Death Feud 11
Calisto Sola was fuming. What did that capitán have to show up for at that moment? Why did he have to be in the company of the corporal, a man that had seen him during his attack in Santa Ana? There was no way he could pull through with his plan for this night. He'd have to reschedule.
Briskly he walked across the plaza, but managed to control his anger enough not to slam the tavern door shut behind him. He also managed not to stomp up the stairs or to slam the door to his room. But that's where his self restraint ended. He smashed his fist on the cabinet next to the door and swore.
"Puta mierda!" He paced through the room, regretting having raised his voice. Kicking off his boots, he hoped to soften his pacing. His mind was working overtime. What could he do now? How would he pull it off? It didn't matter that he had four more people to overcome. That was the least of his problems. In a way, he was sort of happy. With Capitán Toledano there, he now had a real commandante to kill. He could spare the fat sergeant. A smile flickered across his enraged features. He might just do both of them in. But when?
The man began to calm down, stopping at the small table across the window, which was cracked open a bit. Emptying his ammunition belt, he sorted the spraying bottles onto the table, checking them over for leaks out of habit. Seeing that everything was in order, he allowed himself another smile. Calisto took a deep breath. Everything would work out. He'd just have to set up a new plan. As a thought entered his mind, the smile vanished.
"Malditas," he muttered under his breath. "I can't postpone it. The corporal will recognise me in the light of day." Shaking his head, Calisto began pacing again. That corporal had seen him close up, just before he had doused him with his devilish mist. There was no chance the man would not recognise him in the daylight. There was only one way he could accomplish his mission now. Making up his mind, Calisto nodded his head up and down, and, picking up a spray bottle, the smile found its way back on his face.
"Before dawn," he grinned and turned to get himself a drink of water from the pitcher next to the bed. He didn't see the black shadow disappearing from his balcony.
***ZzZ****
Zorro had seen and heard all he needed. As the man he'd been eavesdropping on turned, he stealthily slipped away, rejoining Bernardo on the adjacent balcony. He prepared for the upcoming scolding since he had slipped away to spy on the stranger before his loyal friend could sign his objections.
Now that he knew the plans of the man, he motioned to his friend to follow him, only stopping once he'd reached his other loyal friend, Tornado. After Bernardo caught up with him and furiously started signing, Zorro put a calming hand on the mozo's shoulder.
"Hold your horses, Bernardo. Yes, I took a risk going on his balcony. But he was so absorbed with his failed attempt he wouldn't even have noticed me if I'd been wearing white." Bernardo just waved his hand angrily, adding some more signs. "Why didn't I put an end to his plans right now, since we're now sure he's involved?" Bernardo nodded sharply. Zorro sighed. "Well, it's not that easy, my friend. I do think he's the sole responsible person, but I can't be sure he works alone. There would be the chance that his accomplice finishes the task while we relax."
Bernardo quizzically looked at his master, then he proceeded to shake his head. Zorro followed his signs closely, and then nodded. "I see. You mean I could have made him talk, this way we would know if others were involved or not." Bernardo nodded again, pointing at Zorro's sword, imitating the weapon pointed at an imaginary foe. Zorro smiled. "You're right, I'm sure Zorro would have beaten him with the blade, but he just had to use his secret weapon."
Bernardo frowned and signed his question. "Well, again I can't be sure, but that man had several bottles with him that certainly weren't empty. You yourself told me that all soldiers mysteriously have been put to sleep. Reyes' message to Garcia confirmed the assailant had sort of a spraying device. I'm sure it's those bottles I saw. And I'm equally sure he wouldn't have hesitated to use it on me, had I tried to get close to apprehend him. It is too risky, Bernardo. I have no choice but to wait him out."
While Zorro had been pointing out his reasons, Bernardo's face began to show his worry more and more. Now that he understood Zorro's actions, his anger thoroughly dissimilated, changing into great concern. Looking up he saw his friend's attention on him and signed.
"What we'll do now, Bernardo, is wait until dawn." A smile crossed Zorro's face at the surprise on Bernardo's features. "This man will strike again at dawn. Yes, he said as much. But even then, I'm afraid Zorro's game will be one of waiting at first. I have to see how exactly his spray works to formulate a plan." Bernardo's hands excitedly formed a few signs. "No, my friend. I will need you to cover for Diego. My beloved father has decided that Diego must join him on the first vigilante shift after dawn. You will have to let him know that I've been reading past my bedtime again."
Sighing, Bernardo signed his consent, but it was clear the mute didn't like it. "I know, mi amigo, I don't like it either. I promise not to take any risks unless it's utterly unavoidable. I won't let that maniac nail Garcia or Toledano to the garrison gate, nor anyone else for the matter. This crusade will end here."
***ZzZ***
Capitán Toledano was pleased to see his letter to Diego de la Vega had been successful; the dons were involved in securing the garrison. After a thorough debriefing of Garcia and Don Alfredo, he had retired to rest, along with Reyes and the two lancers that had accompanied them. Guards would be standing as assigned by the sergeant. After dawn, new plans would be decided upon.
