Chapter 7

Diego was in the tavern when he heard a lot of commotion outside, he decided to take a look. Suddenly he saw Mendoza running for his life with lancers in pursuit. Diego went outside and ran to his horse, guessing what had just happened. It seems like DeSoto found out about Mendoza, I better hurry before they get to him. He immediately raced to the hacienda, knowing Mendoza needed help from Zorro.

Felipe was in the cave when he heard someone approaching, he looked around and saw Diego changing his clothes at record speed. "What is going on, why are you in such a hurry?"

"It's Mendoza, I was in the tavern when a lot of noise came from outside. I decided to take a closer look at it and saw Mendoza running for his life with lancers in pursuit. The alcalde must have found out somehow, I must help him. Somehow I don't think Mendoza will be able to keep quiet about us, if the alcalde decides to torture him to get to us."

Felipe nodded and saddled Toronado, Diego leaped on Toronado and left the cave.

Meanwhile Mendoza got tired of being chased and now the lancers were closing in and started to shoot at him. He urged his horse to go even faster, he needed to escape, but how. Blessed virgin Mary, please get me out of here. I can't keep going much longer, my horse is getting tired and I'm getting numb. He let the chase for another couple of minutes when he saw someone closing in from his left. Zorro, gracias a Dios, how did he know. Please hurry Diego.

Zorro raced towards the lancers and used his whip to knock the pistols out of their hands. H then rode to Mendoza. "Mendoza follow me!"

"Sí, anything, just get me out of here!"

Zorro rode to a canyon with to many trails for the lancers to follow. The lancers decided to split up and look in different directions. Mendoza looked from a corner nearby as the lancers past them and were out of their sight.

"Mendoza, it won't be long before they come back, leave your horse here. Get on Toronado, he'll take you to the cave. It isn't to far from here, I'll distract the lancers."

"Me on Toronado, are you sure that is such a good idea? You know, I think he doesn't like me very much. Considering I was always chasing him to get you."

"Don't you worry, it will be all right."

"If you say so, but I'm not so sure." He looked at Toronado, and swallowed deep. Nice horse, good horse, Madre de Dios. He climbed into the saddle and took a good seat. "Diego, how do I tell him to go to the cave?"

Toronado heard go and cave, immediately he bursted into gallop. Mendoza didn't know what hit him, he almost flew off. Hang on, hang on, please do not fall. How does Diego do this and make it look comfortable, I feel like I'm going to be blown off as fast as we're going now. "Easy boy, easy!" Please tell me the cave isn't much further, now my arms are getting numb from hanging on. We're slowing down, please tell me we have arrived. He looked up and saw Toronado walking towards to cave entrance. Gracias a Dios, I have made it. Never have I been so glad just to get of a horse. He saw Felipe and his worried face. How do I tell him Diego is all right. I better try something. He made the sign of a Z, knowing Felipe knew that sign and gave a thumb up. "Now how to tell you that he is distracting the lancers?" Mendoza looked at Felipe and saw that he was actually nodding. "How did you know what I said? I wasn't even looking at you when I said it!"

Felipe knew he screwed that one up, how could he have known what Mendoza said if he couldn't have seen his lips move. That was stupid of me, what should I say? The truth or make something up, but what could convince him? He sighed and pointed to his ears.

Mendoza looked at him. What is he trying to say, something with his ears, but what could he mean? Could he mean that he heard me saying it, but it can't be, he's deaf. Unless, that was how Diego found out about everything. Felipe was in town and he picked up on very sign of trouble, everyone would continue to talk 'knowing' he was deaf. Absolutely brilliant!

The cave entrance opened and they both looked around, Diego walked in grinning. Felipe and Mendoza both looked puzzled at him.

"What are the two of you looking at, did I do something wrong?"

Mendoza was the first to speak out his question. "Diego, I think I'll be speaking for the both of us, if I ask why are you grinning like that?" Felipe nodded.

"You know that you are accused of aiding me, right?"

"I don't think I'll be able to forget it."

"Let's just say I gave the alcalde a message with them, instead of just the usual Z, I also made an M into their uniform. When the alcalde sees that I'm sure he'll be outraged, knowing you also beat him. That will be too much for him."

Mendoza and Felipe started to laugh with Diego about it, they wished they could see the look on the alcalde's face, when the lancers would rapport.

"Mendoza you'll have to stay here, till it is save for you to come out, till then you'll have to share with Toronado. Tomorrow I'll have a surprise from you, I'll see you then." Diego and Felipe left the cave and Mendoza was left alone with Toronado.

Where should I sleep? The floor is too cold and I can't sleep in Toronado's stable, guess it has to be a chair. It will be a long night. Toronado snorted and Mendoza looked at him. "I don't like this any better than you do, you know!" He sat in the chair by the desk and closed his eyes, hoping to get at least some sleep.

