Chapter 28

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​⁠If the swordsman casts aside two thoughts, life and death, nothing can defeat his mind.

That was the credo of the formidable warrior-samurai Bokuden, who lived during the early seventeenth century. Focus on Noda, I told myself, not on staying alive. What we had to do was overcome him and the money of Japan by the power of mind. By beating him at his own game. That was the only way we could win.

As I