Chapter 14: Tumult at Los Angeles
During Saturday morning as the De la Vegas ended setting up, a messenger came knocking on the hacienda's door. Diego, in the salon, went closer to see what it was about.
"Hola, Armando."
"Buenos días, Don Diego. There is a letter which just arrived for you." He explained by handing him the sealed envelope.
"Gracias." Said Diego by giving him a peso.
The messenger thanked him with a nod before slipping away, leaving Diego smiling when he saw the seal on the letter. Don Alejandro, coming from his office, noticed the good mood of his son
"Well! The news seem good, Diego."
The young De la Vega raised his head toward his father.
"I don't know yet, if it is good news or not, but its sender is interesting. Besides, I think that Zorro's presence at Los Angeles would be preferable than mine. So, I won't go with you later."
"And how will I explain your absence?"
"You will very well find an excuse, Father." He said before disappearing in the hacienda.
Don Alejandro sighed and went back in his office.
Diego returned to his room by the secret passage. There, he unsealed the letter and began reading. His smile vanished as he discovered the content of the message, his face hiding badly his worries before finding back a cheerful look.
It is imperative that Zorro prepare himself too. Thought Diego by putting away the message in a secret cover in the drawer when someone knocked at his door.
He took a blanket which he put on his back and went to open the door. Surprised by his outfit, Bernardo interrogated him.
"It's nothing, my friend. I have a sudden tiredness." He explained with a weary voice.
Bernardo looked at him, torn. Then he drew a Z with the tip of his finger. Diego nodded by smiling.
"You're perceptive, but I have to hoodwink everybody until the departure of my father and Salena." He said by getting into his bed.
Compassionate, Bernardo covered him before going out.
On the balcony, he met Salena.
"Bernardo, have you seen Diego?"
This latter nodded and explained to Salena that Diego had a sudden feeling of tiredness.
"The poor thing. Can I go to see him?"
Bernardo shook his head and made her understand that Diego needed quiet. Salena sighed.
"Well then, I will see him when he feels better." She said, piqued before going downstairs, followed by the manservant.
"Oh, there you are!" Exclaimed Don Alejandro. "Are you ready, Salena?"
"Si." She answered by having a quick look at Diego's bedroom window.
She had a very bad feeling since her awakening, and she didn't find time to inform her friend about it.
"Is everything alright?" Asked Don Alejandro in front of her sad face.
"Yes, Don Alejandro, everything is alright... I'm worried for Diego."
"It's just tiredness." He said without thinking. "No doubt that he will join us when he feels better."
Then, he invited her to get into the carriage. Salena got into the cart in silent, thoughtful.
When they arrived in Los Angeles, there were already crowds on the marketplace. Don Alejandro, scanning the area for lookouts, notices the discreet presence of lancers. Capitán Toledano was near his wife, the governor, the viceroy and their respective daughters. All were sitting on chairs perched on a platform. The alcalde, then in the crowd with his friends, looked at his pocket watch. It was nearing the hour.
He apologized to them and headed to the stage. Don Alejandro and Salena went closer at their turn.
A man in the crowd made a sign to one of his friends who passed on the code to another and so forth. However, one of them raged within himself, in revolt against this manipulation. His ire subsided when he noticed the absence of the young De la Vega.
Good, now I have to catch the attention of Don Alejandro De la Vega, but not now... Isabella, Diego, I will save you, should I die for it. I pledge. He thought.
Clenching his fists, he went closer to the stage of which the access was now in front of him. Then he waited, making himself as discreet as he could and lowered his sombrero, which he had on his head, to hide his face.
When the meeting hour struck on the pocket watch of the alcalde, this latter took a little bell, which he made tinkle until there was silence on the plaza.
On the rooftops, a shadow sneaked with fleetingness.
"Señores, Señoras, thank you for coming in such large numbers. You certainly wonder what the purpose of this meeting is. So, for it to be clearer, I will hand over to the Viceroy." Said Don Donatio by inviting Don Esteban to stand up.
"Gracias, Alcalde." He said as he stood up. "Citizens of Los Angeles, things are serious. Mexican armed forces are marching to California following the fall of Mexico City."
Numerous murmurs were heard in the crowd.
I understand better the plans of El Lobo. Thought Monastario, listening carefully to the speech.
"I don't wait for you to fight... I wait for you to choose what is advisable to do. I was not there when your grandparents built your pueblo. I was not there when you fought for its survival. Therefore, it's up to you, Citizens of Los Angeles, to choose. Are you going to let them come on your lands and welcome this force like a friend, or are you going to fight against an enemy? I allow you the choice by organizing a vote which will determine the future of your pueblo."
When the alcalde had made the bell tinkle, no one remarked the black shadow running on the roofs... No one? Not so sure.
Ah! Here he is. Smiled Monastario, face to the stage as he was scanning around looking for him. All will play now. He realized by observing his "chief" making space around him to move forward, as the viceroy just ended his explanation.
On the roof, Zorro noticed him and smiled.
Let's see what you will do... Señor De Otsoa. He thought, ready to intervene.
Tornado was waiting at the bottom, hidden in the shadow of a pillar.
