Phantom
Don Alejandro, Diego and Bernardo are returning from Monterey to Los Angeles. With no more secrets between them, their relations should be perfect, but they are not. To add fuel to the fire, their fourth companion draws too much unwanted attention.
The story is based on Walt Disney Zorro. The plot is set between the episodes "Amnesty for Zorro" and "The Runaways".
All characters, including Phantom, belong to Disney.
I hesitated before publishing this story - the first one I have written after a few years of silence. However, it is 60th anniversary of Walt Disney show, as the first episode was aired on 10th of October 1957. It is my small way to celebrate it.
I. From Monterey to San Luis Obispo
Alejandro de la Vega sighed with content, seeing that his and Diego's luggage was already loaded at the carriage. He couldn't wait to leave Monterey and start the journey back to the hacienda. True, it was good to make an excursion from time to time, but, just as the good Corporal Reyes, he also liked it better in Los Angeles.
He took his place in the carriage and watched with amusement how Diego made himself comfortable on his seat: correcting pillows, wrapping the dust cloth around his legs, searching for a proper book… It took so long, that if Alejandro hadn't known that it was part of Diego's play, he would certainly have gotten irritated so far.
I should act irritated, he recalled himself.
"For Heaven's Sake, Diego, what else do you need, until we will be able to finally set off?" he asked with a tired sigh. "An additional blanket? Or perhaps an umbrella?..."
"I knew I forgot about something!" exclaimed Diego, signing Bernardo to search for an umbrella among the trunks loaded at the rear part of the carriage. Simultaneously, he sent Alejandro a hurt glance saying 'I'm only doing my job!'
I'm only trying to help! wanted to defend Alejandro, but of course he couldn't say it aloud. Instead, he only sunk onto his seat and waited with growing impatience till Diego finished nesting himself and Bernardo took the reins, urging the horses to ride out of Monterey.
And then, for one small second, the sulked expression disappeared from Diego's face, giving place to disappointed longing, when he involuntarily looked back for the one last time.
All the goodbyes were made earlier, including the ones with the Verdugo family, so no one was expected to farewell them this morning on the plaza. However, Diego still hoped… He hoped that she would come. That Anna Maria would guess, understand, whatever, and that she would come to stop him… realized Alejandro and looked at his son with compassion.
Yet Diego was already engrossed in the lecture of his book.
Alejandro sat in silence, watching how the last buildings of Monterey disappeared behind their backs. The gardens and orchards gave place to the rocky hills and bushes and finally around them was no other trace of human activity except the tract of the road.
Diego was still reading. Alejandro watched him for a while, waiting for him to close the book and start the conversation, but Diego only turned one page after another. Not that Alejandro expected him to be cheerful and serene, so soon after all that happened in Monterey, but… that silence was becoming unbearable.
Finally, he cleared his throat and said, trying to sound casual: "We are out of town. You can leave this book."
"Hmm?..." Diego raised his eyes with absent expression. "No, I'm enjoying it, really. Besides, I do not feel like riding."
I wasn't suggesting that you should ride. I was thinking that we could talk, thought Alejandro, but didn't voice it.
He was trying to be very cautious and caring around Diego now. Very… lenient.
After all, Diego was going through a heavy time now. He fell in love with the daughter of Gregorio Verdugo – he fell in love so badly, that he was ready to take off Zorro's mask for her. The governor's offer of amnesty was just in time. He could unmask, marry the girl and live happily ever after, with Zorro being no more than a fading memory from his past.
Only that Alejandro prevented him from taking the offer of amnesty. He said he did it for the people of California, who put their hopes in Zorro. He thought he was doing it also for Diego, convinced that his son couldn't be happy after not being able to put the black mask on again. Perhaps he was doing it also for himself.
It was not that Alejandro was feeling guilty. He was only feeling responsible.
