The Wall
1 September 1998
by Jason Postma

Jinjiro rode slumped in the saddle, tired from the long miles between the Hidden forest and their destination.

They had been on the road for the better part of a week, and Jinjiro was remembering all the reasons he didn't like riding. Marako, of course, never liked to get off her horse. For the sake of his companions, and especially Marako, Jinjiro never complained about how his horse seemed to seek out the steps that would most discomfort her rider. He wondered if the horse resented its service to him. It was a Crane mare, used to the fine stables of the Kakita lands. Perhaps she did not enjoy riding out in the wilderness, with no oats waiting for it at the end of the road. Perhaps she was scared of Motoko. Jinjiro grinned at the thought.

He was shaken from his thoughts by Naoki's sudden exclamation.

"There's the wall. Kaiu Kabe–the strongest structure ever built."

Jinjiro raised his eyes to see what the commotion was about. He had heard Naoki speak of the wall often, and the stories about it. He had not thought much of them. Everyone knew that the wall protected Rokugan, but Jinjiro had never thought it would be impressive. The walls in Crane lands were impressive for what they protected, not in and of themselves.

When he first saw the Kaiu wall that changed. The wall was massive, enormous, Jinjiro ran out of ways to say just how big it was. He felt a sudden urge to touch the dark stones, to prove to himself that it was real. It was not beautiful. With an inward shudder, Jinjiro reflected on what made such a wall necessary. What were the Shadowlands really like? He had heard few stories from Naoki, who would only say how terrible they were. He remembered how Naoki had warned Ozaki-san over and over again that the Shadowlands were no place for the untrained and alone. Looking on the wall, what Naoki had left unsaid suddenly spoke volumes.

And yet, Jinjiro realized he didn't feel fear for what lurked behind the wall. A form of respect for the powers there, perhaps a little awe. No, what he truly feared he saw in his dreams nearly every night. No wall would protect him from that.