Chapter 11

"So what did you mean by de Soto's last chance to catch Zorro?" Victoria asked on their way to the pueblo.

"A ship captain brought news to San Pedro. California is no longer a colony of Spain but belongs to Mexico now. The Mexican army should arrive here in less than a week to take over command."

"What does that mean for us, Diego? What will happen to de Soto and the members of the Spanish army?"

"I expect that all Spanish officials will have to return to Spain while the lancers will be given the option to pledge allegiance to Mexico and join their army or to return to Spain as well. In any case we will have a change of government."

"De Soto will have to leave Los Angeles in less than a week? That is really good news, Diego! Now I understand why he came up with that tax. He knows that he has only so much time left for a final effort to catch Zorro after all the years he has tried in vain."

"Yes, I believe that the news has already reached de Soto, yesterday or even earlier. I only wish that father had been more controlled and had not walked into de Soto's trap so easily," Diego said crossly.

Z Z Z

"De la Vega!" De Soto sneered at them as they entered the office. "I have been expecting you. Maybe you can talk some sense into your father!"

"Aren't you tired of having to eat in the garrison? Why are you inventing new taxes?" Diego grinned a bit about de Soto's sour expression on that remark. At least the banning from the tavern was starting to have some effect on the alcalde.

"Here are your pesos," Diego put a few coins on the desk. "I demand the release of my father!"

"Don't think this is going to be so easy, Don Diego," de Soto grinned smugly, shoving the coins back to Diego. "I want your father to pay the tax, not you. Unless your father pays the tax himself, he will stay locked in my cell."

"Will you let me talk to him?" Diego asked, trying hard not to show his anger.

"I won't stand in the way of a happy family reunion!" de Soto sneered. "Mendoza!"

"Si, Alcalde!" Mendoza promptly entered the office, having expected the call.

"Take Don Diego and his wife to Don Alejandro!"

Walking ahead, Mendoza opened the door leading to the prison cells.

"Diego, Victoria!" Alejandro rose from the cot he had been sitting on.

"Ten minutes, Don Diego. I'm sorry, but that is the rule," Mendoza apologized, leaving them alone.

"Father, I have talked to de Soto. He will let you go if you're willing to pay the tax," Diego tried to persuade his father.

"No, I have my pride, Diego. I won't give in to the Alcalde!" Alejandro continued to be stubborn.

"What do you want to achieve by that, Father? Don't you know that this is only another attempt of the Alcalde to catch Zorro?"

"I heard about the Mexican army taking over, Diego. Mendoza talked about it when he brought me lunch."

"But still you're not willing to give in? Do you expect Zorro to free you again?" Diego asked, annoyed.

"Diego," Alejandro stepped closer to the bars, lowering his voice. "There is something I must tell you."

"What is it, Father?" Diego and Victoria were standing at the other side of the bars, listening closely.

"In the long hours here in the prison cell I had some quiet time to think, and I finally understood a few things. I have been blind the last years, but now I know."

"What do you know?" Diego asked, suspiciously.

"I know that I don't want Zorro trying to free me from prison when this is obviously a trap to catch and kill him. I know that I don't want my only son to risk his life for his foolish father as he did so many years before when I was thrown in prison that first time. I know what Victoria made you give up for marrying her, just as she gave up her work in the tavern. I know who you are, and I want you to know that I'm very proud of you, Diego."

Diego looked astonished. "How did you find out, Father? Why so suddenly? Did Victoria tell you?"

Alejandro grinned. "No, she didn't, but after she stopped working at the tavern, she told me that you gave up something important for your marriage to her. I have been thinking about it when she wouldn't tell me what it was.

"I thought of your late night reading and your experiments. I even considered that you had a secret mistress, but nothing would fit when I knew you were so in love with each other. But then I wondered why Victoria was so reluctant to protest against the tax. She would only do that if there was something more important to her than the tax. It was as if she was protecting someone.

"And you have also been more active lately in countering the Alcalde's taxes, and I didn't believe it was because Victoria influenced you so much, as the Alcalde and everyone else believes. I know that you don't let Victoria tell you what to do. So why would you be so active suddenly, unless it wasn't suddenly and you had done it all the time? Then everything made sense."

Diego grinned. "Thank you, Father. It seems you have figured it all out. And all that after spending only a few hours in prison. What do you want to do now?"