All right. He was feeling guilty, just a bit. All these reasons for making Diego decline the amnesty, the reasons that he considered for so long and found so important, didn't matter that much now, when he was seeing his son unhappy. The way he was trying to hide his broken heart made it even more difficult to bear.
So, perhaps Alejandro was feeling guilty after all. Diego's mother, Isabella, always said that he became unbearable when he was feeling guilty, so this time he tried even more not to be show his mood. To be understanding and patient.
It was very difficult, to be so patient.
Finally, Alejandro felt that after another few minutes of this silent ride he would explode.
"Bernardo, let's change places," he said to the servant. "I will drive the carriage." At least he won't be sitting idly, pondering troubling thoughts.
However, Bernardo didn't move, or even cast one glance in his direction.
"Bernardo, would you give me the reins?" repeated Alejandro a bit louder. Also this time he got no reaction, until he shouted with irritation: "Bernardo, I know you can hear me!"
Bernardo jumped on his seat and turned back with apologizing smile. Then he quickly pulled over the carriage to the side of the road, so that he and Alejandro could change seats.
"You must give us some time, Father. Old habits die hard," observed Diego, for a moment raising his eyes from the book.
When they reached their first night halt at the small, austere tavern, Diego excused himself from eating dinner with his father and Bernardo.
During the last year he got quite practiced into placating his father's mood. Each time he felt that Don Alejandro was on the verge of an outburst of his famous anger, Diego would quietly disappear from his sight. Today he also withdrew to his room as soon as possible. Besides, he wasn't hungry anyway and he wasn't in the mood of talking. Instead, he went to his room, laid himself on the modest, but nicely made bed and sunk in thoughts – or dreams rather.
Dreams of what would have happened, if the events in Monterey had taken a different direction.
How would his life look like now, if a few days ago, at the hour of Angelus, he had rode to the plaza in Monterey in the black attire of el Zorro and took off the mask?
Of course, the first moments would be irritating. Probably everyone around would ask 'It is you, Don Diego? You are Zorro?' During his prolonged stay in Monterey people managed to know him – or rather the calm, pacifistic scholar, he used to present to the world – enough to be surprised.
Ricardo would never believe, muttered Diego with a smile. He would say it is just a ruse to get Anna Maria's attention. Probably he would accuse me of stealing the disguise he prepared for himself to impersonate the Fox.
So, Diego, would have to answer 'Yes, it is me' a thousand times.
And what expression would appear at the face of Sergeant Garcia! Diego grimaced, imagining the shock and surprise on the chubby face of the kind-hearted soldier. After all, they were friends. Would he feel cheated, or terrified by the fact that they crossed blades so many times… or perhaps glad that the Fox turned out to be someone so close to him?
I hope he wouldn't remember that I called him a big, fat pig… thought Diego, worried.
Well. Certainly the good sergeant would remember all the uniforms destroyed by the big 'Z' cut with Zorro's rapier on Garcia's belly.
Diego shifted, feeling suddenly very uncomfortable. Sergeant Garcia would feel cheated and hurt. Perhaps with time he would forgive him and understand that Diego meant no harm and offence, but his first reaction would be painful.
For Heaven's Sake, why I am pondering about the sergeant! I was going to think about Anna Maria!
Anna Maria. If he would accept the amnesty, and give up Zorro, it would be for her. To make her happy. To see her eyes shine with joy, when he would ride to her at the hour of Angelus. To hear her saying 'It is you?... I love you…'
…like a brother, whispered the malicious memory.
Diego jumped out of bed, tossing the innocent pillow into the other corner of the room. This all had no sense. He should better find something to eat. Or go for a ride. Anything was better than sitting idly in this room, pondering the things that were never to happen.
Alejandro was sitting over the remains of his supper, all lost in thoughts, when the loud question woke him up from his musings:
"Señor, are you the man who bought Zorro's horse?"
Alejandro tilted and measured the man who asked it with a scrutinizing glance. Middle-aged, swarthy traveler in dusty clothes. Looked like a vaquero, wandering through el Camino Real, in search for better earnings. Probably he heard the rumors and was just curious.
