Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Zorro Productions. This is not intended to infringe upon any rights by Goodman/ Rosen Productions/ New world Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of John McCullay or anyone else. It is just to entertain other fans.
The moment the idea for this story came up, I heard the song Lady in Red from Chris DeBurgh and song of Elton John "the way you look tonight" on the radio. Mix these songs and I think Diego's and Victoria's feelings are expressed. Some may have read this story on my old website. Whereas I don't have this website anymore, I decided to store it here on to share my passion.
Thanks to my good American friends Nancy and Amy for editing and giving feed back on my stories.
-Z-
Another Masquerade
Following his footsteps
Totally impatient, the alcalde was sitting in his office, behind his desk.
"Where is that idiot now?" the alcalde said to himself.
"Mendoza!" he shouted to the closed door again. Annoyed, he stood up and walked over to the other side of his desk. He had been so thrilled about his moment of inspiration ten minutes ago, he wanted to get everything in motion and now this baffoon was not where he had to be.
Finally, Mendoza entered his office. "Mí alcalde, I have your lunch here, the best tamales in the territory!" Mendoza smiled amiably and a little apologetically at the same time. "Señorita Escalante had to bake some new tortillas. Oh, this is so delicious!"
"¡Silencio!" The alcalde raised his voice. "I didn't send for you to discuss food, sergeant!"
He waved toward his desk and ordered in a more friendly fashion, "now, put that down and listen!"
"Sí, mí alcalde," Mendoza answered with a little voice.
"Sergeant, why is it that I can't capture Zorro?" he asked softly.
It was quiet in the office.
De Soto looked sternly and curiously at the same time at the quiet sergeant. Then he shouted, "answer me, sergeant."
"But you told me to be silent," Mendoza replied boldly.
De Soto moved his head from the right side to the left, "Now, sergeant, why?"
"Uh, oh, don't know," the sergeant stammered, "maybe because we never know how and when he appears and what he has in mind for us."
"Precisely," the alcalde called out enthusiastically and secretely was proud that his sergeant had still some brains left.
"What do we know of him, Mendoza?" he inquired to remind his soldier and with this he was about to introduce his new plan.
"Well, eh, .. he rides a big black horse, carries a whip and sword and sometimes he uses some bombs or something like that." The sergeant tried to find out what his superior was up to this time. He felt troubles would come soon.
"What else, Mendoza?" De Soto walked to and fro down his office and grinned at his portrait of Machiavelli two times. He seemed to be very, very confident in himself. He definitely had a new plan.
"He is in love with señorita Escalante," Mendoza almost whispered hoping this time the beautiful tavern owner would not be a part of his plan.
"And …," the alcalde encouraged.
"Mendoza looked in the air hoping to remember something more. After a few seconds Mendoza gave up, "What else is there to know?"
"What else? What else?" the alcalde shouted angrily, "he wears a mask, Mendoza, you fool!"
"So?" Mendoza couldn't comprehend why that was so important.
The alcalde sighed heavily to calm his nerves. He slowly walked to Mendoza and put a hand on Mendoza's shoulder, "Well, forget about it, sergeant." The alcalde sighed deeply and decided to change his approach for his new plan. "How about a party, Mendoza?" he proposed friendly.
"Oh, mí alcalde, …" Mendoza was thrilled beyond words about this idea.
"Sí sergeant, I think everybody needs a pleasant time. The emissary Risendo had been too tough on these good people, don't you think?"
A big smile appeared on the sergeant's face. "Are you serious?" he asked a little uncertainly.
"Sí, sergeant." The alcalde had never been more serious in his entire life. "Why don't you hang these proclamations on the buildings around the plaza and in the taberna, whereafter you ask señorita Escalante to prepare this event."
Mendoza was really looking forward to this event and took the papers, on which the event was described.
"A masked ball!" he shouted out in surprise.
"Ah, sí, is something wrong with that?" the alcalde inquired disturbed. He should have known that a masked ball wouldn't suit these peasants.
"No, but I have never been to such a party," Mendoza admitted embarrassed.
"Sergeant," his superior said, trying to make him feel more at ease.
"Maybe this time we will get Zorro!" He grinned wickedly and a hyena sounding laugh escaped his throat. He noticed that his sergeant wanted to ask another question. "Now go and do your duty," he ordered.
"Eh, but mí alcalde …"
"Now, sergeant!" De Soto turned around to start eating his lunch.
