Death Feud 10
A cheerful whistling accompanied Calisto Sola's steps as he leaped down the stairs that led from his room to the tavern. Last night had been successful for him as he managed to observe the garrison routines and fashion his devilish water to replenish the supplies he had. Upon seeing Sergeant Garcia when he was secretly watching the garrison, Calisto had decided to make it a bit stronger this time to ensure that a large man like the sergeant would stay unconscious for at least twenty minutes. Tonight he wanted to strike. Soon, there would be another message passed on to the governor.
There was one peculiarity he picked up on while observing the garrison, though. There seemed to be a group of dons standing guard alongside the soldiers. As Calisto had seen, they seemed to swap at certain intervals. And that could only mean one thing. The Los Angeles military was afraid of him.
An evil smile appeared on Calisto's face. They were right to be afraid of him. But to him it didn't matter if the sergeant recruited reinforcements. It didn't matter if he had to take out soldiers only or civilians as well. His silent weapon would render anyone unconscious, soldier or not. But Calisto immensely enjoyed the feeling of power that spread through his mind at the knowledge that he was feared.
He'd watched two changes of civilian guards, but the Señor de la Vega he had met seemed not to be involved. Maybe that cute waitress was right. The man didn't know how to fight. He had watched him going to the garrison after they had almost bumped into each other. Maybe one of his friends was playing soldier along with the other dons. But since he hadn't stayed to see him leave, it could have been any reason.
The counterfeit don flattered himself on his ability to read people and that Diego de la Vega certainly didn't ooze dangerous vibes. He would have nothing to fear from a rich, swordless caballero. That was as sure as the fact that the petite waitress had a thing for him, even though she certainly found him weird. Calisto's evil smile lingered as he looked around to see nobody besides himself in the tavern.
"Innkeeper," Calisto called as he sat down at his table in the corner. Hurriedly, the bald man shuffled over to him.
"Si, Señor Carvalho?"
"Bring me a large breakfast, por favor, and a strong, black coffee."
"Si, Señor, immediately."
"Rather make it a big cup," Calisto added.
Just as the innkeeper left the room, the door opened and Sergeant Garcia entered the tavern. He looked around for a friendly face who'd invite him to some breakfast or wine, but merely saw a stranger sitting in a corner. With a disappointed sigh, the acting commandante was about to turn around, when he hesitated. There was a stranger in town, and he didn't know about it.
As acting commandante, it was his duty to have all strangers report to him, especially with the recent events. Determined, the sergeant closed the distance between himself and the caballero.
"Buenos dias, Señor," Garcia called, friendly. "Allow me to introduce myself, I am Sergeant Demetrio Lopez Garcia, acting commandante of the Pueblo de Los Angeles." The stranger nodded, acknowledging the sergeant, and then looked past him as if to find out where his breakfast was. As there was no reply, Garcia ploughed on.
"It is my duty to find out all about the people who visit our pueblo, so kindly state your name and where you come from." When the stranger simply gazed at him, curious, the sergeant added, "Please?!" His intonation left it quite hard to discern whether this was a question or a mere form of politeness.
"Well, Sergeant," the man offered, "if it is your duty, who am I to deny you. My name is Calisto Carvalho and I come from San Pedro."
"Welcome to Los Angeles, Señor Carvalho," the sergeant greeted. "What business brings you to our pueblo?"
"No business, Commandante," Calisto stressed the title however slightly, "I'm merely travelling east to visit an old friend of mine, but I'm not a big traveller so I'm taking my time. I'm not used to long hours in the saddle like you soldiers are."
"Oh, you're right there, Señor Carvalho. A soldier's life is hard. Especially when one's pay doesn't arrive on time."
"Oh, you're expecting the payroll to be delivered?"
"We always expect it. The last one is only three weeks over due. It's still early. Usually there is about seven weeks delay."
"I see," Calisto said, an idea entering his mind. He could make use of the sergeant's presence and try and find out what the military view on his doings was. "But why don't you sit down, Commandante? Innkeeper? Bring another mug and a bottle of wine, please. Andale!"
