Chapter 11: The captain's plan
"What is happening?" Asked Diego by joining the padre.
The noise repeated, saving the missionary from answering. Puzzled, Diego went closer and observed the long box. A smile lightened his face.
I should have thought about it. He thought.
"Padre... We should carry this box in one room." Said Diego by making sign to Bernardo.
But this one nodded negatively.
"Are you sure, Diego?" Asked the padre.
"Yes."
The padre asked the natives for help, but they refused to get closer. Bernardo, seeing his friend wincing by lifting up a part of the box, sighed and caught one side.
"I'm afraid we have to carry it alone, Padre." Remarked Diego.
The padre rolled up his sleeves and lifted up another side of the box.
"It has a good weight." He remarked.
"The captain had warned me."
"It's true that you told it to me when you arrived." Smiled the padre with difficulty.
Under the terrified looks of the natives, Diego, Bernardo and Felipe took the box inside the mission. They stopped at the first free room where they put the container on the floor. Then, they got back their breathing; Diego caught his left arm a little more painful, since the effort.
"Can you explain this to me?"
"I was taken in like a greenhorn." Jokes Diego.
"On which topic?"
"On a strategic one... We have to deceive our friends to better mislead our enemies." Philosophized Diego before making sign to Bernardo to go and pick up a rod and a hammer.
"Knock if you hear me." Said Diego to the crate waiting for Bernardo.
The padre watched Diego, puzzled. There was a short silence and someone knocked the box. The young De la Vega then went to the opposite side.
"I'll insert a crowbar under the cover to make a lever. Above all, don't move. If you understood me, knock twice."
There were two clear and distinct knocks while Bernardo came back. Diego thanked his friend silently and took the demanded tools. Then, he hit a first time looking for the suitable place to the insertion. The second hit, sharper, was the good one. The crowbar rose up slightly the cover of the box. Without letting go of the rod, Diego gave the hammer to Bernardo, and then he pressed the crowbar, but that one didn't move. Forcing a little more, he felt a sharp pain in his left arm and just as soon slackened his effort. He made sign to Bernardo to help him.
The plank lifted up then, cracking here and there.
"Gracias a Dios." They heard.
The effort was prolonged and Diego made a painful wince which didn't escape the padre.
"Diego?" He interrogated.
"I'm fine, Padre." He answered by feeling a bit nauseous. "Señor, could you help us from inside by pushing the plank, por favor."
"Si." Retorted the man in the box.
After a last effort, the plank withdrew, permitting to the man to free himself from the box.
"Gracias, Señores." Said the man looking at his saviors.
When his look crossed the one of Diego, he blanched and stepped back, missing falling by hitting the box.
"Padre Felipe, let me introduce you to Sancho. Sancho, here is Padre Felipe which will give you shelter until the end of this affair."
"H... How?" Sancho stammered, incredulous.
"The pueblo believes you're dead; the news will quickly reach the ear of the man who wishes your death."
The vaquero frowned and took a place on the bed while Diego took a seat and the padre installed himself nearby Sancho.
"How did I get in this box?" Questioned the vaquero.
"I assume that the lancers put you inside. When? I don't know... Doctor Avila also certified your demise."
"But... But it's impossible."
"It's the idea of Capitán Toledano that wanted to shelter you."
"Here is my plan..." Remembered Diego. "I presume that you must know Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare."
"Yes, it's a play where the two lovers find death in a dramatic way, bringing closer then their families, enemies since generations." Explained Diego.
"Without taking back the drama of the story, do you remember how Juliet puts an end to her life the first time?" Questioned Toledano.
"She drinks a potion, after which she is said to be dead."
"You have a good memory, Don Diego."
"I deserve no credit; I read the play again recently."
"Where do you want to go?" Asked Don Alejandro, intrigued.
"The idea is simple, I will pass the prisoner Sancho off as dead and Don Diego will bring him in all discreetness to the mission where he will have shelter. If, of course, the padre won't see any inconveniences. But, Don Diego, you'll have to go to the mission without any military escort. It will risk bringing attention."
"I thank you for worrying, Capitán, I learnt to travel with carefulness. El Camino Real is busier on this time of the year; the bandits don't dare to show."
"Another thing, Don Diego, in order for it to seem normal, if you have some supplies to bring to the padre, come with a cart already well full. The more boxes there are, the less it would be suspicious."
"I understand."
At the same time in the pueblo, in the comandante's office.
"Mi Capitán?"
"Si, Sergeant?"
"Would had it been more correct to inform Don Diego? Did you see the dull face he did?"
"It's some strategy, Sergeant. By now, he must have discovered the truth. However, I thought he would have understood by seeing the box... What is it about the second prisoner?"
"He doesn't stop sniggering like a fool since the announcement of Sancho's death."
"He won't snigger for long. Did he cause any trouble last evening?"
"No. When we brought the meals to the prisoners, we added a glass of wine on his tray. He'd rather had drunk the glass of water in one gulp... You must not be clean to prefer water to wine." Remarked the sergeant by nodding, piqued. "After which, like you said, he fell asleep."
"And Sancho?"
"His hand was forced a little, he didn't want to drink nor eat. We didn't force him physically... We drank a toast together."
"On which honor did you have a toast?"
"Well... That is to say, mi Capitán." He said ill at ease. "We drank a toast to the honor of... Zorro."
"To Zorro?" Astonished Toledano.
"Si. I persuaded Sancho that Zorro will manage to stop the man who is after him and that he would be able to take back his place nearby the señorita. After that, he fell asleep at his turn and we put him in the box."
