by Michael Aye
Cooper quickly stepped between the men, stabbing one of them in the kidney as he did so. “Ahhh!,” the man cried, and then cursed as dark blood poured from his side. The small sword was nearly jerked from Cooper’s hand as the man fell.
Cooper recovered just as the other foe wheeled around, swinging his boarding pike. Cooper blocked it with his blade but the blow numbed his arm. He took advantage of the foe’s open guard and struck, driving the small sword into the man just below the breast bone. Dropping the boarding pike, the man grabbed Cooper’s arm and pulled him to the deck as he fell. The man’s eyes were wide open as he died. Cooper tried to rise but fell, slipping in the blood of the two men he’d dispatched. Scrambling to his feet, Bridges called to him, “Hurry up, Captain, no time to rest.”
Glancing about, Cooper felt sickened and apprehensive. He’d never seen such savagery. He had fought and killed but never on such a magnitude. Men continued to fight, to curse, to cry in pain and to die. Was it worth all this? He then thought of Maddy. Maddy and her mother, he’d fight to the death to keep these rogues from having their way with them.
Mac was still up, he could see him and he spied Diamond with Spurlock close at hand. They were mates. They would sail together, party together and if need be, die together. Cooper watched as a man pulled his pistol to fire at Banty, but Robinson brought his cutlass down with all his might, severing the arm. The hand still gripped the pistol handle as it fell.
Moree and Johnson were being pushed back by a group of Cobra’s men when McKemie joined in, and wielding his cutlass cut through the men from the side. Where’s Quang, Cooper thought, and then remembered he was the women’s last defender. He’ll guard the hatch leading down to the sick berth. Anybody trying to go through the hatch would face Quang’s blade and pistols first.
The battle continued to rage. How long now? It felt like hours. Overhead, a swivel banged. Cooper realized it had been silent for some time. Were they winning? It was push forward and then forced back. Cobra’s crew might be blackhearts, but they were fighters, every last one of them. But, so were the Raven’s men. There was no give in them.
The air reeked with the foul stench of blood, body waste as men’s bowels were loosened as they were killed, the smell of gunpowder as smoke from the swivels drifted down; the smell of death. The blades were now caked and darkened with blood. A man fell dead, almost knocking Cooper down. His or Cobra’s…he didn’t know. He was still off balance when he was faced by a larger man, taller than Cooper by several inches. His bald head was bleeding where it had been cut numerous times. The man’s earring seemed to hang askew when Cooper realized the ear was partially severed. Was this the ship’s captain? His eyebrows were thick and matched his coarse black beard. He had wild-looking eyes as he rushed Cooper.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The Cobra’s deck shook and vibrated. Where did that come from? The boom made the man pause. A snarl creased his face. “There goes your ship,” he spat forth. Had it really? Cooper didn’t know but now he was angry…a controlled anger.
Before him was the one who’d feel it. Not Sir Lawrence, he was dead. Not D’Arcy, he was dead. Phillip was hurt financially and his day might still come, but before him was the enemy. The man who had caused Maddy to be taken; and the man who’d pleasure himself with Maddy if he was not stopped. But he would stop him. This man would feel the wrath of Cooper Cain. Cooper had defended himself until now. He had counterattacked. But now, he attacked; his sword was quicker than the eye could follow. He lunged, he parried and then he thrust again. He cut his enemy’s face, he nicked his arm, he sliced down on a shoulder and when the man rushed he parried, ducked and cut down on the man’s unprotected back as he stumbled forward.
The man wheeled around and fear took him as he faced Cooper. Never had he faced a man so quick; a man who brought the battle to him and smiled as he did so. He did not back away as the others had. The rogue’s eyes were still glaring; but now they glared at the face of death. This man meant to kill him. Why had he chosen such a life? Roaring, the man charged. If he had to die, he’d take his tormentor with him. He rushed and swung with all his might. Surely, he’d kill this devil but he missed. Where was he? He’d never missed before. His gut hurt, it burned, and it burned like fire. Looking down, he saw the hilt of a sword sticking out from his coat. He pulled on it, the pain, the burning. Smoke…did he smell smoke. Slumping to his knees he continued to pull the sword from his body. The smoke grew stronger. He coughed and blood came from his mouth. Fire…he could feel the heat. Was this hell? It couldn’t be, he wasn’t dead yet, or was he. The blade was free now. He tried to rise. He had to get away from the smoke and the fire.