"Gracias," Garcia beamed and quick as lightning took a seat opposite the new caballero with the generous heart. Little did he know that the man was pondering if he'd made the potion strong enough for this mountain of a man.
***ZzZ***
When Don Alejandro, along with his son, arrived at the pueblo around lunchtime, they were told that everything had been quiet. Diego decided to take a meal at the tavern.
"Are you going to join me, Father?" he inquired.
"In a moment, my son. I wish to discuss this night's shift with Sergeant Garcia. I will find you at the tavern," the hidalgo replied and slapped his son on the shoulder, dismissing him.
"Bueno," Diego smiled and left the garrison in the direction of the inn. He found a table in a quiet corner and waved to Maria to bring some wine. The young woman arrived a minute later, quietly putting the ordered wine and a glass on the table in front of the don.
"Gracias, Maria," Diego thanked her politely. "My father will be joining me shortly so we will require another glass as well as today's menu. I heard today you're serving Teo's famous chili con carne."
"Si, Don Diego. I will bring your order immediately." As Maria turned to fulfill her promise, Diego caught the hesitation in her movements.
"Maria," he called. When she turned to look at him, he continued. "Is everything alright? You seem so... tense."
Maria sighed and turned towards Diego again. The latter realized it was going to take a moment and gestured for Maria to take a seat. She gingerly sat on the edge of the offered chair and sighed, looking down at her hands in her lap, which she had folded.
"There is something you should know, Don Diego," she started, hesitantly. "Yesterday a new guest arrived, a travelling caballero from San Pedro. I think you've seen him, in a way. He said he almost collided with you."
"Si," Diego nodded, "I think I remember the gentleman. What about him?"
"Well, I don't know how to say this, Don Diego. But later, when he was having dinner, he saw your manservant, Bernardo, at the bar and asked about him, or rather, about you."
"About me?" Diego pretended to be astounded. "What could he possibly want to know about me?"
"You know, Don Diego, I have to admit the man creeped me out. I don't know why or how, but the longer I was talking to him, the creepier he became... to me, that is. He wanted to know your name and why you don't carry a sword. And then he asked about Zorro." Maria shuddered as she thought back to the feeling that man had evoked in her.
"What would he do with knowledge about me, or Zorro?" Diego pondered aloud.
"I don't know. I just thought you should know," Maria replied. "You don't know this man from somewhere perhaps?"
"No," Diego denied. "I don't think I've ever met him before yesterday. Muchas gracias for telling me, Maria."
With a tight smile, the barmaid rose and returned to the bar while Diego mulled over the acquired information and, mixing it with what he had learned from Bernardo, tried to make sense of it.
***ZzZ***
Two parties were making their way towards Los Angeles as fast as they could. The first party consisted of only one man. Raúl Fabregás was urging his horse to the quickest possible tempo. Only stopping for short times to rest the faithful horse and eat some, he decided to ride through the night as well so he could arrive at Los Angeles just after morning had broken.
He still did not know what exactly had triggered his urgency. All he knew is that he had an eerie feeling of being too late. Shaking off these haunting thoughts, the young don urged his stallion back into a gallop to make good time until the next mission, where he would allow his horse and himself a short rest.
The other party consisted of four uniformed men, equally travelling at the fastest possible tempo. They were nearer to their target and Capitán Toledano was positive they would reach the garrison shortly after nightfall. Hopefully, they would not arrive to a scene of bloodshed, as had occurred in San Diego and Santa Ana.
In the early afternoon, the capitán granted his men a short pause to drink and a brief rest for the horses, before reminding them what could await them if they were too late. Corporal Reyes and the other two lancers were tired, but, having witnessed the monster's deeds first hand, didn't much care for personal comfort. When the horses had quenched their thirst at a little stream they crossed, the small group picked up speed again, still heading east.
***ZzZ***
It was mid afternoon when Diego de la Vega returned to the hacienda, meeting up with his mozo and fiancée. After filling Soledad in on the happenings in town, he excused himself under the pretense of wanting to freshen up. A stealthy sign from his friend told Bernardo to meet Diego in the secret passageway.
