Shock Wave(7)

"We're all dying from thirst and the damnable heat, and you want sex?"

"For a famous highwayman, you're an idiot," Huggins said irritably. "We don't want to lay the little darlins. The idea is to cut them up and eat their tender flesh. We can save the likes of Bully Scaggs, his sailor boys and the soldiers for when we really gets hungry."



The first thought that struck Dorsett was that Huggins was making a disgusting joke, but the inspired evil that lurked in his eyes and the ghastly grin plainly demonstrated it was no play of words. The thought was so vile it filled Dorsett with horror and revulsion. But he was a consummate actor and gave an uncaring shrug.

"What's the hurry? We might be rescued by this time tomorrow."

"There won't be no ship or island on the horizon anytime soon." Huggins paused, his ugly face contorted with depravity. "You with us, highwayman?"

"I've got nothing to lose by throwing in with you, Jake," Dorsett said with a tight smile. "But the big blond woman is mine. Do what you will with the rest."

"I can see you've taken a likin' to her, but my boys and I share and share alike. I'll let you have first claim. After that, she's divided up."

"Fair enough," Dorsett said dryly. "When do we make our move?"

"One hour after dark. At my signal we attack the soldier boys and go for their muskets. Once we're armed we'll have no trouble with Scaggs and his crew."

"Since I've already established a place by the forward mast, I'll take care of the soldier guarding the women."

"You want to be first in line for supper, is that it?"

"Just hearing you talk about it," said Dorsett sardonically, "makes me hungry."



Dorsett returned to Betsy's side but said nothing to her about the terror about to be unleashed by the convicts. He knew Huggins and his men were observing his every move, making certain he was not making a furtive effort to warn the Gladiator's crew and the soldiers. His only opportunity would come with darkness, and he had to move before Huggins gave his signal to launch the horror. He lay as near to Betsy as the guard would allow and appeared to doze away the afternoon.

As soon as dusk covered the sea and the stars appeared, Dorsett left Betsy and snaked his way to within a few feet of First Officer Ramsey and hailed him in a hushed whisper.

"Ramsey, do not move or act as if you're listening to anyone."

"What is this?" Ramsey blurted under his breath. "What do you want?"

"Listen to me," Dorsett said softly. "Within the hour, the convicts, led by Jake Huggins, are going to attack the soldiers. If they are successful in killing them all, they will use their arms against you and your crew."

"Why should I believe the words of a common criminal?"

"You'll all be dead if you don't."



"I'll tell the captain," Ramsey said grudgingly.

"Just remind him it was Jess Dorsett who warned you."

Dorsett broke off and crawled back to Betsy. He removed his left boot, twisted off the sole and heel and removed a small knife with a four-inch blade. Then he sat back to wait.

A quarter-moon was beginning to rise over the horizon, giving the pitiful creatures on board the raft the look of ghostly wraiths, some of whom suddenly began rising to their feet and moving toward the prohibited area in the center.

"Kill the swine!" Huggins shouted, leaping forward and leading a surge of flesh toward the soldiers.

Half out of their minds with thirst the mass of prisoners unleashed their hatred for authority and made a rush toward the middle of the raft from all sides.

A volley of musket fire cut holes in their ranks, and the unexpected resistance stunned them momentarily.

Ramsey had passed on Dorsett's alarm to Scaggs and Sheppard. The infantrymen, muskets loaded and bayonets fixed, waited along with Scaggs and his crew, who had been armed with the soldiers'

sabers, the carpenter's hammers and hatchets, and any other weapon they could scrape up.

"Don't give 'em time to reload, boys!" Huggins roared. "Strike hard!"

The mass of maddened mutineers rushed forward again, met this time with thrusting bayonets and slashing sabers. Yet, nothing diminished their rage. They threw themselves against the cold steel, several of them grasping the sharpened blades in their bare hands. Desperate men grappled and sliced each other on a black sea under the eerie moonlight.

The soldiers and sailors fought furiously. Every inch of the raft was occupied by men fighting savagely to kill each other. The bodies piled up, entangling the feet of combatants. Blood flowed on the deck planking, making it difficult to stand if not impossible to rise after falling. In the darkness, now oblivious to their thirst and hunger, they blindly fought and slaughtered. The only sounds made by the combatants were the cries of the wounded and the moans of the dying.