mother continues, almost trance-like.

Ami looks at her oddly, sensing something wrong and tugging on her mother’s sleeves. Momma, what’s wrong?

The blind mother touches her husband’s arm. Her hand trembles. She is frightened.

Domon, she says while looking around in the air. There is something in the air, something ominous.

She and Domon both turn their heads.

Hundreds of flaming arrows descend from the sky.

>>

I was only a baby, says the voice. Too young to realize what was happening. Still innocent.

>>

An arrow flies directly toward the blind mother, but she unsheathes a knife from her long sleeve and cuts it before it can strike. Domon runs into the street and to his horror sees the village under attack.

Oh no, he mutters in horror.

MOMENTS LATER:

The village is in a state of panic as villagers flee in terror from the rampaging ninja. Blood flows as the ninja kill anything that moves. The buildings burn with a fire that threatens to consume all.

The katana-wielding ninja walks through the center of the village, with his sword drawn. A woman crosses his path and falls in front of him. He looks down at her, his eyes blazing with insanity and rage. The woman scrambles to her feet, desperate to run away but is quickly cut down by the ninja. He laughs manically.

Kill them all. Let nothing stand, he screams to anyone listening.

Villagers armed with makeshift weapons appear from every corner, converging on the lead ninja. He cuts them down with little effort.

More village warriors run out to engage the other ninja. Amongst them are the blacksmith, hunter, spell-caster and butcher. They fare better than the rest, utilizing their individual skills to kill any ninja in their path.

Domon stands at the other end of the village. In his hands is a small shaft with a bladed tip that extends to a full length spear.

The lead ninja sees him and seems to recognize him as his eyes narrow into slits. Domon notices him and his attention. Between them the ninja and the village defenders are fighting.

Domon breaks into a high speed dash covering a great distance while striking down any ninja careless enough to cross his path. The mere swing of his weapon blows them away.

The lead ninja matches Domon’s speed cutting through any villager in his way.

The two men clash causing sparks from their weapons; spear and katana locked against each other. Domon pushes the ninja back, then lunges forward swinging at him. The ninja blocks his strikes with great effort. Domon is the stronger one.

No mask can hide your stench, Takeshi! Domon growls.

I am Shirokage now, says the ninja with his eyes narrowed and focused. I have no use for that name.

Name or title, it doesn’t hide your cowardice.

Domon and Shirokage clash again. Domon responds, matching Shirokage’s intensity.

>>

Meanwhile, the other lead ninja lands in between the hunter and the butcher. They both