"You don't stop surprising me, Sergeant."
"Gracias, mi Capitán."
"By the way, do you know, on the off chance, what happened to Don Diego six months ago?"
"He was attacked by bandits. He was accompanied by his manservant... I didn't interrogate Don Diego a lot on this topic. I didn't want to annoy him after having seen in which state he was."
"It was so serious?"
"According to Don Alejandro, he nearly lost his life."
"And the bandits? Were they arrested?"
"No." Answered the sergeant ill at ease.
"And Zorro? Did he not intervene?"
"There were rumors that he was busy in San Juan Capistrano at the time."
Rumors... It's a good strategy. Thought Toledano.
...
"My son, you must not get out of the mission, no matter what! These aren't the natives which will betray you." Explained Padre Felipe.
"I understand, but..."
"Your life depends on this condition. I heard tell that Zorro was vaguely aware to where El Lobo is hiding." Remarked Diego.
"Zorro is firmly awaited. El Lobo, he..."
"You can speak freely, Son." Underlined the padre.
"The only time I went to the camp, I heard talk. The area around it is riddled with traps, chevaux de frise are scattered here and there. The men are armed with flintlocks and percussion pistols... It is presumed that he has a pistol which can shoot four times and that he prefers to use it rather than his saber or his dagger."
"It's not a camp, it's a fortification... Even the lancers couldn't enter without troubles." Concluded Diego.
"Don't be so sure, there are two un-trapped roads. One is guarded day and night. As for the other, it leads to a second camp. Even if Zorro could elude the traps and get in, nothing says he would be able to get out alive."
"Do you have any idea about the setting up of the traps?" Asked the young don.
"No, Señor."
"It doesn't matter." Winced Diego as he stood up by leaning on the seat.
"Diego, you're bleeding." Realized the padre by noticing his wince.
The effort given must have had reason to reopen my wound. He realized.
"Padre, I think that I will sit again a little time." Said Diego, nauseous again.
Bernardo hastened nearby his friend. Diego put his hand on his arm to assure him.
"Señor?" Questioned Sancho.
"It's just a sudden feeling of exhaustion." Argued Diego.
"And your arm? You have hurt yourself by helping me, I ..."
"No, Sancho. It's a recent injury, even if I didn't help you, it would have ended to come up." Interrupted Diego while Bernardo helped him to take off his vest and shirt. "By the way, Sancho, Doña Salena isn't cross with you and she knows the capitán's plan."
"The patrona... She is really someone with a great heart. I have... My son, Francisco, if it wouldn't have been for him, I..."
"Speak, my child, it will be good for you." Explained the padre as he took care of Diego's arm. The wound was reopened.
"The day before I tried to trap the señorita, it was also when I made these discoveries about the camp, but this is also when I realized that my son was abducted by this man. I didn't have another choice but obeying him if I wanted to find my son alive..." He explained with emotion.
"This person is really vile." Said Diego by gnashing his teeth and clenching his fists with rage. "Sancho, be confident in me. I'm certain that all will end well for your son."
"Gracias, Señor." Smiled the vaquero.
He doesn't know why, but the young don inspired great confidence and he has to return that one. He made then the promise to follow the advices of the padre and the ones of the young don.
Once Diego was treated and that he had recovered a tiny bit, he returned to the hacienda with Bernardo. There, he went to change his clothes before going to explain to his father and Salena what it was about. It was useless to worry them more than necessary.
"My friend, it would be preferable that I don't do anything till Saturday. My arm needs rest and I don't think that El Lobo will try anything until then."
Bernardo indicates him his arm and brought the balm.
"I wouldn't say no."
...
Miles away, a horseman arrived in an out of the way place and stopped his mount before drawing the sentry's attention. A hooting answered him and he took back his ride, slowly.
"Manuel? What are you doing here?" Asked a man, his right arm in a sling, as he saw him arriving.
"Hola, Yago! I must see Don... El Lobo." He corrected himself. "There is movement at the cuartel."
Monastario raised his head, intrigued, and followed them with his sight. Yago led Manuel to the cabin.
"Señor." Bowed Manuel by saluting his chief.
"What news do you bring me?"
"Very sad news, Patrón." He said ironical. "It's about..."
"I'm listening."
"I... I don't remember his name."
"Manuel." Seethed El Lobo, growing impatient.
"It's concerning the man you ordered to abduct Señorita De Castillos."
"Yes?"
"He is dead." Explained Manuel abruptly.
"Dead? How strange it is... Do you know how?"
"No, I ignore it."
"It doesn't matter, it rids me of worry. However, try to learn more."
"Si, Señor."
"And since you weren't here yesterday, know that our plan has changed. All will take place on Saturday at the pueblo. Inform everyone you know."
"Si, Señor." Smiled Manuel tauntingly. "What about Zorro?" He asked as his smile vanished all of sudden.
"He will be there too, I'm sure of it. Therefore, I make it my business."
The talk didn't escape to Isabella, sitting in a corner with her son. She knew that she couldn't do anything, but listening always was interesting.
For what she learnt since she recovered, this man had in mind to get rid of high dignitaries, and he wanted to abduct Diego and a señorita. She had understood that there was a second camp less guarded... She had observed that each time El Lobo went out of the cabin, he checked to make sure the desk's drawer was locked. And it was again the case after Manuel's visit.
Isabella waited a moment before deciding to go and have a close look to it.
"Mama?" Questioned little Diego.
"Stay here like a good boy, Diego, Mama will come back." Whispered Señora De la Cruz by getting closer to the desk.