"Yes," replied Alejandro reluctantly.
"And weren't you afraid?" asked the man, sitting by Alejandro's table, even if the don made no gesture to invite him.
"I didn't buy it from the outlaw," explained Alejandro, trying to restrain his irritation. They knew that people would ask questions. The best thing to do was to reply to them calmly. "This horse never belonged to him anyway."
"What do you mean?"
"It was the horse of Lieutenant Santos from the presidio in San Francisco. He was murdered by bandits near Monterey. El Zorro chased his killers and took the horse, but then returned the animal to the family of his owner," explained patiently Alejandro.
"I heard that's a great stallion. Swift like wind and strong. Why didn't the bandit keep him for himself?" asked the man with disbelief in his voice.
Alejandro felt his ire rising. What did this man think, that his son was a horse thief? Luckily, he was already used to controlling his emotions when he heard people talking about Zorro.
"I don't know," he just shrugged his shoulders. "The lieutenant's family wanted to sell him, so I bought him. I wouldn't miss such occasion. My horses are famous in Southern California, everyone knows that," he bragged, deliberately trying to sound like a presumptuous, rich haciendado – in hope that the curious traveler would get intimidated and leave.
Unfortunately, that didn't work, as the man asked: "Could I see this animal?"
"It is in the corral behind the inn," sighed Alejandro, rising.
Diego used Phantom as long as he needed him for Zorro's rides in Monterey. When their stay in this presidio ended, Zorro led him to Lieutenant Santos' sister. When he returned, alone, he was even more dejected than after the last rendezvous with Anna Maria. Alejandro thought that at least the horse was worth Diego's attachment, but he kept this notion for himself.
It was very hard to see Diego so depressed, after the second parting with someone so important for him in a few days. Besides, Alejandro knew much about horses and felt sorry for Phantom as well. It was a wise and faithful horse, with a mind and emotions of his own. He was very attached to his previous master, the late lieutenant. Alejandro suspected that he accepted Zorro as a new master only because he witnessed Diego trying to help his dying master. That's how the wise animal decided that Diego is a good man. Alejandro thought that losing the second master in such short time would break this magnificent stallion forever.
So in two days, when they learnt that the new owner wanted to sell the horse, Alejandro simply bought him.
Phantom now belonged rightfully to Alejandro de la Vega and – even if they were aware of the risks and possible difficulties – the joy of both Diego and Phantom meeting again was worth it.
That's why now Alejandro had to patiently lead the curious traveler to the corral, where de la Vegas' horses were secured.
"Beautiful," said the man with sincere admiration and, for a moment, Alejandro thought better about him.
Unfortunately, Diego chose exactly this moment to leave the shelter of his room. He passed by the other side of the corral and Phantom immediately ran toward him, fawning, while Diego patted his neck.
"He is very friendly," noticed the man with certain surprise.
"Of course," replied Alejandro with a shrug. "It is not a wild stallion. I told you it was a soldier's horse. He is well trained."
He noticed with anxiety, that Diego was taking the saddle. Luckily, while doing this, Diego turned to them for a while, and even if he didn't acknowledge that he saw his father talking with a stranger, he passed by Phantom and saddled his palomino.
Alejandro sighed with relief. Even if Diego was sad and dejected, he still thought quickly and remained watchful.
"Did you pay much for him, Señor?" asked the traveler.
"Much," replied Alejandro dryly. "Owning Zorro's horse has its price. But I have no custom to go into details of my transactions with unconcerned men."
"I understand," nodded the man. "Thank you for showing me the horse. Safe journey, Señor de la Vega."
The man left and Alejandro stood in front of the corral, until Bernardo neared to him with silent question in his eyes.
"This man was too curious," said Alejandro. "Besides, he didn't present himself even if he knew my name."
Bernardo made some calming gesture. Many people, especially interested in horses, knew Alejandro de la Vega, even if they have never been introduced.