Someone took the blade from him. He looked up, “So you’re the devil, you scar-faced imp.” Falling forward then, he died. No more pain…just death.
CHAPTER FORTY TWO
The smoke was getting thicker and the flames rose with an increasing heat. Turning, Cooper realized his path back to Raven was blocked by the burning inferno. He nearly panicked, recalling the stories he’d heard from Captain Taylor and others about ships burning at sea.
“Captain…Captain!” He could see several of Raven’s crew rushing toward the Cobra’s bow. Was it clearer forward? Cooper thought so.
Rushing forward, he realized it was clearer and he could breathe better. The flames were mostly amidships and back. Mac was nowhere to be seen. Spurlock and Diamond were there helping the wounded men from Raven cross over to their ship.
“Where’s Mac,” Cooper yelled.
“He was aft, Captain.” This spoken by McKemie. “We better be getting across, Captain. If the wind changes, Raven will be in danger.”
“Go ahead,” Cooper ordered. “I’m going to find Mac.”
“I’ll come along,” Moree volunteered. “If he’s down, it may take two of us.”
The two men crossed the deck and found several of Raven’s men coming their way. Giving quick instructions, Cooper and Moree went further aft but had to stop as the flames were gaining and the smoke more dense.
“Think he’s below?” Cooper asked.
“I wouldn’t be below deck on a burning ship if I could help it,” Moree replied.
Coughing, eyes burning, and skin starting to feel painfully hot, they had to turn away.
“Where is he?” Cooper shouted, trying to be heard above the roaring inferno.
Shaking his head, Moree gasped, “Don’t know, but if he’s down there, he’s dead.” Barely able to see, the two made their way back to the Cobra’s bow.
“Hurry, Captain,” someone shouted from the Raven. All of Raven’s crew had crossed over; the grappling lines had either been burned or snapped as the tension grew. The two ships were drifting apart. Moree took a few steps back to gather speed. He ran, leaped over the side and landed in a heap on Raven’s deck. Seeing Moree land on deck, Cooper took one more look around for his friend, his heart sinking.
“Hurry, Coop.” Recognizing the voice, Cooper could see Mac already aboard Raven. Backing up to get a running start, Cooper ran as hard as he could, leaping when he got to the rail; but something was wrong. Something came down on him, something heavy…heavy and hot, pushing him down past Raven’s side, down into the water below; deeper and deeper. He struggled but couldn’t get loose. Blackness, the abyss. Somewhere his soul lingered between darkness and light. The darkness seemed to fade as the light grew stronger and brighter. He could feel his body being lifted but he couldn’t speak. He could see forms and shadows, but no clear faces. Was he dead?
***
His head hurt, he hurt all over. Looking around, Cooper could tell he was aboard a ship, but not his ship, not his cabin. He was hungry. The sounds came to him, of a ship at sea. Voices, opening his eyes wider made his head hurt more. He closed them again. He heard a soothing voice, felt a soft, cool hand and then blackness again.
***
“Ahhh!” The cool hand again, and the soft voice. “Shh now. Take it easy.” The light was bright, very bright. It hurt
his face. He tried to rise but was pushed back down. He felt a rocking sensation, but not from the sea. Was he being carried? God, he felt sick. He retched. The movement stopped. He retched again, an awful sickening taste. The darkness then came again.
***
Cooper opened his eyes. The sun’s rays filtered through the slats in the shutters. His head didn’t hurt, but his stomach did. He was hungry, very hungry. Where was he? In someone’s bedroom, that was obvious. The last thing he remembered was a burning ship and his jumping. He heard a door open and looked around. The face of an angel looked back at him.
“You decided to join the living again, I see.” It was Maddy. She walked over and placed her hand, that cool, soft hand, on his head. “The fever is gone.”
“I remember your hand,” he said.
