Chapter 2
"Sai, but you were invincible. All the Castle games you played, you won. No one canc laim such a record. You were greater."
"Hikaru," Sai spoke softly, " He was a greater player in his best. In fact, when he was ill with the final illness, I played him several times, taking black and 2 stones. I lost all of the games but 1, which was never to be completed." Sai thought of the unfinished board.
"But out of respect, you let him win?" Hikaru asked.
"No. Nor did I allow Shuwa my teacher to win. Jowa senei beat me fairly in all cases. He saw and deflected my attacks."
Hikaru looked at his friend in wonder. There was a player better than Sai? This could not be.
Sai saw the look of wonder. "Yes, Hikaru, I have striven for the Hand Of God, and there have been players stronger than I whom have all failed."
Sai sighed, "Maybe it is unacheivable...."
This also surprised Hikaru, to hear Sai say that the Hand Of God may not be acheivable.
"Sai, but it can...can't it?...."
"It is, Hikaru. I was still musing about the players of that era." Sai smiled again.
"Outside of Jowa sensei and Shuwa sensei, who was toughest for you?"
"Ota Yuzo. For some reason I had difficulties with him, which Shuwa did not, and Jowa would not."
"Do you have good memories of your matches with Jowa?"
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"Sai, but you were invincible. All the Castle games you played, you won. No one canc laim such a record. You were greater."
"Hikaru," Sai spoke softly, " He was a greater player in his best. In fact, when he was ill with the final illness, I played him several times, taking black and 2 stones. I lost all of the games but 1, which was never to be completed." Sai thought of the unfinished board.
"But out of respect, you let him win?" Hikaru asked.
"No. Nor did I allow Shuwa my teacher to win. Jowa senei beat me fairly in all cases. He saw and deflected my attacks."
Hikaru looked at his friend in wonder. There was a player better than Sai? This could not be.
Sai saw the look of wonder. "Yes, Hikaru, I have striven for the Hand Of God, and there have been players stronger than I whom have all failed."
Sai sighed, "Maybe it is unacheivable...."
This also surprised Hikaru, to hear Sai say that the Hand Of God may not be acheivable.
"Sai, but it can...can't it?...."
"It is, Hikaru. I was still musing about the players of that era." Sai smiled again.
"Outside of Jowa sensei and Shuwa sensei, who was toughest for you?"
"Ota Yuzo. For some reason I had difficulties with him, which Shuwa did not, and Jowa would not."
"Do you have good memories of your matches with Jowa?"
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