"Yes, yes, I know," sighed Alejandro. "We knew that people will be curious. The more open we are, the less suspicions there will be. I will be replying to all questions as patiently as I can.
Changing the subject, Alejandro asked: "Do you know where Diego rode?"
Bernardo shook his head.
"I will be patient," sighed Alejandro again.
On the next day, they continued the journey, riding slowly south. They could probably travel faster had it not been for the three horses being led by the carriage. Of course, both Diego's palomino and Bernardo's sorrel were meek and obedient animals and Phantom – just as Alejandro said – was well-trained, however, they required attention. Usually, either Diego, or Alejandro, rode one of the horses, to better keep an eye on the others. That made the journey less monotonous, but limited the occasions for conversation.
At first, Diego appeared reluctant to ride Phantom. However, they took the ocean's trail, even less used than the one between the missions, and rode through a wild, uninhabited area, so finally Diego dared to mount Phantom and even let the eager animal ride ahead in full gallop.
Alejandro looked behind them, admiring both the noble animal and his son's riding skills. I should have guessed he was cheating me after the first time he claimed to have fallen from a horse, he thought with a smile. He learnt to ride before he started to read. I do not know what he would have to do to fall from a horse!...
Then Alejandro's smile faded, as he recalled himself Sergeant Garcia talking about Zorro losing the pursuit by jumping over the Diablo's Gulch. Quickly, he said a prayer apologizing for his pride with his son's exploits and asking that he wouldn't be punished for it with Diego's accident of any kind.
In the meantime, Diego and Phantom disappeared ahead of the curve, and when the carriage passed by it, Alejandro noticed with unpleasant surprise that Diego was staying at the side of the road and talking with two unknown riders.
Alejandro's heart clenched with fear and bad premonition. Who were these men? Why did they stop Diego? Was it very bad that they saw him riding Phantom? Did they know that it was Zorro's horse?... Alejandro felt his pulse quicken and barely forced himself not to urge Bernardo to drive faster. He struggled to keep the neutral expression, as their carriage neared to the small group talking on the road.
"Father," said Diego with a playful smile, "You have just received the offer of purchase. Señores would like to buy Phantom."
"Si, Señor," nodded one of the men. "We are horse breeders from San Fernando. The stallion your son rides would be a great acquisition for our horse farm."
Only now Alejandro noticed that the horses the men rode were of unusual quality. A bit relieved, but still tensed, he replied: "Gracias, but this horse is not for sale. I am horse breeder myself, and I have my plans concerning it."
To his surprise, the men didn't insist.
"That's a pity, Señor," said one of them. "Let me then ask only, out of professional curiosity – how would you price this animal, if he was for sale?"
"This I cannot reply," answered Alejandro, shrugging his shoulders, "as he is not." He didn't care he was being impolite. He didn't like these men's curiosity.
"I told you, Señores," laughed Diego, "my father guards his business secrets well."
The men nodded only and said their goodbye. Alejandro waved for Bernardo to ride further, and this time Diego kept himself close to the carriage. Once they made a considerable distance, Alejandro let himself sigh with relief.
"For Heaven's Sake, I thought that my heart would jump out when I saw you talking with them! I thought… I do not know myself, that they are soldiers in civilian clothes, or some bounty hunters in the search for Zorro, that recognized this horse… Never mind. But what the hell were these men doing in the middle of such wilderness!"
"Most probably travelling, just as us," replied Diego, but didn't seem entirely convinced.
Alejandro shook his head. "I admire your calm, Diego. Weren't you nervous? I guess it is the first time when someone saw you riding Phantom without Zorro's attire."
Diego for a moment remained silent, until he looked at his father with a shy smile.
"I felt like I was caught red-handed. I hardly fought the impulse to head Phantom down the slope, to avoid the meeting," he confessed and added quietly: "It is not a sin to be nervous, Father. However, it would be a sin to show it."
