Chapter 9

"Padre Benitez," he exclaimed surprised. "What brings you to us today?"

The padre looked gravely. "I need to talk to Don Diego if he is already up." The habit of Diego rising late was well-known in the pueblo.

"You're lucky. Padre, Diego got up early today. May I offer you a coffee?"

"Just some water will suffice."

"Padre Benitez!" Diego rose from his chair to greet the padre.

"I would like to speak to you in private, Don Diego. If you could spare me some time?"

"Of course, Padre."

Both went to the library and Diego offered him a seat.

"Diego, last night I was called to a family of newcomers to give a man the last rites. He got a fever shortly after he arrived here and the doctor wasn't able to do anything for him. Now his wife and his small children are dreading the future because they are without any money. While I walked back to Los Angeles I thought how I could help them and when I passed by your hacienda I thought of you."

"Of course, Padre, you can count on our family to help with money." Diego assured him.

"Well I wasn't thinking about your money, but about something that would provide a solution to both your and their problems."

"I don't understand, Padre."

"Diego, the late husband was quite tall and his figure matches yours."

Diego still looked perplexed at the padre, he didn't know what he was up to.

"Diego, can be speak openly? You have come to me for confession, so I know that you're Zorro and that Senorita Madeloca wants you to marry her because she found out your secret."

"I know Padre, but how can a dead man help me out of it?"

"You need to dress the man in your Zorro outfit and then his wife can collect the bounty for Zorro. With the money she can build a future for herself and her children while you can declare Zorro dead and marry your Victoria."

Diego started to beam at the idea. "Padre, you have just saved my life with your suggestion. But how does this agree with your obligation to speak the truth."

There is a price attached, Diego." The padre fixed him with a compelling gaze.

"What price?" Diego asked concerned.

"If I bury that man as Zorro, you must swear to me that Zorro is really dead and will never return again. That way I won't have to lie about Zorro's death."

Diego didn't need to think about. "I can easily swear that. If giving up Zorro is the price to be together with the woman I love, I'll do it."

The padre smiled as well. "Then I will return to that family. While I wait there for Zorro, I'll tell the family what is expected from them." After giving Diego directions to the house, the padre went back the road he came.

Z Z Z

After the padre had left, Diego went to the cave to prepare himself for Zorro's last ride. While Felipe saddled Toronado, Diego told him of his conversation with the padre.

"Felipe, Agnes expects me to pay her a visit today, but I can't. I want you to go to her father's hacienda and tell her that I'm too busy today. But you have to find a way to keep her from coming to the pueblo. Do what ever you need to make her stay away."

Felipe didn't like Agnes at all, but he saw the necessity of what Diego was asking of him. If needed, he would stay the whole day in the her company and that of her maid and listen to their silly talking. With a nod he assured Diego that he would do as requested. Eager to get on with it, Zorro was soon on his way.

Z Z Z

Victoria came rushing out of the tavern alarmed by the commotion. At first, she didn't know what the shouting was about until she saw the eyes of those in the plaza turned to the small cart that had entered the pueblo from the north.

A woman accompanied by two small children was leading the cart that carried a gruesome freight. A tall man lay in the back of it, dressed in black wearing a black mask.

"Zorro!" Victoria exclaimed, stepping closer. The body on the cart didn't move and from the flies that were flying around him it became clear that the man was dead.

In the center of the plaza the woman stopped and addressed Sergeant Mendoza who had approached her. "I want to talk to your alcalde. I bring you the dead body of Zorro and I want to claim the 6000 pesos for him."

"No," Victoria cried out, walking to the cart to have a look at the body. She saw the dress, the hat, the boots all of it looked familiar. From the corner of her eye she saw De Soto coming out of his office and then she fainted.

When Victoria came around again, she heard the woman haggling with the alcalde over the bounty. Shocked she looked up at the man who was holding her. Diego? But if he was alive who was the man on the cart?

Diego tightened his hold on her, supporting her with his arms. Leaning to down to her, he whispered for only her to hear. "Victoria, please play along. The alcalde must be convinced that Zorro is dead."

Surprised she looked at him, feeling only relief to see him alive. Loudly he said, "I'm sorry, Victoria. I know how much Zorro meant to you."

"Finally," de Soto triumphed. "Finally, I have you Zorro," though he knew that the dead man couldn't hear him any more. De Soto pulled the mask from the head and looked at his face.

"I don't recognize him," he said.

"Me neither," Mendoza shook his head. "But it's so sad that Zorro is dead." The sergeant wipe a tear from his eye.

"Mendoza, go fetch Dr. Hernandez. I want him to confirm the death of this man!"

"Si, mi alcalde!" Mendoza hurried away to return with the doctor.

"There is nothing I can do for this man. He is definitely dead," the doctor acknowledged.

"This can't be!" Victoria cried out. "Zorro can't be dead!" She didn't know what the reason for this charade was, but she would do what Diego asked her. Diego's arm around her shoulder gave her the strength to regain her composure after the initial shock. Diego admired her acting abilities and squeezed her slightly in assurance.

"Zorro definitely died last night, alcalde!" Diego joined the conversation while Victoria looked surprised at his statement. "We all feel very sorry about it and we should all be thankful what he did for this pueblo."

"Now that it's settled," the woman shyly took the word again, "I need to have that money for my children."

The padre had joined the group in the center of the plaza and looked sadly at the dead body. "That man is now in heaven and all we can do is to pray for his soul. The last deed Zorro can do is to have his bounty money used for something good. You, alcalde, must give this woman the money she needs to sustain herself and her children."

There was no way De Soto could contradict the padre. Ordering Mendoza to fetch the money from his office, he joined to crowd behind the padre who gathered his community to hold a service for their dead hero.

Zorro was buried later that day in the graveyard under the eyes of the citizens of Los Angeles. Among those in front was Victoria Escalante, who was comforted by Don Diego in her grief.

After everyone had dispersed and the woman had left with the money, De Soto wasted no more time lingering. Ordering Mendoza to help him pack, he was soon on his way to the harbor of San Pedro to catch the next ship to Spain. He would return in triumph, now that Zorro was dead and he had gotten rid of the legend.