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closer to the smaller boat’s stern. Tacking left and right, Matt steered the craft into a zigzag pattern. Though its target moved swiftly, the Mohawk’s weapons continued to fire in rapid succession. A heavy splash of displaced water soaked Michelle and the boat lurched dangerously as a shot struck the sea two feet from the starboard side.
    With eyes still stinging from the saltwater, she fought through blurred vision as she saw two smaller shapes emerge from the smoke drifting away from the Mohawk. Two boats, dwarfed by the enormous metal ship, bounced across the waves, speeding towards their own. Instincts in command, she pulled herself towards the rear-mounted machine gun, gripped the wet metallic handles and spun the weapon on its base towards their pursuers.
    The weight of the gun and the reckless crashing through the waves made it difficult to train the sight. Unsure how to operate it, Michelle moved her fingers towards what she assumed to be the trigger mechanism and fired several rounds into the distance. Falling far short of the target, she could only wait with dread until the swift boats chasing them entered range. Far outpacing the ship that launched them, the twin crafts steadily closed the distance.
    As they neared, she could see each carried five men, garbed in black clothing with smooth helmets, all well-armed. Positioning the heavy gun, Michelle hoped the range was close enough as she launched a steady volley of gunfire. Sweeping to either side of her aim, the two rugged inflatables easily avoided the measure, and continued to draw nearer.
    Over the din of the engine, and the crashing waves, she could hear Matt shouting, but his words were lost in the noise. The massive shots bombarding them from the Mohawk had ceased now that the two intercepting boats were in close pursuit. The immediate threat from the ship was removed, and he cut sharply towards the coast. Turning the machine gun to the right, Michelle again opened fire. The second barrage had come closer to her target, but had still failed to slow the advance.
    Wet strands of hair whipped at her face as she spared a seconds-long glance over her shoulder. Matt was steering the boat closer to shore and she could see an endless series of docks reaching out into the gulf. Even in the brief time of distraction, the lightweight crafts had drawn incredibly close. With blinding desperation, Michelle again engaged the gun in a wild slice across the water’s surface. Confusion gripped her briefly as she watched the nearest boat break high across the waves. The vessel turned bow over stern as its occupants were thrown without care into the churning waters. She offered a hurried sigh of relief before redirecting the weapon at the remaining inflatable.
    A sharp whistle of wind snapped through the air and she realized that the men giving chase were now within range to fire their own hand-held weapons. Pressing her body lower against the machine gun, Michelle watched several sparks flare and vanish as bullets struck the metal of the gun’s cradle. She set her jaw tight and leveled a responding volley that failed to hit the mark. Before she could adjust her aim, Matt again swung the boat sharply and she saw several abandoned boats of varying sizes fill the open spaces off either side of the boat. Steering them through the obstacles, he guided the craft seamlessly as the pursing inflatable struggled to follow.
    With her target slipping from view, Michelle scanned the area in hopes to determine Matt’s plan. Watercraft on all sides tugged on their moorings as the propeller-driven waves crashed along. Several of the vessels had capsized over time, while others stood proudly, boasting their survival amidst the wreckage. Closer in size to the immense ports of Havana, Michelle estimated over a hundred boats and ships now provided temporary cover.
    Far slower now than before, Matt allowed their own boat to coast gently, turning nearly soundlessly among the other crafts.