Chapter 1
Don Alejandro sat in the hacienda library reading Don Quixote. Diego had gone into town to take care of business enabling the old don the rare opportunity to enjoy one of his favorite pastimes, reading. Even though he wanted his son to be more active and daring, they both shared a love for reading. At least, they had one thing in common, he thought to himself.
I dub thee Sancho Panza, my squire.
The old don chuckled as he sipped some wine from his glass. Don Alejandro set the glass down on a nearby table, accidentally knocking off a round paperweight causing it to fall to the floor."Blast," the old man grumbled as the paperweight rolled into the fireplace. Don Alejandro rose from the couch intending to pick it up while still attempting to read his book. Felipe walked toward the library in time to see Don Alejandro bend down, grab the paperweight and hit his head on the inside of the fireplace. The old don stumbled backward dropping the paperweight in the process. Grabbing the mantle to steady himself, the caballero fell through the now open fireplace. Felipe hurriedly ran into the room as Don Alejandro fell backward through the open panel. The momentum propelled the older man down the stairs and into Zorro's secret lair..The deaf-mute crouched down beside his unconscious patron who lay face down on the floor of the cave. I must get Diego, he thought as he rushed out of the cave…Diego would know exactly what to do...
Sometime later, Diego watched from the tavern porch as Felipe appeared on his pinto. The younger man was riding faster than normal and the panicked look on his face spoke volumes...Something must be wrong, the tall caballero thought. "What is going on, Felipe?"
The young man signed quickly to convey his sense of urgency. Time was of the essence...
"My father has fallen," Diego responded as he continued to interpret Felipe's signs, "We must go to him. You did the right thing by coming here. Heaven knows, what is going on back at the hacienda..."
ZZZ
"What on earth happened? Where am I?" Don Alejandro thought as he struggled to regain his footing. "Hello? Um. . . What is this place?" The old man spotted a lab table among the many items in the cave. Don Alejandro leaned down, put his hands on the table as he looked at a dark blue brew bubbling in a large round glass container. It was some sort of experiment no doubt. The caballero grimaced at the pain in his head. "Where am I? Who am I?"
The sound of a horse startled him. Don Alejandro approached the tall black Andalusian with caution. The od don was a good judge of horseflesh. This horse was obviously well bred and of the highest quality probably pure Andalusian...He was a magnificent animal probably at least sixteen hands tall.. "Hello," he stated cautiously pointing at the handsome stallion. The old man turned and looked at the clothes hanging from the rack... "Are these black clothes a clue about my identity? Of course, you know, too. Don't you, boy?" Don Alejandro reached for the clothes and black mask hanging from the rack. He had seen this outfit before but he could not remember where..."I am . . . Zorro."
ZZZ
Felipe led Diego down the secret steps and pointed at the floor where Don Alejandro had fallen. The deaf mute was stunned to see that Diego's father was nowhere in sight..."You're certain he fell right here?" Diego looked around holding out his hands. I hope my father has not done anything foolish...
"Si," the younger man signed, "I left him right here."
"He must have regained consciousness, Felipe. I hope he doesn't go to the pueblo in his condition."
Felipe shrugged then looked to his left. Diego approached the clothes rack where a white shirt and brown trousers now hung. The tall caballero took the shirt off the rack, looked at it and frowned. "These are my father's clothes." Diego and Felipe noticed Toronado's now empty stall. "He has taken Toronado. I have a bad feeling about this." A red book, Don Quixote sat at the top of the steps leading back to the library. Diego picked up the book, Don Quixote, and sighed, "Felipe, do you know of any windmills in the pueblo?"