This story is an amateur, not-for-profit publication produced solely for the enjoyment of other Zorro fans and is not intended to infringe upon any rights by Goodman/Rosen Productions, New World Television, Zorro Productions, the estate of Johnston McCulley or anyone else.
The Attack
A/N: Warning: This story contains violence, death and adult topics, but I keep the story rated T and up. This not a nice and easy going story and a certain tolerance for angst and horror is required for reading.
Chapter 1
It was mid morning and the day promised to be fair and sunny. Alejandro was sitting on the porch of the tavern sipping coffee when Diego and Felipe joined him at the table, watching the coach arrive in the plaza.
Diego looked up when he noticed someone standing by his table. To his disappointment it wasn't Victoria to take his order but Paula, her young helper who had started to work at the tavern a few weeks ago.
"I'll take some coffee and Felipe takes a lemonade as usual." Smiling at her he tried to encourage the young woman who was still a little shy around customers.
"Look Diego, these must be the new settlers from Spain my friend Don Fernando has been waiting for." Alejandro pointed at the coach in the center of the plaza where men were unloading luggage from the top of the carriage. A man in his early thirties helped a plump woman in a plain blue dress with a small boy of about five years to step out of the carriage. All wore simple, but neat clothes and looked tired from their journey. "The ship from Spain must have come earlier than expected for them to arrive already from the harbor of San Pedro."
"Is this about the patch of land near the small river that Don Fernando wants to lease to a Spanish family?" Diego asked his father.
Alejandro was about to answer when they were distracted by an argument between the newcomers and Sergeant Mendoza.
"I have never heard of these taxes," the newcomer said angrily. "Five Pesos for traveler's tax I would be willing to pay, but ten percent immigration tax on our values will rob us and we won't be able to pay for the land anymore. You can't do this!"
Alejandro rose from his chair to step from the veranda and inquire about the argument. Diego nodded silently to Felipe who made a hidden sign for Zorro. Loudly he said to his father, "I'm expecting some new books from Spain and I have to ride to San Pedro to check if they have arrived with the ship. I'm taking Felipe with me. We'll need to leave quickly so that we have time to make it back before nightfall. Please excuse us now."
Angrily, Alejandro looked at his son, "Why can't you for once support me and protest with me against this injustice? But your books are always more important!" Waving annoyed with his riding gloves he stepped from the porch to approach Mendoza without looking back.
As soon as Diego and Felipe were outside Los Angeles, they stopped their horses.
"Felipe, you have to ride to San Pedro and get my books while I take care of this new tax." Felipe signed something, but Diego shook his head.
"Don't worry about me, Zorro will manage without you today. You'll have to hurry if you want to be back from San Pedro in the evening. Returning with the books will convince my father that I've really been there. You don't mind going on your own, do you? If everything goes smoothly, I'll try to catch up with you later."
Felipe signed that he was no longer a small boy and fully capable to manage on his own.
"Good journey then, Felipe." Diego patted Felipe on the shoulder before he raced back to the hacienda to change into Zorro.
Z Z Z
Alejandro and several others including Victoria were gathered on the plaza and arguing with the alcalde over the new tax when Zorro arrived.
The cheering crowd opened up to let him pass through and he quickly disarmed the lancers and locked them in the cuartel who made no real effort to resist him. Knowing that the time was short until the lancers freed themselves, he swiftly disarmed the alcalde with his sword after a short fight.
"Alcalde, how often have we been through this?" Zorro asked. "This immigration tax is illegal and you know it. Rescind it immediately."
Grudgingly, De Soto agreed. "I rescind the immigration tax. Mendoza, return the money to these people." Zorro made his Z on De Soto's vest, before he turned around to face Victoria. "I'll get you one day, Zorro. I won't give up!"
"You're always free to try, Alcalde," Zorro grinned, looking back over his shoulder. Then he took Victoria's hand and placed a kiss on it. "I'm hoping for the day when this will be over, Victoria."
"So am I, Zorro," she replied with a smile.
Zorro hesitated a little, looking longingly into her eyes, then he saluted and mounted Toronado.
As soon as he was on his way, De Soto freed the lancers from the cuartel.
"After him!" he shouted "Don't let him get away. Get on your horses!"
More than half of the garrison mounted in pursuit of Zorro, who led them to where he could easily evade them by jumping Perdido Canyon on Toronado, a feat their military horses were unable to perform.
Neither Zorro nor any of the soldiers saw the man hidden on a small hill overlooking Los Angeles, gloating at Zorro and the soldiers passing him by. He passed the signal to his nearby comrade who was soon on his way.