Maddy smiled and leaning over kissed him on the cheek. “If you’d died, I would have killed you,” she swore.
Now that makes a lot of damn sense, Cooper thought. But that’s Maddy.
“Welcome back, stranger,” Faith said. “You had us all worried, you know.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
“Coop, are you awake?” It was Mac. “So it seems. You had us worried.”
Beau Cannington walked in the room then. “That’s enough. Let me see to our patient. Time enough for talking later.”
Everyone left but Maddy, who took a seat in a rocking chair. Beau looked at her and she glared back. A look that said I’m not going anywhere.
Doctor Cannington examined Cooper, smiling as he finished. “I wouldn’t have bet a dollar against a hundred that you’d pull through, Cooper.”
“What happened?” Cooper asked.
“The foremast fell as you jumped. Spurlock thought it’d been hit by a ball and then the fire. When all the supporting stays and riggings caught fire and burned into, down it came, right on top of you.”
“How did I get out?”
“Quang jumped in after you. He grabbed up a rope and dove in. Mac jumped right after him. They grabbed you to keep you from sinking lower and then they held on until several men hauled you out, pulling on the rope. We thought you’d all drowned for a minute. You swallowed a lot of sea water.”
“I remember being sick.”
“All over me,” Maddy told Cooper.
“Sorry,” Cooper said.
“Would you like a little broth?” Cannington asked.
“I’d like a cow,” Cooper replied with a smile. “Where’s Quang? In Savannah?”
“Yes, they are in Savannah, we will send for them. The entire crew is anxious to see you.” Cooper nodded. “Send in the broth,” he said. “Send Mac in too, please.”
Cannington shook his head but added, “Just for a few minutes.”
“I’ll keep it short,” Maddy volunteered.
Mac came in with the broth and a cloth so none would spill on the bed linens. Maddy came over and fed Cooper one spoon at a time.
“Beau says if it was not for you and Quang, I’d be dead.”
“Mostly Quang,” Mac replied modestly.
“What caused the fire?” Cooper managed to ask between spoons of broth.
“Cobra’s gunners were firing on us and one of our swivels fired down on them. I think it must have hit a charge of powder. There was an explosion and then the fire. We were lucky it didn’t set Raven ablaze as well.”
“Did we get back in time for James’ wedding?” Cooper asked.
Maddy paused, holding the spoon in mid air, “The wedding was two weeks ago, Cooper. You have been out for a long time, my love.”
Cooper’s mouth fell open, “Two weeks ago.”
“Yes, you sure ruined my chance at a double wedding, you rogue.” Maddy shoved the last spoon of broth in Cooper’s mouth as she said this.
Swallowing hard, Cooper looked at Mac and asked, “Are the men on board the ship or shore?” The way Maddy froze and turned pale, Cooper knew something was wrong. “What is it, Mac?”
“Cobra fired too many rounds into Raven before she caught on fire. Johannes had the pumps rigged and going even before we cast off from Cobra. But it was no use. Had it not been for Jacob seeing the smoke and coming along, we’d have been in longboats.”
“I remember waking up on another ship. It was all a haze, but I knew it was not the Raven. How did the crew react to being rescued by a British warship?”
“At first, they were just glad to be aboard something that wasn’t in danger of sinking. After that, I think the smell of the gallows crept in on a few. But Maddy and her mom set everyone at ease.”
“Did anyone on the Cobra survive?”
“I truly don’t know. I saw a few run below and others jumped over the side, but we didn’t pick up anyone nor did anybody cross over with us. When you finished off their captain, the fight was over. I will never forget the big Cobra figurehead, it was eerie. The Cobra was from Cobretta, which was the captain’s name. Maddy’s brother, Jacob, told us he’d been able to discover this prior to departing Antigua.” Seeing Cooper’s eyes grow heavy, Mac stood up, “I’ll talk to you soon. Captain Taylor will visit you tomorrow.”
Putting the bowl on a side table, Maddy sat on the bed beside Cooper. She leaned in and gave him a passionate kiss. “I was worried to death about you, Sir Pirate.”