"You both gave up a lot in the last few years; for the safety of the pueblo you postponed your life, waiting for each other. You sacrificed enough for the pueblo and for a foolish old man like me. Now it's my turn to sacrifice something. I won't give up my pride and give in to the Alcalde with his taxes, but I will give up a few days of my freedom. I have decided to stay in prison until the Mexican army arrives next week."

"Do you really want to do that, Father? The prison is not a nice place to stay!" Diego said, surprised by his father's decision.

"Yes, I do. I'd rather stay here than have you risk your life for me. And," he grinned conspiratorially, "I'll let the Alcalde keep hoping that he can still catch Zorro. The disappointment will be much greater in the end when he realizes that he has to return to Madrid with empty hands."

"Now I know where Diego got his slyness." Victoria smiled. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I am, Victoria, and it won't be so bad if can eat your delicious food that I smell in the basket." Alejandro breathed in the aroma of the freshly prepared food.

"You are right, Father," Diego smiled. "Victoria didn't believe you'd return home with us so easily, and she has prepared dinner for you. You will be eating better than the alcalde."

Victoria put the basket in front of the prison door. "I was worried to death while I was waiting for Diego to return, and cooking kept me occupied. It will be enough even if you give Mendoza a share."

"Thank you, Victoria," Alejandro smiled. "There's no need to worry anymore. I understand at last why you no longer confront the Alcalde, now that you know whose life you'd be risking. I'm sorry about what I said to you earlier. I'm safe here, and your husband who stays at home with you will be safe too, won't you, Diego?" he chuckled. "I think you made a promise to your wife, didn't you?"

"Yes, you are right, Father. I made that promise, and I will keep it, but that doesn't mean that I suddenly became incapable to ride. I could easily overcome the soldiers and get you out in a few minutes. There is no need in trying to protect me," Diego said self-confidently, annoyed by the concern of his family.

"I do believe you, Diego," Victoria assured him, "but no matter what, I will keep on worrying. We all know it's a trap. Please stay home. Do it for me."

His arms crossed in front of him, Diego sighed, looking at her defeated.

"The mighty Zorro has been conquered by love," Alejandro teased him.

"Time is up, Don Diego, Doña Victoria," Mendoza entered the prison room again. "You have to go now. Is that food that I smell?"

"Yes, I cooked some food for Father," Victoria confirmed. "Do you want some? I have some cakes."

"Cakes?" Mendoza pulled away the towel that was covering the basket. His hand hovered over the different foods as if he couldn't decide which one to take, and he stared at the cakes and licked his lips. Then he suddenly withdrew his hand. "No, I don't think I should eat these cakes. They aren't good for my stomach."

He stroked with his hand across his stomach and grimaced in memory of the last time he had tried food that the de la Vegas had brought to prison for Victoria. Diego hid his smile behind his hand.

"I can still eat at the tavern, Don Alejandro," Mendoza added, "while you have nothing else except the basket and the prison food." Mendoza opened the cell door and handed Alejandro the basket before he locked it again.

"Sleep well, Father," Diego wished him goodnight. "I will visit you again tomorrow."

"You too, Diego. Take care of your wife!" Alejandro winked as they left the prison, and Diego laid his hand protectively around Victoria's waist. At the door Victoria turned her head and smiled at her father-in-law gratefully.

Epilogue

Alejandro stayed in prison for only three days as the Mexican army arrived earlier than expected. Upon their arrival the taxes were rescinded, and he was released immediately, having earned the respect of the new temporary commander as an opponent to the unlawful Spanish rule. The new commander also hinted that he would prefer someone elected as the new alcalde who hadn't collaborated with the previous government.

Zorro was granted an immediate pardon as defender of the people under the condition that he didn't act against the new government.

De Soto was sent back to Spain on the next ship where he would try to pick up his career. The reports about his unscrupulous and unlawful rule had reached Madrid in addition to his inability to capture the famous outlaw Zorro for more than two years. If he was lucky, he could hope to stay in Madrid; if not he would be sent into one of the provinces, but he didn't believe in luck anymore. In any case it would be a low ranked job in the administration with no more power to rule.

Happy about the changes, Alejandro returned home to celebrate with his family who informed him that there would be a new de la Vega in about six months, the grandchild he had been waiting for all these years.

The End