"Traitor to the crown!" Protested strongly the man, focusing everybody's attention.
Don Sebastián, why am I not more astonished. Don Alejandro thought sarcastically.
"Señor?" Interrogated Don Esteban.
"Your speech is full of twaddle! You're just a politician without scruples. You abandoned the people and betrayed the will of the king by mocking what could happen to the pueblo... Death to the traitor." He exclaimed by rising his right fist.
Monastario sighed, it was the signal.
What is he waiting for? He questioned, awaiting the intervention of the outlaw.
When the man turned toward him with a severe face, he grumbled. Taking off his sombrero, he turned up his scarf to hide his face and moved forward firmly.
At the same time, men began shooting in the air, scattering the crowd. The lancers cleared a way to the bandits; shooting at them was out of the question. They risked hurting the citizens and their friends. Don Alejandro put Salena in the background while some riders arrived, creating even more pushing and shoving in the public. Some dons took out their weapons, ready to cross swords if needed and helping the powerless to take shelter.
"Capitán Toledano will not be able to protect everybody on the platform. Stay here, Salena, I will give him a strong hand." Señor De la Vega said with an authoritarian voice by taking out his weapon.
Hell, what is Diego doing?
By getting closer to the scene, Don Alejandro noticed a masked man climbed on it in no time, taking out his sword.
Toledano noticed him too and pulled out his saber from its sheath.
"Señores, Señoras, go in a safe place."
"Arturo." Called Señora Toledano, terrified.
"All will be alright, Raquel."
"This way." He heard Don Alejandro say to the persons behind him.
Good. Thought the two opponents by starting the fight.
In the mess, no one heard the whistle of the dark shadow, nor his faithful mount neighing as he reared up when he caught his rider. Zorro made his way in the crowd easily and observed the people finding hope again when they noticed him.
Since his signal, Señor De Otsoa was observing his work. He saw Don Alejandro coming to the help of the capitán and raged within himself. From the corner of his eye, he remarked then Yago getting in place, ready to shoot at his target on his signal. He stepped back to have a better look at the whole scene which was playing in front of him.
Behind Don Alejandro, blades were still resonating; the two opponents were now at the bottom of the platform. The fight was fierce, but Toledano felt that his enemy wasn't really in a mood for fighting, so he was hesitating with his assaults. Once the last dignitary was safe, Don Alejandro turned and noticed the black shadow.
At last. He thought.
Both men in front of him suddenly dropped their weapons, touched by the one of the adversary. Señor De Otsoa raised his hand to signal Yago, who smiled mockingly and aimed at Monastario who was holding his left side.
But Yago wasn't the only one to perceive the signal. Zorro made Tornado run to him as he took out his whip, which cracked to unarm him.
"Zorro!" He exclaimed by catching his painful hand.
No longer surprised by this event, Monastario turned to him.
"Gracias, Señor Zorro." He said without hiding his voice.
"You!" Blew out Don Alejandro, recognizing then the man with the scarf who was in front of the capitán.
Under his mask, Monastario smiled.
Toledano, holding his right shoulder, was astonished. Why was this man thanking the Fox and how did Don Alejandro know him?
"Señor Zorro, you protect traitors?" Moaned the author of the uprising.
"The traitor is you, Señor De Otsoa... Without being aware of it, a friend told me about a message freshly arrived from Madrid. He was worried for his family, his friends and investigated you." Explained the outlaw.
"What!" He gnashed his teeth.
"You are in the King's disgrace... Don Sebastián. And this, since you fell in with El Diablo." Continued Zorro.
From where does he know all this? Interrogated the viceroy.
"I even learnt that the governor and the viceroy could act freely as long as they support the interests of the crown, indeed; but also the one of the people who has contributed to the rise of the colony. The king has confidence in his people, Señor... Oh! By the way, Otsoa doesn't mean Lobo in Basque dialect?"
Lobo... EL Lobo, so it is him! Caught on Salena looking at Don Sebastian with anger.
The crowd, hidden, heard Zorro talk, and it was armed with sticks, hayforks and pistols that the citizens came back on the plaza.
Don Sebastian growled even more while Yago picked up his gun.
Diego. Thought Salena by seeing him as she went out of the shadow.
However, she knew she was too far to intervene and could only stare.
The crowd arrived with such fervor near Zorro that Yago found himself overwhelmed by the stream of people, a shot resounded, pulling aside the public around him. Tornado reared up nervously. Don Sebastián noticed that he wasn't the main center of interest anymore. Discreetly, he took out his gun and took his time to aim at the outlaw. Salena perceived the danger hanging over her friend. Without thinking twice, she pounced on him, drowning him with punches before catching the gun.
"Fury." Don Sebastián complained.
The cry of anger didn't escape Zorro, who could only watch the scene.
Salena! He thought as his heart clenched
Tornado reared up again, lacking to make fall his rider.
Don Alejandro grumbled against himself when he noticed Salena grappling with Don Sebastián.
As the battle raged on the plaza, a new shot resounded. Everything froze for Zorro. The lancers, the dons, the citizens and the brigands vanished before his eyes. Only Salena and Don Sebastián still existed.