Meanwhile in the alcalde's office DeSoto sat fuming, how dare Mendoza do this to me, when I get my hands on him, he'll get to know pains he's never experienced before. He and Zorro, a bumbling mess of incompetence and an outlaw, how in the world did they get the idea to team up? This has to be the worst day ever! I should be having the gallows erected now and Zorro climbing on, but no, he escaped and I didn't even get that traitor! They will both pay for this dearly, I will not rest untill I get them both where I want them, and till they're both dead. Dead! He sighed, hoping he would get them soon.

The next day Mendoza felt kind of alone, he had been awake for hours now and still no Felipe or Diego. What could be keeping them? I'm starting to get hungry, I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon. When they come down, please let there be some food. He was getting bored and he decided he needed some distraction, what can I do to get over those thoughts of hunger? He looked at Toronado. By now even he seems like a meal to me. He walked to Toronado and stroked him a couple of times. He decided to brush a clean him up a bit, that would pass time for a while. He started to get some brushes and began brushing, by the time he was almost done he heard someone come down towards him. He looked around and saw Diego with a big plate.

"Gracias Diego. Are they still looking for me?"

"Sí, they are. How are you feeling today? Hopefully you managed to get some sleep."

"I'm, fine Diego, but I was wondering if you have something I could sleep on. The chair wasn't as comfortable as I hoped."

Diego walked to the other side of the room. "That will have to wait till later, first your surprise, the one I said I would give to you."

"Oh sí, what is it, a bed, more food, or are you going to move me somewhere else?" Mendoza got worried by the last possibility, if that was the case, he figured it won't be long till the alcalde found him.

"None of those options, believe it or not, I'm going to teach you how to fence. You wanted to learn, but I had to decline last time. Considering the possibility the alcalde saw your rapid improvement. Now I don't have to worry about that anymore, and if you get good enough, you can go out of the cave. By then you would be able to defend yourself if you were discovered, I hope."

"You mean you're actually going to teach me? When do we start, if learning means getting out of here, I can't wait to begin! Where do you suppose we start? With parries, lunges you say it!"

"Sorry to disappoint you, Mendoza, but knowing your skill as it is, we better start at the basics. Beginning with footwork."

The sergeant sight, by the looks of it, it may be a while before I get out of here. At least I'll have something to do, when I'm alone. And I'll show him, I'm going to be his best pupil!

"Mendoza keep your left leg stretched and bent your right leg a bit. If someone makes a lunge at you, it will make it easier for you to retreat. Like this." Diego made a lunge at him and Mendoza did what he was told to do. He retreated a little bit to far and fell down. Diego grinned, well it's a start if he knows how to stay on his feet, he'll know how to retreat. In his case it would be the smartest thing to do. "Mendoza I have an idea, can you wait for a couple of seconds, while I go get Felipe."

Diego left and Mendoza tried a couple more times ending with the same result.

A minute later Diego and Felipe came to him. "Felipe, I'll lunge and you retreat." Felipe nodded and made a perfect retreat. "Mendoza, see how he did it, you should not push it, just go back a little. If you go too far you will lose your balance. I want you and Felipe to practice this, Felipe you lunge and Mendoza retreat, that will be it for today. By the end of the day hopefully, you'll manage that. Tomorrow I'll show you how to hold your sword properly. After that we'll start to work on your moves. You know how to fence, but the problem is that you have never learned how to execute the moves properly. That is what we will work on. Once you master that, you could come a long way."

"You really think so, if we managed that, do you think I could beat the alcalde?"

"I believe you can do it, you just have to believe in it. Right now you don't even have any confidence in yourself. When that changes, your fencing will improve rapidly."

Mendoza nodded and grabbed his sword, this is going to be a long day.

Later in the evening Diego came back bringing some clothing for Mendoza, he looked at Felipe and Mendoza practicing. Mendoza has improved these last few hours, he keeps on his feet and it seems he's learned how to engage an attack after a retreat. Not to bad, Felipe seems to be enjoying it as well, not being disarmed every time. "Mendoza, I see you are able to stay standing and learned how to engage a attack. I suppose I have Felipe to thank for that."

"Sí, he's been great, actually it came almost by itself, when I had to retreat I had to keep my arm down and I felt more control in that position. Normally my arm would be all over the place, but now I keep it where it is and everything is more fluently."

"In that case I don't think I'll have to show you how to hold your sword tomorrow, you all ready hold it more firmly, more relaxed. You were so uptight you didn't know what you did or were doing. Now you are more relaxed and everything falls into place. Tomorrow we will practice some moves and by next week we'll practice dueling a bit, if you have improved well enough by then, you can go out sometimes, not to far and you must tell me so Zorro can keep an eye out. Just in case."

"Gracias Diego for everything, I do hope I will not disappoint you in any way. You know, when you told me you were going to teach me how to fence, I told myself I would be your best pupil ever, but I realize that you hardly do anything, it has been inside me all this time. Still I do not think I'll ever beat you."

"The most important thing will be you being able to defeat DeSoto. When that happens you can go out as much as you want."

"Diego, I would like to beat DeSoto, perhaps that humiliation will drive him out of town."

"I doubt it, but it would be a welcome sight." Both men laughed at the thought and went to get some sleep.