Mendoza saluted and moved to the door, where he was stopped by the alcalde, "make sure that the food is good and the tavern is decorated in style!"
"Sí mí alcalde," Mendoza responded.
Shaking his head, De Soto watched his man leaving his office. Why did he have to be in this dusty, godforsaken place? And there was that elusive and invincible outlaw with an idiotic name, a man called Zorro? How long did he have to stay away from his beloved Madrid? How in the world would he be able to capture this mysterious man? He couldn't trust his men to do the job for him. They were so simple. He should drill them more often. Nonetheless, this plan had to work!
"Yes, Machiavelli, this time we won't lose our head!" A wicked hyena's laugh filled the room again as the alcalde laughed out loud at the thought of seeing this thorn in his side hanging on his gallows.
-Z-
There was a time
I was everything and nothing all in one
When you found me
I was feeling like a cloud across the sun
In the meantime, Mendoza had called out loud for Sepulveda to help him hang up the proclamations. "Sepulveda come over here and help me with these". A few people watched the two men closely as the officials were having their interaction. One of them was Victoria, who was sweeping her veranda at the front of her Mendoza and Sepulveda stopped to hang one of the posters at the first public spot, she stopped cleaning and raised an eyebrow, while wondering what the alcalde was up to this time. Her frown turned into a warm smile when Diego entered her view. "Hola, Diego, what brings you to town?"
"Hola, Victoria," he greeted her, happy to see her, "how about your lemonade?" He looked playful, when he approached.
She shook her head and looked teasingly back, "I thought some señorita made you come to town."
He blushed slightly and avoided her eyes, "Who would that be?"
Then his eyes pierced into hers, which made her feel a little uneasy, making her forget about following Mendoza and Sepulveda hanging up the announcement of the alcalde on other buildings. "I … I don't know, I just happen to see you in the pueblo a lot, lately." She tried to sound confident, making Diego feel a little uneasy under her stare as he stalled giving her an answer. Unfortunately, it was obvious that Victoria wasn't about to be misled today, however Diego was saved from answering by the interruption of Mendoza pinning up a copy of the announcement of the masked ball next to the door of the taberna. Both friends hadn't seen the good sergeant passing by whereas the obviously had been too obserbed in their conversation.
"What is the alcalde up to now!" Victoria raised her voice angrily at Mendoza and walked over to see the anouncement to for herself.
"Nothing, señorita Escalante," Mendoza answered, a little shocked by her firm approach.
"A masked ball, sergeant?" Diego interrupted. "What is the occasion?" The young cabellero was curious to know why the alcalde suddenly wanted to have a ball.
With a big smile, the stout soldier answered, 'the alcalde wanted a time for relaxation for the people de Los Angeles."
Diego looked pleased to hear it, but his good mood disappeared at the rest of the sergeant's response.
"Since Risendo had caused such stress here, the alcalde wants to cheer everybody up."
"Since when does the alcalde care about us?" Victoria remarked defensively. At the same moment she laid her hand on Diego's upper arm.
"Let me get your lemonade, Diego," she addressed him heartily forgetting to read the announcement by Mendoza's comments.
Diego looked up, getting out of his thoughts and responded absently that he would follow her.
Mendoza regretted reminding the young caballero of his twin brother whom nobody knew. Risendo was an enemy, his enemy; he almost faced death by the evil man's hand. On the other hand, Mendoza really felt sorry for don Diego and wanted to make it up with him. If only he knew how.
The good sergeant sighed deeply and let the corporal entering the taberna before he followed the friends to the bar. Sepulveda had immeditely followed the sergeant's orders by hanging another paper in the front of the taberna, near the counter. His superior waited for him to finish it to announce the event verbally. Not everybody was able to read, but since every citizen was invited, everybody needed to know what was going to happen.
When Victoria stood on the other side of the bar she quickly picked up a glass and the pitcher. After handing the glass to her dear friend, whom had been too preoccupied with observing Sepulvada, took the glass even without he was able to read the first words Diego started reading the announcement aloud, so every illiterate person would get the news and he would be sure of what the alcalde was having in mind. While reading, inwardly some bells were ringing. Victoria is right. What does the alcalde have in mind for Zorro this time? He had never given a ball before.
ANNOUNCEMENT
MASKED BALL
To every citizen of pueblo de Los Angeles,
Everybody is invited to the Masked Ball
Saturday next week
At 8 o'clock in señorita Escalante's taberna
This event will take three evenings.
Dress code is a costume,
no one is allowed to enter in his own clothes
-Z-