Alejandro only shook his head again. He hoped, that even if he was not as controlled as his son, his pride would help him to keep the composure. After all, he was always too proud to show fear. And many other feelings too, added his conscience.
"I hope that this horse stops drawing so much attention in Los Angeles," he sighed after a while. "Besides, at the pueblo only Garcia and Reyes would recognize Phantom as Zorro's horse. Ah, how they will be very surprised!" observed Alejandro, realizing that Garcia and Reyes left Monterey before they purchased the horse. Struck by the sudden thought he turned to Diego: "You must be very careful with Phantom, once we are in Los Angeles. The sergeant cannot see you ride him. He could get some… ideas."
"The sergeant's ideas are usually easy to manage, Father," replied Diego with slight smile. "However, I will be careful. Do not worry. No one has ever seen me riding Tornado, and yet he is trained and ridden as often as necessary."
Alejandro smiled, but then gasped: "Tornado! And what have you done with him before you set off for Monterey? Someone must take care about him!"
"Of course," replied Diego.
Alejandro waited for a moment for his son to develop the subject, but when Diego kept silent, he urged him: "So, what if this person connects the absence of Zorro in Los Angeles with the stay of Diego de la Vega at Monterey?..."
"Father, you would be surprised," said Diego with a twinkle in his eye, "but there are people living near Los Angeles, who had no idea that Diego de la Vega went to Monterey. What's more, they remain in unawareness of the very same existence of de la Vega family."
Don Alejandro at first furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, but soon understood: "You left him with the natives."
"Yes," nodded Diego. "I am quite befriended with a tribe of Tongva. They gladly take care of Tornado for me. He is absolutely safe there. Besides, even if they saw my face without the mask – which they didn't – they would have no idea who I am."
Alejandro shook his head in slight disbelief. He was well acquainted with natives living around Los Angeles. Many of them worked on his rancho, even at the hacienda. He took care of their well-being and education of their children, treating some of them almost like members of family. However, these were all Christians, trying to adopt the European lifestyle. Diego was referring to the wild and free tribes that remained faithful to the way of living of their ancestors.
"I am surprised Diego, how easily you get along with these wild Indians. Their customs are so different from ours," observed Alejandro. "It is easy to offend them with a single word or inconsiderate gesture."
"Oh, no, they forgive strangers many lapses," objected Diego. "It is enough to show good intentions and respect. The only taboo you have to obey is the ban of trespassing on their sacred lands. That's something they treat very seriously, fearing that it would anger the spirits."
Alejandro's eyes widened with surprise. The way Diego said 'sacred'! Not with amusement, not with indulgence. So… matter-of-factly. As if these lands were sacred indeed.
Alejandro treated the natives according to the Spanish tradition and preaches of the Church: like children, needing help and guidance, to return to the sheepfold of the Lord. Diego simply learnt to know them as neighbors.
My son is not Spaniard anymore. He belongs to this land, thought Don Alejandro with sudden surprise, but without anger. It wasn't strange, that after three generations of his family working for their lives and fortune on this new world, not sparing their sweat and blood, their souls slowly shifted their allegiance.
From his stay in Spain, Diego took the skills and knowledge, but none of the prejudices dictating the relations on the Old Continent. When he returned, he gracefully pushed away all the rigid rules that would limit the men of his class in Europe, with no hesitation stepping into the role of the masked highwayman.
The Spanish hidalgos would never understand it. They would treat his ruse as disgrace… mused Alejandro and felt the wave of irritation. Just as they would never understand and accept me getting dirty from head to foot, while working with vaqueros, taking care of my animals!... So what, the world is changing!
"I am concerned about these men, Father," Diego's voice interrupted his deliberations. "There was something off with them."
"The men who asked about Phantom?" made sure Alejandro. "Why? They could really be horse breeders. They indeed had good horses."
"I am not certain. Just a hunch," replied Diego. "I didn't like the way they looked at Phantom. Are you sure that none of them was the one who talked with you yesterday?"