"Ah, Bernardo, there you are," Diego greeted his friend. "I don't know how, but I have a strong feeling that tonight is the night. From what you and Maria have told me, I believe that strange caballero is our man." Bernardo's eyebrows knotted at Diego's words and the man shook his head.
"Maria confided in me the man gave her the creeps, and she was sorry she told him why Diego doesn't carry a weapon," Diego recounted, adding on the rest of his conversation in the tavern. "Me, too, I think this man is strange in more than one sense of the word. He doesn't look very dangerous, but if my intuition is correct, he certainly is. Zorro better be ready tonight."
Bernardo's forehead creased, indicating he was thinking. His hands worried the hair he had left and he paced back and forth in front of his master, who, despite the seriousness of the situation, couldn't keep an amused grin off his face. Suddenly the pacing stopped and Bernardo's face lit up with a smile, his index finger tipping his temple.
"You have an idea?" Diego asked, excitement creeping in his voice. The mozo nodded eagerly and started signing. His hand were moving about quickly and Diego had a hard time following him.
"Alright, my friend," he surmised once the flurry of fingers had ceased. "Let me see if I got you right. You want to return to town and keep an eye on our mysterious caballero in order to alarm the lancers and Zorro if needed?" Bernardo nodded. "It's too dangerous, my friend. The risk of getting caught is too great." Diego casually leaned against the wall, almost laughing at Bernardo's indignant expression.
"We know the last attacks always took place just after sundown, so Zorro will be there just before that time, keeping his eyes open. You, Bernardo, will be around, too. You will watch the stranger's room." At that, Bernardo jumped up, shaking his head, adding a few signs.
"How is that less dangerous than observing the man?" Bernardo's nod confirmed Diego's interpretation. "You can hide because all you will have to do is eavesdrop. No sneaking around, where you could be caught. There's a balcony at each room. You can hide on the adjacent room's balcony. The walls aren't the thickest, I'm sure you will be able to hear something. But, of course, that only becomes necessary if nothing happens tonight." Bernardo's expression showed clearly that he didn't like the idea too much, but he agreed.
"Now, with that settled, let's go to the sala to find my father - and Soledad," Diego smiled, much to Bernardo's delight.
***ZzZ***
As the sun was starting to set, a black clad horseman was racing his equally black steed towards the pueblo. Horse and rider seemed to be enjoying the rush, judging by the big smile on the masked man's face. When the pueblo appeared on the horizon, the pair slowed their pace and circled around. Soon, the ebony stallion was well hidden and the black shadow climbed across rooftops towards the garrison, finally laying flat on a neighboring building.
At the edge of the plaza, a figure briefly stepped out of the shadows of a tree, waving his arm, before disappearing again. The masked man smiled. His faithful helper was in place. Now, all he could do was wait.
He didn't have to wait long until, in the falling darkness, he saw a man emerging from the tavern, moving alongside its wall, trying hard to stay in the shadows. Every fiber of Zorro tensed as he watched the man making his way around the plaza towards the garrison gates. In his peripheral vision, he saw his friend disappearing into the backyard of the tavern, ready to take his position if needed.
Darkness was closing in fast now, and just as Zorro was about to change his position, in order to be able to intervene more quickly, the thundering beating of hooves crashed the silence. Zorro froze in place and kept observing. The mysterious figure in the shadows also froze. A moment later, four horses with riders, soldiers, as Zorro could make out, halted in front of the cuartel gates.
"Open the gates!" An authoritarian voice demanded. "This is Capitán Toledano from Santa Ana. I have Corporal Reyes with me."
A smile grew on the masked man's face, and he allowed himself to momentarily relax. Then, as the gates were opened to admit the soldiers, the fox kept his sharp eyes on the spot where he knew the assailant to be hidden. There was no movement in those shadows.
Only after the gates were secured again, Zorro could make out a vague figure, slowly leaving the hiding spot along the cuartel walls, openly walking across the plaza back to the tavern. Making up his mind, Zorro leapt into action, closing the distance to the inn to join his accomplice for the eavesdropping act.