Chapter Eleven
Second Encounter
It actually took Zorro very little time to find Stephano. As he crept around the back of the tavern in the darkness, intending to check Stephano's room, movement across the plaza caught his eye. Two forms crept along the roof of the cuartel, disappearing from view at the alcalde's office. Zorro knew immediately who it must be. Tax money and the reward for Zorro made a tempting target. 'Perhaps too tempting to pass up', Zorro thought as he, too, made his way to the cuartel, sticking to shadows before pulling himself up to the roof.
The soldiers were still out looking for the payroll bandits and the few that were left behind, were tired and not paying much attention. The small courtyard was deserted, but soft candlelight could be seen through the windows of the barracks, though there was no movement visible inside. No light came from the alcalde's office or private room and Zorro guessed the alcalde was out with the patrol for a change.
Zorro made his way to the sky light above the alcalde's office and peered inside. Moonlight streamed into the office and he watched as shadows moved below him. He waited a few moments before making his decision, and then moved to the edge of the roof above the window.
Joaquin worked at the safe as Stephano paced around him. He had to hide his annoyance as he rummaged through his small pile of tools. He was sure he would have the safe open within moments, but Stephano was still on edge from the deaths of the soldiers earlier in the day and moved around the office with nervous energy.
"You aren't making this any easier, Stephano," he finally said to his friend.
Stephano stopped abruptly. "Sorry." He leaned against the alcalde's desk while Joaquin continued his task, drumming his fingers along the edge of the desk as he waited.
Within moments, there was a soft click and the door of the safe came open with a squeak of metal. Stephano looked over to see a satisfied grin on Joaquin's face as he pulled out two bags of coins.
"You were right, hermano, the alcalde has been collecting a lot of taxes lately."
Stephano shrugged. "I heard it from the mouths of the citizens themselves. After sitting in that tavern for a few days, I learned that the alcalde is obsessed with two things. Capturing Zorro and finding new ways to collect tax money. Luckily we will benefit from both."
"And do you still think Zorro will show up here?"
Stephano nodded as he resumed his nervous pacing, keeping a careful eye on the door as he did so. "I would bet on it."
"It's getting late, what if he found out what the men are doing?"
Stephano shook his head. "How could he? Besides, with the men split into three groups, even if he stumbled across one of them, the other two would get the job done. And we'll have the tax money."
As Joaquin picked up one of the bags of coins, he noticed a stack of papers on the desk. He moved around the corner of the desk to get a closer look at the stack of wanted notices, his back to the window. A grin broke over his face as he looked at them. "Hey, Stephano, I wonder if we are on any of these posters."
"Funny, I was wondering the same thing myself," came a deep voice from behind him.
Joaquin spun around, but an iron fist sent him sprawling back across the desk, the bag of coins spilling across the floor. Stephano too had spun around at the voice, but drew his sword as he watched his friend hit the desk and then the floor. He waited as Zorro drew his own sword, then immediately lunged and attacked.
Within moments, Stephano knew he had no chance against Zorro. He was good with a sword, but Zorro was beyond good. Stephano was holding his own for now, but knew that the masked man was simply feeling him out, waiting for the moment when he would end it.
Keeping his back to the door, Stephano waited until he saw his friend stir.
"Time to go, Joaquin," he said as his friend stood. He saw Joaquin eye the coins on the floor, but said, "Leave it. Let's go!"
Stephano tried to deflect Zorro's attack, but felt his sword fly from his hand. Zorro stepped forward, but Stephano quickly backed out the door, following closely behind Joaquin. He pulled the knife he kept tucked into his sleeve and once he was clear of the doorway, he adjusted his stance to be ready for Zorro's next attack. He held the knife ready with cool confidence, knowing he was much better with a knife than he was with a sword.
The attack never came. Just as Zorro stepped out the door, a flurry of motion came around the corner of the building and barreled into the masked man. The pair went down in a tangle of limbs, but Stephano was relieved to see Jose pop up. He joined Stephano in a dead run toward the horses, not even pausing to look behind.
Joaquin was the first to get to the horses and had the reins pulled loose as Stephano and Jose mounted their horses at a dead run. The trio headed for the edge of the little pueblo, kicking their mounts faster when they heard a shrill whistle behind them as Zorro called his own mount.