"Of course. I would have recognized him!"
"Well, we will see. Perhaps I am overreacting," sighed Diego. His sight wandered somewhere behind the horizon and Alejandro realized with disappointment that after this short moment of liveliness, his son was falling again in his melancholic desinterressment.
"I think I will let Phantom rest now," Diego added in a changed voice. "I need to finish my book."
As soon as he returned to the carriage, he started to read his books again. Alejandro realized with certain bitterness that they just had the longest conversation since they left Monterey. Even if the meeting with the two travelers cost him a moment of fear, it was good to see his son so lively again.
If only it lasted longer…
Did Diego really need a reason to worry, to forget his dejection?
Bernardo started to regret he couldn't return to Los Angeles with Sergeant Garcia and Corporal Reyes. The soldiers decided to use their leave and take a detour, so that they could visit the rancho of Señorita Bastinado. Bernardo imagined both soldiers competing for the graces of the wealthy and clever business woman and smiled. That would be something worth seeing!
There was no joy in travelling with Diego and Alejandro now. The second day of the journey they spent in similar silence as the first one. Diego was reading his books, replying politely and with a smile when asked. However, it was this official smile, the part of his serene façade he always showed to the world, no matter what happened in his heart.
Alejandro was trying to be patient. He looked like a kettle filled with boiling water, with the cover fastened too tightly on its top.
Diego felt his irritation and it made him withdraw even deeper. He wasn't used to confronting his father, not without an important reason. If someone's life was endangered, he would stand up and argue, but if Don Alejandro was simply irritated – he would wait for him to calm down.
Diego's quiet withdraw made Don Alejandro feel guilty. That's why he tried to be even more patient.
Bernardo foresaw the first serious row to burst out before they reached the Mission of San Luis Obispo. Till then, he spent most of his time in the stables, taking care of their horses. Good animals, they knew how to show their needs and affections.
He was just brushing his sorrel, when Don Alejandro entered the stables and took the brush for himself. Bernardo showed him that the horses have been already taken care of, so the older man, after a moment of hesitation, sat with a sigh on a wooden bench.
"Is Diego angry at me?" he asked simply.
Bernardo quickly shook his head, slightly ashamed at the helplessness in the voice of Don Alejandro.
"So why does he not speak anything?"
Bernardo looked at him with surprise. Wasn't that obvious? Diego was not used neither to complaining, nor to confessing. During the last year, he learnt to control his emotions. No matter whether he was dealing with tirades of his disappointed father, disdainful comments – and later direct threats – of Capitán Monastario, mocking remarks of Magistrado Galindo or even with some brawlers trying to pick a quarrel in a tavern – he had to cope with it calmly hiding his feelings behind that courteous smile.
"Is it all because of this girl?" continued Don Alejandro with irritation. "Every young man must be ready to deal with rejection from time to time! Has he never been in love before?... Not even in Spain?..."
Bernardo bowed to the horse's side, carefully omitting Alejandro's sight. He was not going to reply, even with the slightest sign. What happened in Spain, stays in Spain.
"For Heaven's Sake, so why he didn't marry her?" burst out Alejandro. "If a de la Vega is not enough for her and she wants to have a masked outlaw for a husband, he could have told her the truth a thousand times. In private! Without all this show with amnesty!"
This time Bernardo nodded eagerly. For him it also made no sense, especially from the señorita's point of view. There was no reason in falling in love with Zorro and making him resign from the mask, what would turn him into an ordinary man. However, Bernardo never aspired to understand women's logic.
"Diego wouldn't have told me neither, if I didn't guess myself," muttered gloomily Don Alejandro in the meantime. "He would have waited till my death-bed, to confide in me." He looked at Bernardo and raised the hand in warning: "Just do not tell me that part about protecting me from danger. Nothing irritates me more than that."