Cooper reached out to embrace Maddy and realized he didn’t have a shirt on. “I don’t seem to be fully dressed.”
“You’re not dressed at all,” she said.
Reaching his hands under the cover, he gasped, “Maddy! I’m naked.”
“I know, you had bandages on you, silly. You were burned, cut, and bruised. You had to be bandaged up, but you are all healed up now.”
“How do you know?” Cooper asked.
“How do you think? I looked! Maybe, I need to take another peak,” she said, pulling at the covers. Cooper quickly grabbed them and pulled them to his chest. “Hush, Cooper, did I whine when you looked at me? Far longer than necessary, I might add.”
“I…I gave you my coat.”
“Only after you heard people coming. You got a good long look so don’t try denying it, Cooper Cain.”
Cooper pulled Maddy to him and this time it was he who gave her the passionate kiss.
EPILOGUE
The carriage bounced, heaving Cooper into his former captain and friend, Eli Taylor. David Gill, holding the reins loosely between nimble fingers, clucked to the horse, Lucy, as he glanced back at his passengers. Cooper still looked pale. It had been six weeks since he returned home in a British ship.
The sight of a war ship sailing up the Savannah River had created a stir. It had been several years since England and the United States had been at war, but everywhere you turned, it seemed like politicians were calling for another war. Something about sailor’s rights among other things. Being a landsman, he did not understand all that the politicians were arguing about.
Tugging the reins to the left a bit, David tried to miss most of another hole. Still a bit of water splashed out. All the holes were full of water from the rain last night, but the road was not that muddy. Glancing back again, thinking that he should have called out a warning, David saw his passengers hadn’t even noticed, wrapped up in conversation as they were.
Cooper had been brought home more dead than alive. Had it not been for Doctor Cannington and Maddy, he probably would have died. Just about the time it seemed Cooper was ready to be up and about, he had a relapse. He ran fever, coughed up foul-smelling stuff and even some blood. Doctor Cannington had said it was from a contagion from the sea water in Cooper’s lungs that caused the ill humors. Cakes of brimstone were burned to fumigate the bedroom, leaving an odor, not unlike rotten eggs. A tea made from stripping the bark off of willow tree branches was made and this seemed to help with the fever. The cough was controlled by using a blackberry wine mixed with a spoon of opium. The bedrails and bedside table was washed with vinegar. Doctor Cannington, with the help of Maddy and Faith, did everything he
could do to keep mortification at bay.
Finally, Cooper started to recover. Faith took passage on one of Taylor’s company ships. Maddy flatly refused to go. A promise was made that once Cooper recovered, she’d live with her brother, James, and his new wife, Josie. The house would be crowded with Josie’s sister, Jessie already living there. But, the two girls quickly became friends.
***
Cooper felt the sun on his face and other than the potholes; the carriage ride was a blessing. He’d been cooped up in the farmhouse too long. He had come to love the openness one felt being at sea. His visitors had been few. Out of fear, mostly, of his illness. Therefore, when Doctor Cannington agreed to let him take a short ride with Eli Taylor, Cooper was elated.
The first part of the ride was filled with small talk. They talked about the weather, crops, and improvements to Eli and Debbie’s place as well as Cooper’s place.
Cooper finally found the courage to speak about the Raven. “Eli, I’m sorry I lost the Raven. She was a good ship. After the refit, she was perfect. I don’t know what I can do to repay you, but I will.” Taylor tried to hush his friend, but the floodgates were open. “If we hadn’t raided Culebra, she’d probably still be afloat.”
“If you hadn’t raided Culebra, Maddy and Faith would probably both be dead or worse. Don’t fault yourself, Coop, you took the right action. The same action I would have taken. We play a dangerous game, my friend. You have a talent for leadership. I recognized it the first time we met. Besides, fate deals us a strange hand at times. Had we not met the Anthony’s on the road, there would not have been the need to attempt a rescue. You may have lost the Raven to a superior ship, I might add, but you took the ship. You have become not only a leader but a captain worthy of the title. The story of the battle will be told and retold again and again. Men will sign on because of it.” When Eli finished his sentence, there was a lengthy pause.