My friend, the fox 3

I was lying in my cell on my cot. On my side. My back still hurt from the lashing I had received earlier in the day. The sun was about to set behind the garrison roof and I closed my eyes.

Knowing Diego, I would have to be alert later on so I tried to rest as much as possible. Just when I was about to doze off, I heard footsteps and muffled voices approaching. Keeping my eyes closed I trained all my attention onto my hearing.

"But, Capitán," came one muffled voice I recognized as one of the lancers. "How will you explain the servant's theft if there is no evidence?"

"You bumbling idiot. Of course there is evidence. Just not the same evidence. It's not my fault that pig headed idiot of a corporal dropped that bait watch. Who'd have thought he'd be too clumsy to lock it up in the garrison's safe box? We cannot present a broken watch so there will be another one ready for the trial... if it comes to that."

"If, mi Capitán?"

"Yes. I truly believe that Zorro," the capitán spat out that name, which made me chuckle quietly, "will try to rescue the de la Vega mozo this very night. That's why we're setting up the trap. If he comes - and he will, of that I'm certain - we will let him set Bernardo free and then shoot them both."

I felt my blood freeze over at those words. That man was pure evil and I prayed that Diego would anticipate such a stunt from the commandante. It wouldn't be the first time that Monastario tried to set a trap for the fox. So far, Zorro had outmanoevered each and every one of them. My hope was that his luck held.

"So you see," Monastario continued, "we've got everything covered. If Zorro comes tonight, he and that dumb servant will die. If he doesn't come, we'll have our evidence of conviction at the trial. Not even the king's nephew would be able to stop the whipping then."

I could hear the satisfied, self righteous gloating in the capitán's voice as he and his companion strode right past my cell, their footsteps as well as Monastario's low laughter fading as they disappeared into the commandante's office.

I sat up on my cot trying to come up with an idea how to warn my master of the evil plan. At least now I knew for sure that the capitán was in on the scheme with the supposedly stolen watch. He was certainly the mastermind behind this plot. Zorro was the only one standing between him and his plans for power.

As the hours passed, I witnessed several soldiers being called into Monastario's office. When they emerged again they all readied their horses and muskets and hid somewhere along the cuartel's court. Finally, Monastario and Señor Iniesta left the office as well, copying the lancers' actions. When Monastario was done preparing his horse, he strode over to my cell and grinned at me.

"Ah, it's almost a shame you can't hear, you filthy little moron. But maybe you can read lips, eh?" Monastario must have felt so proud of himself he couldn't keep his gleeful anticipation of victory quiet. "I hope Zorro comes to try and rescue you. It will be the last thing he ever does. If, however, he fails to appear he will lose faith with his admirers and you will stand trial. A trial you will have no chance of winning, not even if your oh so brilliant master decides to forego his cowardice and defend you. It would only serve to get him caught being in league with you, a devious thief who poses as an innocent servant. It's a win win situation for me this time."

Just as the capitán was about to turn and take his hiding spot, a dark shadow slid off the roof behind him and in a matter of seconds Monastario found himself with a sword pressed to his throat. I smiled in relief at Zorro's stealthy appearance and saw him returning the smile briefly before his expression hardened and he spoke with an icy voice.

"Buenas noches, Commandante. It's really convenient to hear you admit to your fraud accusation without me having to ask," Zorro announced. "However, it is even more convenient to find you here alone."

Alone. I couldn't keep a neutral face when I realized Zorro did not know about the hidden soldiers. If ever there was a time I wished I could speak it was now. Zorro must have registered the alarm in my face along with the capitán's lingering grin, because he turned serious instantly and with one step brought himself to stand in between the capitán and me.

Not one second too early, he completed his move when a single shot rang out and a hole appeared in the wooden beam right where Zorro had been standing seconds before. Wood splinters flew all over the place and I heard Monastario wince as he put his hand to his cheek. He must have been hit by a splinter since I noticed blood dripping from his face. My grin was cut short when Zorro used the capitán's preoccupation to grab the keys to the prison cells, thrusting it in my hands through the bars, when the next shot rang out.

Deciding it was too dangerous, I retreated to the back of my cell, keys in hand, as I saw Zorro drop to the ground. For a split second I felt dread washing through my insides, thinking he must have been hit. He proved me wrong the next moment when he rolled to his left, avoiding more bullets, while Monastario frantically dove for cover himself.

"Estupidos!" he shouted. "Cease fire! Whoever fires the next shot will be facing a firing squad."

One could almost grasp the confusion the soldiers felt when Zorro jumped up, gave a shrill whistle and dashed out of the cuartel by the front gate. Galloping hooves were proof he was on his way to safety.

"After him! Don't let him get away!" the commandante shouted and quickly the soldiers ran for their horses and raced after the masked bandit. Only Monastario remained, as well as Señor Iniesta. The sound of the lancers leaving had only just faded when a creaking noise caused the capitán and his friend to turn their attention to the gate.

