Billy squatted next his partner, his eyes on the barge.
”If you watch the exit, I’ll board from the water.”William removed removed his hat and boots. Stripping his shirt off he carefully piled most of his gear on the poncho. Setting his rifle and hat atop the pile Billy tied the poncho into a bag to make it easy for Vicky to carry. Billy gave her an appreciative nod and made his way to the river bank, tomahawk and knife in hand.
Slipping his tomahawk behind his belt, William quietly waded into the water. His eyes watched the water for out of place motion. Reaching the barge safely William pulled himself onto the deck, his eyes seeking movement. He shifted the knife to his left hand and drew his tomahawk scanning the exterior of the barge. The marksman's eyes fell on a bit of canvas tied over a missing panel.
Moving to the side of the missing panel William deftly sliced the rope holding the tarp in place. Carefully he slipped inside, crouching against the wall immediately. Billy waited letting his eyes adjust to the light inside the barge; Scanning the inside he found himself amid a cluster of cots. Creeping along one he examined the barge further; At the far end the marksmen saw what looked like a roughly made wooden cage. Inside it he saw a small cluster of figures huddling together.
The sound of flesh on flesh pulled William’s attention to the other end of the barge. There he saw a group gathered around a fire, and a single figure between him and them near the barge’s entrance. Moving towards the group Billy counted their number to confirm the intelligence the marksmen gathered enroute. As he approached Billy watched as one of the men slapped the woman again.
The marksman had his targets identified, twirling his tomahawk William straightened from his crouch and began trotting towards the fire. The man guarding the entrance turned towards the sound made by the trotting. Billy picked up speed as he passed the man, his left hand darting out. The knife drew first blood slicing through the guards side across his ribs. The man yelped and the others turned towards him.
A step after striking the guard William’s right arm snapped back before whipping forward releasing the tomahawk. The marksman's target caught the weapon in his chest. The man’s revolver slipped from his hand half drawn from the man’s holster. The woman at the fire scurried away from the fight. The man who had slapped her drew the spiked club he carried and moved to intercept their attacker.
William shifted the knife back to his dominant hand. Billy heard the sound of a gunshot from behind him, followed by the impact of a body on the ground. The man with the club glanced over the marksman’s shoulder where the body of his comrade landed. William didn't hesitate his blade flashing out to slash the distracted man’s throat, as the marksman continued past him. William gripped the haft of his tomahawk and pulled the weapon from where it rested.
Raising the weapon Billy put it through first one skull then the other; Eliminating the threat of the dead rising. Turning his eyes to the only other male still breathing, William studied the wounded man.
”Will he live?” The Lasthopian asked the woman. As she nodded Billy pointed the tomahawk at the duke.
”If you want to continue living drop the knife.”William turned away from the man he had pursued to the barge and smiled at the woman.
”Why don't you go free your friends?” He said gently, even as his tomahawk dripped gore.
“If you could find two of you to carry this one back to Arlington, I’d appreciate it.” He finished motioning to the duke.
The woman eyed the marksman cautiously before a glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes at the mention of her home. Retrieving the knife the Duke had dropped, she skirted around William and hurried to the cage door. Billy gave the duke a cold smile, as he pulled the gun belt off a corpse.
”Don't move, don't resist, and we’ll keep you alive as long as we can.” William moved back to the entrance sheathing his weapons, including his new revolver, and climbed up the ladder; Before he exited Billy stretched his empty hands above him before placing them where they can be seen. Pulling himself up and out Billy waved and then made a circular motion, giving Vicky the all clear. Dropping back inside the marksman leaned against the ladder, watching the women prepare to leave.