Despite the long and hard ride to Los Angeles, Toledano found sleep wasn't coming easy. His thoughts were revolving around the madman and his actions, as well as around defensive strategies and... Zorro. What was the masked avenger up to? Did he have a plan? Would they, together, be able to defeat and stop these awful attacks? The military, the civilian army of dons, and Zorro? Surely, this combination should be able to overcome one assassin. Granted, Toledano couldn't be sure it was just one man, but his gut feeling told him the man was alone.
***ZzZ***
At the crack of dawn, Bernardo had the unpleasant task of informing Don Alejandro and Soledad that Diego was still sleeping like a log and couldn't be woken. The manservant had a hard time keeping Don Alejandro from rushing into his son's room, intending to drag him out of his bed by his ears, if necessary. Much to Bernardo's relief, Soledad came to the rescue.
"Don Alejandro, I'm sure Diego will make up for his shortcomings by helping the following shift on guard duty. Dragging him now, overtired, wouldn't do either of you any good. He wouldn't be any help and you'd just misdirect your attention."
Don Alejandro stared at his almost daughter-in-law, processing her words. Composing himself, he smiled. "You're right, my dear. And misdirecting attention at this time would be most ill advised. I would just like to know where I've gone wrong with the boy." Shaking his head, Don Alejandro went to the table to sit down for breakfast.
Soledad followed suit, but before sitting down she addressed the don again. "I'm sure you did everything just right. Diego is a wonderful person, you should be proud of him. I know he will make his sleeping in up to you, one way or another." With that, she took her seat, aware that Diego's father was watching her intently.
"You're right again, Soledad. I am proud of him, in my own way. After breakfast I will escort you to your hacienda before heading to the garrison."
"There's no need, Don Alejandro. I will ride part way with you, but I can make the last bit home by myself."
"Very well then," the grey haired man nodded and smiled.
***ZzZ***
Zorro had been dozing from time to time in his hiding spot on top of a roof across from the tavern, so he had a good view into the stranger's room. Each time he had nodded off, he'd startled awake, determined not to doze off again. This time, he'd seen movement coming from the room he was observing. On the horizon, the first signs of the impending sunrise started to show and right on time, the stranger stirred.
Fully awake with adrenaline, Zorro slipped off the roof and stealthily made it to his hiding spot alongside the garrison wall. He didn't have to wait long to see a shadow slipping from the tavern, creeping his way along the walls over to the cuartel. Zorro's eyes were used to seeing in the dark, but even he had a tough time following the shadow.
When he saw the man climbing up over the wall at the east side of the cuartel, Zorro quickly moved himself, taking a higher position so he wouldn't lose eye contact. Now the shadow was looming right above a lancer standing guard. As Zorro started to move in closer, the man dropped from the wall right in front of the lancer, who immediately sprang alert, only to fall silently to the ground as the shadow held something invisible to Zorro at the soldier's face. But for the body hitting the ground, no noise had been audible.
At this hour, Zorro knew there were five dons and five lancers on guard. He could see another lancer's belt reflecting the dim light of the lantern that was hanging at the office door, illuminating the yard rather badly. Struggling to remain soundless, Zorro rushed after the shadow. When he came past the fallen lancer, he stooped down, making sure the sentry was alive. Then he hurriedly crept after the man responsible, just in time to see another lancer sliding to the ground.
Zorro decided the time to wait had past. He was ready to take action. Sprinting to the commandante's office, he drew his sword and used the iron pin to ring the triangle to alert everyone in the cuartel. Naturally, it also drew the attention of the crusader. The dons and lancers, although already awake, still had a hard time seeing in the twilight and Don Alfredo and Don José, who had been closest to the attacker's position, crumpled unconscious before Zorro could shout his warning.
"Señor!" The masked bandit called, trying to direct the man's attention solely to himself. "You have no chance of escape. Every soldier will be rushing you in a moment."
"Damn you, Zorro," the man muttered, continuing to aim his arm at anyone approaching him. Zorro couldn't make out the man's facial features as he turned to him, for all but his eyes were covered with a bandana. The sound of rushing feet was heard as the lancers, who had been sleeping, rushed the yard, led by the sergeant.
"Watch out, Sergeant!" Zorro called. But Garcia was on a roll and not quick enough to react and in no time, a misty cloud surrounded him as well as a few lancers who were on his heels, and they all collapsed to the ground. Stunned for a moment, Zorro moved towards his soldier friend, changing his direction when he saw that the attacker had made use of his distraction and unbolted the garrison gates, pushing them wide open.
Jumping over the banister, Zorro rushed to keep the man from escaping. The other dons and soldiers kept a respectful distance to the madman, nobody wanting to be the next to fall senseless to the ground. Capitán Toledano moved to the front, throwing a quick glance in Zorro's direction, a smile tugging on his lips.