"Zorro," Monastario spat. "But you just..." He trailed off. Smiling, the fox bolted the gate from the inside before slowly approaching the two men with his sword ready.

"Ah, but I didn't leave, Capitán," Zorro replied, smiling. "It wouldn't be right to leave here without the proof of Bernardo's innocence. Knowing you, you will be happy to provide me with a written confession to your setup."

"The only thing I will be happy to provide you with is my blade in your side, Señor Zorro," the capitán snarled, drawing his own saber.

"As you wish, Commandante," Zorro replied with a slight bow. "En garde, Monastario."

The capitán shot a quick glance at his friend, Señor Iniesta, encouraging the latter to draw his sword and join his side. Zorro flicked the cape over his arm, ready for action. With a growl, Monastario charged at Zorro, Iniesta right at his side. Zorro parried their combined attempt with ease. The clanging of swords reverberated all through the cuartel and I used this opportunity to unlock my cell and then climbed up onto the roof.

Watching the sword fight below, I saw Zorro disarming Iniesta with a quick thrust of his foil, sending the other blade flying high onto the roof close to me. Monastario doubled his efforts to find a hole in Zorro's defence, utterly in vain.

From my spot on the roof, I could see how much my master enjoyed the fight. One could say many things about Capitán Monastario, but he was no coward and definitely the most prolific adversary with a sword that Zorro had crossed blades with in California. Still, he was no match for Zorro, who simply couldn't resist toying with the man. It was his way to get payback for what he had to endure as Diego from the commandante.

Iniesta, seeing that he couldn't retrieve his sword to rejoin the fight, tried sneaking away towards the garrison gate. Realizing the man's intention, Zorro sent Monastario's saber flying and then, grabbing an empty bucket, he threw it at Señor Iniesta using his left hand. It hit the man dead on in the back of the head and he fell to the ground, unconscious.

Meanwhile, Monastario had retrieved his weapon and came back charging at Zorro, who sidestepped him. As on the day they first met, the capitán's weapon buried itself in the wooden wall next to the prison cell. It felt almost like déjà vu for me, having heard about it many times from my friend. I revelled in the look of dismay on the commandante's face.

"Hah, Señor," the fox called cheerfully, "I never thought you were willing to show me your coupé into the wall once more, but I must admit it was very instructive yet again."

Monastario's expression was that of a man being forced to chew nails. It wouldn't have surprised me to see him steaming from his ears. Zorro, training the tip of his rapier against Monastario's heart, forced him to back up.

"It's very kind of you to occupy that cell again," Zorro joshed the capitán. Closing the door, which locked with a click, Zorro turned to check the unconscious man at the gate. Then he dashed into the commandante's office to return with a piece of parchment and a quill.

"Now, if you'd be so kind to read out loud and sign this, I'd be most happy."

He handed the document over to the locked-in capitán who read through gritted teeth.

"I, Capitán Enrique Sanchez Monastario, hereby admit of having set up the de la Vega servant by the name of Bernardo, with a false charge of theft."

Monastario glared at Zorro. "I will never sign this," he growled.

"Very well," Zorro quipped. "I think it might interest you that Don Diego rode to Santa Ana. He is meeting a friend there who has it within his power to withdraw you from your post as commandante of Los Angeles at sheer will..."

Monastario's glare briefly turned to shock. "You're bluffing," he pressed through gritted teeth.

"You think? Did he not warn you of his connections?"

"He threatened me after I had his deaf and dumb servant whipped, yes. But you, Señor Zorro, know as well as I do, that the king is not in California."

"Ah, but can you be sure?" Zorro smiled pleasantly. Something in Monastario's demeanor changed and he angrily pulled the quill out of Zorro's hand. A scratching noise told me he'd signed the parchment.

"Gracias, Capitán," the fox bowed before folding the parchment and stuffing it in his sash. Just then, the approaching sound of horse beats reverberated. It grew louder and soon Sergeant Garcia could be heard.

"Who ordered the gate closed? Open up!"

Zorro smiled and looked up to me, signing the unlocking of a door with a key. I threw down the prison cell keys and he caught them effortlessly. Tying them to the end of a whip he'd brought from the commandante's office, he swiftly climbed up to the roof above the soldiers' quarters, hanging the whip including the keys around the protruding central beam of the building. It would take the soldiers some time before they could free their capitán.

Sergeant Garcia, who was still shouting for the gate to be opened, caught sight of my friend on the high roof.

"Zorro!" he exclaimed.

"Adios, Sergeant," the fox called before whistling again and, grabbing a rope, he swung over to meet me on the prison cell rooftop. A soft neighing told us Tornado had taken his spot and Zorro ran up ahead, jumping onto the next roof with me right behind him.

We climbed over the wall and I mounted the faithful steed behind my friend. Within no time we raced off, not one second too soon as Garcia had ordered the lancers to pursue Zorro.

Luckily, it had grown so dark by now, clouds covering the moon from time to time, that we could hide and let them chase past us in no time. At a more leisurely pace, we made our way back to the safety of the cave.