Bernardo smiled apologizingly, trying to appear understanding. Not that Diego planned to wait till the hour of death – his or his father – with his confession. However, he didn't plan to confess his second identity to Don Alejandro in any foreseeable future. Yes, it was because he wanted to protect his father from danger connected with such knowledge. And no, Bernardo didn't think he was right.
"I could write to Gregorio," said Don Alejandro with consideration. "We could arrange the meeting, the young ones would have an occasion to… explain everything… He could tell her." Seeing Bernardo shaking his head with warning expression, Don Alejandro smiled and nodded: "Don't worry, I perfectly know that I shouldn't do anything like this without Diego's request."
That was not exactly what Bernardo meant. However, he was convinced that such meeting wouldn't bring anything good. Anna Maria many times made it perfectly clear, she could never fall in love with Diego. No matter what.
Of course, she didn't suspect, that 'no matter what' meant also 'even if you are Zorro', but Diego should have known it. Instead, he preferred to delude himself.
"How can I help him?..." sighed Don Alejandro. "You know Bernardo, I always thought I knew my son. Then he returned from Spain, so different than before and I started to fear I do not know him anymore. Then I had my suspicions, that slowly grew into certainty – and everything was clear again. And now, when there are finally no more secrets between us, I have again the feeling that… that I still need to learn to know him."
That was true. Nothing was granted forever. People changed and mutual relations required constant care and interest. However, Bernardo had no idea how to sign it, so he remained motionless.
"How could I… cheer him up? To tell the truth I am not certain anymore, what he really enjoys. For his last birthday I bought him some books, but I do not know, whether he read any of them."
Bernardo nodded eagerly. Diego loved his books. Well, perhaps 'The Influence of Moorish Culture on Spanish Poetry" wasn't his favorite position, but the titles brought by his father were always an excellent choice.
"So I thought, Bernardo," continued Don Alejandro, "that what Diego needs now is a bit of action."
Bernardo lowered his head to hide a smile. Don Alejandro thought that action is a cure for everything.
"If he were to ride as Zorro, his melancholy would be gone, I am certain," stated Don Alejandro. "Of course, it would be unwise to risk donning Zorro's disguise without proper reason, but what if not Zorro, but Diego would have to take action?"
Bernardo nodded at first. Some little riddle for Diego to solve would occupy his thoughts and would help him forget his failure in Monterey. Then, however, he stopped nodding and looked at Don Alejandro with caution. What exactly did the older don have in mind?
"As the matter of fact, I got inspired by today's incident on the road," explained Don Alejandro. "When he was worried about Phantom, for a moment he was his old self again."
Bernardo froze. He didn't like the direction of this conversation, not at all.
"If Phantom disappeared, Diego would immediately rush into action, don't you think?" asked innocently Don Alejandro. "A ride through the countryside, a bit of tracking, the excitement with finding a horse… that would be such a nice little adventure."
Bernardo tried to make an undefined gesture with his head, hoping that it didn't look like nodding. True, Diego would set off in search of Phantom, forgetting everything. But how was Don Alejandro going to make the horse disappear just to be found safely a few hours later?
"I am glad you agree with me, Bernardo, because the success of this plan depends mostly on you," smiled calmly Don Alejandro, confirming Bernardo's worst premonitions. "I thought we could stay in the Mission of San Luis Obispo for a few days. I will find the reason, some research of family archives, or else… Anyway, one day early in the morning, you could take Phantom and lead it on the seashore or into the mountains…"
Bernardo pointed at himself with shocked expression.
"Yes, we would let Diego believe that Phantom escaped," explained Don Alejandro serenely. "Of course, you will have to keep an eye on him discreetly. We would let Diego track the horse down. Such excursion should help him forget his worries."
Bernardo desperately shook his head. This was the idea to… cheer up Diego?... What a way to make up for the lack of communication! Why couldn't they both, father and son, simply talk?
On the other hand, it was Diego who started all these secrecy and misjudgments in their relations. Don Alejandro only played along, keeping his knowledge in secret.