Zorro, having caught that smile, nodded to the capitán in a silent understanding. Surprising to both men, who were cutting off the escape route, their target changed direction, running to the stables and, grabbing the next best horse, he swung on bareback and kicked the animal's sides as hard as he could. The beast sprang to live, jumping at the capitán, and the rider, for good measure, deployed his spraying mechanism one more time, sent the capitán falling to the ground like a stone.
Shaking off his momentary stupor, Zorro reacted as quickly as possible and whistled for Tornado. Seconds later, the black stallion thundered past, Zorro jumping on in full flight, in pursuit of the escaped assailant.
The rising sunlight bathed the garrison in a golden light, illuminating the prone bodies of Capitán Toledano, Sergeant Garcia and the other fallen men. The ones still standing up looked at Corporal Reyes and Don Nacho, awaiting their orders.
***ZzZ***
Tornado flew after the escapee, chasing the man across the plains. Having made a lucky choice in the horse, Calisto Sola was able to keep a distance to his pursuer, although Zorro did make up ground steadily. Not knowing the area, all Sola could do was choose a random direction. He tried to avoid buildings and changed course however slightly when a rancho appeared in front of him.
Zorro noticed the man was headed towards the mission ruins, a smile forming on his face. The ground there was rough, but Tornado was sure footed, a quality that the military horses lacked. He was sure he would catch up to the man there.
***ZzZ***
Soledad Fabregás said goodbye to Don Alejandro as they separated for the last few miles to her hacienda. Spurring her mare to a gallop, she enjoyed the rising sun she was riding towards, illuminating her hacienda from behind. A few yards shy of the gate, she pulled her mare to a stop and was about to dismount when she noticed a swift movement in her peripheral vision.
Turning her head, she saw a rider chasing across the plains, seemingly in a great hurry. She watched the man, not knowing what to make of it, when a second horseman entered her line of vision. It only took Soledad a split second to recognise this man.
"Zorro," she breathed, her heart rate speeding up. Zorro was pursuing the first rider, and Soledad immediately knew he was the man responsible for the attacks on the cuartels. Making up her mind, Soledad dug her heels into her silver-greyish mare's side and galloped after them.
***ZzZ***
As Soledad raced after the pair, she didn't see another rider appearing at the horizon, though from the opposite side. Raúl Fabregás had been riding all night and was happy to finally have his hacienda in sight. Arriving at the gate, he dismounted and entered the patio. Seeing nobody, he walked across and entered the sala, where he found their maid, Jolita.
"Don Raúl, what a pleasant surprise," the maid greeted him, curtseying. "If you're looking for your sister, however, I must inform you she isn't here."
"She's not?" Raúl frowned. "Where is she?"
"Oh, Don Alejandro and Don Diego insisted she spend the nights there because of that lunatic who attacks the garrisons. She usually returns after breakfast, but today you just missed her," Jolita explained.
"Missed her? She's gone out again? So early?" Raúl was confused.
"Well, not exactly again. I saw her from the balustrade outside the gate. She looked like she was going to dismount but she changed her mind and rode off again."
"When was that?" Raúl inquired, his gut feeling telling him nothing good.
"Only a few minutes before you arrived. She rode towards the old mission, if you wish to follow her."
"Gracias, Jolita. I'll do just that."
***ZzZ***
Zorro noticed as the ruins came in sight, that the man he followed deliberately steered his horse that way. Still, about 150 feet ahead, he saw the man dismount and start to climb the ruined walls of the former mission church steeple. How the man figured that would help him escape was beyond Zorro.
Tornado pulled up next to the exhausted steed of the fugitive and Zorro slipped off, quickly climbing after the man. Having scaled these walls often in his youth, the masked man made it up a lot faster than Calisto Sola. About eight feet off the ground, he had almost caught up with him.
Sola noticed he was at a disadvantage if he kept climbing and stopped, turning around to face Zorro. His hand went to his belt and he fumbled to free another bottle of his spray. Zorro, having noticed the move, stopped as well, drawing his sword.
"Why don't you surrender, Señor? There is no escape." Zorro called firmly.
"I will never surrender," Calisto spat back, continuing to fumble with his belt. Zorro realized that as soon as the man managed to free his bottle, the odds would change dramatically into his opponent's favor. Trying to close the distance to prevent Sola from untangling his belt, he climbed quickly towards the man.
In a desperate move to get hold of his unbeatable weapon, Calisto tugged roughly at the bottle. He was sweating and panting and the bandana around his mouth had slid down when he'd started his climb. Zorro was now close enough to grab his boot, when finally the bottle came loose. In his frenzy, however, he'd tugged so hard that the whole top came off and the contents of the bottle splashed out.
Calisto's moment of glee, when Zorro started to tumble, was short lived, as the next breath he took made him a victim of his own device, and his world turned black.