Cooper stuck his head around the corner and peered out at the armored foredeck. He spotted Moses sitting in silence on the gun mount staring at the fire as it consumed the ship. He was about to step back when he heard the distinct clicking sound of a pistol's hammer being pulled back.
"You should have looked behind you before taking a look at Moses," taunted Taylor, jamming the barrel of his pistol against the back of Cooper's head. "I guess you didn't hear me coming up behind you over the noise of the fire?"
Cooper raised his hands. "No, I most certainly did not."
"Move outside, and no sudden moves or I'll blow your brains out."
Cooper walked out until he was standing in the center of the deck.
Moses jumped up and ran toward him waving his Bible in the air. "I knew the colonel would get you. Sinners like you always get what's coming to them."
"Be a good Yankee and hold still while I shoot you," taunted Taylor.
"That's not very sporting of you," said Cooper, playing for time. "Say, Colonel, where is the rest of your gang?"
"Since I ain't heard from or seen any of my people, I'll have to assume you're to blame."
"I can't lie, I got two. Whoever you sent aft is most likely dead as well. Sergeant Hawkins probably ripped them from limb to limb before they peed their pants and begged him to finish them."
Taylor's right eye began to twitch. "I've heard enough. I'm gonna enjoy eating your liver later tonight."
A shot from behind Taylor rang out. Both men instinctively ducked and turned their head to see who had fired the shot.
Cooper saw Hawkins drop his smoking pistol before falling to the deck, unconscious. With anger burning in his heart. Cooper dropped his hands and grabbed hold of Taylor's extended hand. He dug his fingers into the man's arm and twisted as hard as he could.
Taylor cried out in pain and released the pistol from his hand.
Cooper reached for the dropped gun only to see Moses run over and kick it over the side of the ship.
"The wicked shall not be given an advantage over the righteous," said Moses.
Cooper ignored the boy and yanked Taylor closer to him. He let go of him with his right hand, balled it up his fist, and sent it flying into his opponent's face. His blow knocked out a tooth, which flew across the deck.
Taylor may have been hurt but was far from a spent man. He lashed out with his right foot and struck Cooper in the knee, dislocating it.
Blinding pain shot through Cooper's left leg. He moaned in agony as he tumbled onto the metal plating. Cooper still held Taylor's arm firm in his left hand. He gritted his teeth and pulled hard on his enemy's arm, trying to pull him off his feet.
"Your knife, give it to me!" screamed Taylor at Moses.
The boy nodded, drew his blade, and ran to Taylor's side. He bent down to hand over the knife.
With his one good leg, Cooper swept Moses' feet out from underneath him. The youth cried out in surprise and fell back onto the deck, hitting his head on the metal plating. He was knocked out cold; the knife still lay in his hand.
Both men saw the blade and struggled to escape the other's grasp so they could reach the knife. Exhausted and hurt the two men knew the coming few seconds would seal their fate. Cooper being slightly taller than his opponent stuck his arm out and felt his fingers run over the metal blade. With what little strength he had left, he pushed Taylor back with his left hand and took hold of the knife. Cooper swung about at the hips and brought himself face-to-face with Taylor. Without hesitation, he jammed the knife deep into his adversary's stomach and twisted the blade around.
Taylor let out a grunt as the knife cut deep inside him. He let go of Cooper and wrapped his hands around the bloody blade stuck in his guts.
"No, you're not going to die that easy," said Cooper as he grabbed ahold of Taylor's shirt collar and started to drag him back to the open door leading to the ship's interior. Cooper was in agony. Every step he took sent flashes of pain through his body.
The searing heat from the fire radiated out through the entrance. With his last bit of energy, Cooper threw Taylor inside the smoke-filled stairway. His body landed in a heap.
Taylor looked up at Cooper. "For the love of God. Show some mercy. Please don't leave me here to die like this."
"Don't talk to me about mercy," replied Cooper. "Roast in hell, you son of a bitch." With that, Cooper turned around and hobbled over to Moses. He thought about leaving him to the same fate as Taylor, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Cooper bent down, took hold of an outstretched arm, and dragged Moses to the side of the ship. He looked down and saw three canoes tied together. Cooper rolled Moses over the side. His unconscious body fell into one of the boats.
"Did I miss something?" said Hawkins as he opened his eyes and tried to sit up.
"Hold on," said Cooper. He walked to his friend's side, dragging his left leg behind him.
"You look like crap, Captain."
Cooper chuckled. "You don't look much better."
"I think my collarbone is broken and one of them bastards shot off my earlobe," said Hawkins.
"I think my left knee has been dislocated and I ache everywhere," replied Cooper.
"When you consider the alternative, we ain't that badly off, sir."
"Come on, Sergeant, there are three canoes tied to the side of the ship. Before the flames reach us, let's use them and get ourselves to shore."
With their arms wrapped around the other for support, the two battered soldiers limped off the side of the General Bragg and lowered themselves into the nearest canoe. With smoke covering the ship, they pushed off and rowed toward shore, pulling the boat with Moses in it with them.
"Hello, Captain Cooper, over here," yelled out someone on the riverbank.
Cooper lifted his aching head and smiled when he spotted Joe standing there with a group of riders. He felt the fear ebb from his body. It was over. The monsters were dead and for the first time in days they were safe.
27