What's more, Diego intended to accept the offer of amnesty, without revealing himself to his father first. Don Alejandro would learn Diego's secret together with the rest of Monterey. That was… neither fair, nor respectful.
Bernardo, in spite of his friendship with Diego, found it entirely wrong. He wondered how Diego could have forgotten to such extent about his father and his feelings. Was he really able to think only about Anna Maria? Or perhaps deep inside Diego wanted to have little retaliation, for all the malicious remarks that Don Alejandro didn't spare him, especially in the first month after their return from Spain? No, Diego wasn't vengeful, especially not toward his father. This time he simply didn't think about anything else, except from his love.
Bernardo rubbed his head, suddenly feeling very tired. Perhaps Diego needed to be reminded that he should pay more attention to his father?
On the other hand, was stealing Phantom the best way to do it? And even if, was it Bernardo, who should perform this trick? He was rather reluctant to get into the storm between father and son again. He got scared enough when Don Alejandro stopped Diego from taking an amnesty.
"Think about it, Bernardo," said Don Alejandro, standing up. "After all, we must do something."
Bernardo sighed, feeling that his head started to ache.
The carriage rode down el Camino Real, slowly nearing to the Mission of San Luis Obispo. Diego let himself get lulled by the monotonous rhythm of wheels into a half-dream and recalled Anna Maria. Her face, her smile, her eyes. The songs she sang. The way she laughed.
Diego knew he would forget her. Not all of her, of course – but that special feeling she used to awaken in his heart – he knew it would fade away irreversibly with time. Now she was still vivid in his memory, but he knew, that once he returned to Los Angeles, engaged in the daily affairs of the hacienda, life of the pueblo, adventures of the Fox – everything that happened in Monterey would slowly become unreal and distant, like a dream. The same would happen with his memories of Anna Maria – they would be like a dream, sweat and dear, but no more than a dream.
So now, during this journey, when he had nothing else to do but sit and think, he wanted to think only about her.
She was worth it.
Beauty was the least important of her features. She was also spirited, brave, full of life, full of emotions… Diego smiled, recalling with such fire she defended her father. And she was wise. She didn't hesitate to play little intrigues, when she thought that Ricardo was going too far with his rivalry with Zorro.
Besides, she had this exceptional expression in her eyes. As if she had some special secret, that she would reveal only to a very special person.
A mystery.
Diego thought that there are women, whose eyes show this shadow of mystery hiding in their souls. That was what he always found… fascinating.
Of course, sometimes the mystery turned out to be rather unpleasant. Diego raised his eyes, recalling Magdalena Montéz, the most beautiful agent of the Eagle he met. How furious he was to learn that such exceptional woman was involved into the treacherous intrigue! He felt cheated and disappointed. Now, however, Diego realized that his anger was gone long ago. He smiled, recalling these two days, when Magdalena visited Los Angeles. She made him feel so… alive! For a moment he thought he met his match, a woman so intelligent, witty and daring… one could never be bored with her. True, she turned out to be an evil one. But her eyes…
No, no, I wanted to think about Anna Maria!... he exclaimed silently, shaking his head.
Ashamed, he looked around as if to make sure that no one managed to read his thoughts.
To his surprise, Don Alejandro was sitting calmly by his side, reading the book that Diego put aside. He looked content and relaxed. Diego felt a sting of anxiety. It was strange, that his father was suddenly so calm. It was almost as if he was onto some of his definitely-too-risky plans.
Bernardo snoozed.
And then again. And again.
"Are you feeling well, Bernardo?" asked Diego, seeing that Bernardo was rubbing his head. Bernardo nodded with calming smile, but he looked poorly.
"Let's change places. I can drive and you'd better go and sleep at the back seat," advised Diego. When Bernardo hesitated, he urged him: "Go, go! I will gladly do something. Anything, just to occupy my thoughts with… with something else," he finished lamely.
The pensive look that Bernardo sent him was the most peculiar.