NOTE BY THE ACCOUNT HOLDER: THIS STORY IS NOT MINE!
WRITTEN BY KARLA GREGORY
BOOK 2
Chapter 23 – So Near and Yet, So Far
Friday afternoon came at last and the overland coach from Monterey was due at any moment. Santiago and Capitán Hidalgo were waiting in front of the inn in order to meet it. As they waited, a crowd of curious onlookers gathered and soon word was passed about that the two men were waiting for the arrival of Judge Sebastian Vasca. The coach pulled into the pueblo and circled around to pull up in front of the inn. When it stopped, Hidalgo opened the door and pulled down the folding steps, stepping back as the weighty Judge Vasca came to the door, causing the coach to shift quite perceptibly on its springs. Vasca paused with his foot on the top step as he looked out at the crowd. Seeing the Magistrado, he descended from to the ground and tugged at his coat to straighten it, then reached back inside to pick up his portfolio which he then tucked under his arm.
Santiago stepped up and said, "Your Excellency, may I welcome you to Los Angeles? It is regrettable we must meet again under these circumstances, but that is the nature of things for those in His Majesty's service such as we." Vasca nodded gravely as he gave a small bow in Santiago's direction. Santiago continued, "May I present Capitán Hidalgo of Santa Barbara, temporarily assigned to the cuartel of Los Angeles?"
"Capitán Hidalgo," said Vasca.
"Your Excellency," said Hidalgo with a bow.
Santiago continued, "I am sure you are fatigued by your journey, Your Excellency. If you will come with me, I will have the innkeeper show you to your room where you may refresh yourself."
"Graciás," said Vasca, brushing some of the dust from his sleeve. "That would be most pleasant."
"And then I hope you will do me the honor of dining with the Capitán and myself?" Santiago pulled out his pocket watch. "An hour from now, here at the inn?"
Vasca looked quite pleased at the prospect of food. "That would be most agreeable, Señor Magistrado. I will be ready within the hour."
"Splendid, Your Excellency," said Santiago with a smile. "Please. Come this way." He accompanied Judge Vasca into the inn and stayed until he was sure the judge was well taken care of. He spoke personally to the innkeeper about the menu for the coming meal and told him to be sure he brought out the finest wine in honor of their guest. Then he and Hidalgo left.
-Z-Z-Z-
Don Alejandro was pacing back and forth across the patio of the hacienda. He was consumed with thoughts of Diego and of the charges against him. He asked himself the same questions over and over about what had happened to Diego and why his son would not confide in him. He kept coming up with the same empty answers. He just could not understand it. But he could no more quit thinking about it than he could quit breathing. Many times in the past few days he had been on the verge of riding into the pueblo to try just once more to talk to Diego, but his anger at their last meeting still stood between them. He had kept alive the tiniest flicker of hope that Diego would have sent for him, giving him an opening to speak with his son again, but nothing like that had happened. This fueled Don Alejandro's anger and frustration even more.
He paused in his pacing as he heard several horses coming up to the patio gate. In a moment, one of the vaqueros from the rancho, Miguel, came in. Two others remained outside. Miguel hesitated a moment when he saw Don Alejandro. He took off his hat and held it in his hands.
"Yes? What is it, Miguel?" asked Don Alejandro.
"Patrón, we have just come from the pueblo," said Miguel. "We were there when the coach from Monterey came in. We thought you should know Judge Vasca has come to Los Angeles."
Don Alejandro felt an electric jolt pass through him at the mention of that name. He could not speak. He waved his hand to dismiss the vaquero, who left quietly. Outside the patio, the men led their horses away.
Judge Vasca. Don Alejandro had the utmost respect for Judge Vasca, having met the man during the time of his own trial under the rule of Monastario. That Vasca was an honest and fair judge there was no doubt. He had reviewed the "trial" evidence concerning Nacho Torres and Don Alejandro even after Licenciado Pena had declared them not guilty. He had come to the same conclusion, although not for the same reasons, and had said so in an official report to the Governor. Don Alejandro believed this report was instrumental in causing the Viceroy to visit the pueblo several months later. This was the visit which resulted in the removal of Monastario from office. Don Alejandro had been away from Los Angeles at the time, but he now called to mind that Diego had been involved in the final removal of Monastario. As remarkable as it seemed, Monastario had been convinced that Diego was Zorro. Don Alejandro snorted now. Diego, Zorro? What a flight of fancy that was. No, Diego had no fire in him which would allow him to be the masked swordsman. Don Alejandro had proved that to himself many times as he tried to involve his son in the affairs which demanded action. Diego was just not interested and the few times he actually seemed to be interested, his ideas were so untenable that no one took him seriously. Don Alejandro closed his eyes as he relived the pain of those times.
He opened them as he thought about Diego again. Something had happened to Diego, which was as yet unexplained. He had taken up a job with the Magistrado's office, dealing in civil affairs with a dedication he had only before shown to his books and music. At the time, Don Alejandro thought it completely out of character for Diego, but was glad he was doing something productive at last. He had the utmost respect for Señor Santiago and no cause to question the job he was doing. Until the situation with Zorro had arisen, the pueblo had been free from trouble. Now the outlaw was burning, robbing, and kidnaping. How could Diego be involved with that? He was in jail at this very moment charged with conspiracy and treason. Judge Vasca's arrival brought that fact into sharp focus once again. Don Alejandro needed to understand. He needed to hear from Diego's own lips what had happened. He would have to try again. He could not live with himself if he did not try again. He went to get his hat.
-Z-Z-Z-
Santiago and Hidalgo were just returning to the inn in time for their meal with Judge Vasca when they saw Don Alejandro riding into the plaza, heading in the general direction of the cuartel. They exchanged looks. Santiago raised his hand and caught Don Alejandro's attention and somewhat reluctantly, the older man came to where they were. "Don Alejandro," greeted Santiago. "You have come to see Diego?"
Don Alejandro dismounted and said, "Sí, Your Excellency."
Santiago was gratified to see the new lines around Don Alejandro's eyes and the weariness which seemed to have settled on the older man's shoulders. How well his plan was working, he thought to himself. "It is a sad time," said Santiago, playing up to him. "You perhaps have heard Judge Vasca has arrived? The trial will be able to take place on Monday morning as planned."
"Sí, I have heard," said Don Alejandro. "That is why I have come to the pueblo. I must speak with Diego again. You will excuse me, Your Excellency, if I still believe there has to be some rational explanation for what happened."
"Of course, Don Alejandro," said Santiago, sympathetically. "It would not be natural if you did not believe so. However, I am sure you know that I do not share your optimism. The evidence is too strong. Señor, I must say again that the charges against Diego are true and will be proven in court three days from now."
Don Alejandro scowled.
Santiago was pleased. He could keep digging at de la Vega's soul, but he did not want to push the old man too far. Not yet. He wanted to send the old don winding down a certain path of personal destruction, which would assure his future plans. He did not want to cause him to explode in a flurry of useless emotions. "Please, Señor de la Vega," he said. "I know this is difficult for you. I must do what I must do under the law to see that justice is served. You can understand that?" Santiago was playing the sympathetic Magistrado to the hilt. Don Alejandro looked him in the eyes and Santiago let nothing but that sympathy show for a moment. He saw the understanding form in Don Alejandro, who nodded at Santiago's words. "I also know you must do what any father must, which is to defend his child as best he can. I would never prevent that." He saw a look of unspoken gratitude in Don Alejandro's eyes. "Please, Señor. Go to Diego. Do not let us keep you any longer. If you can find anything which will help Diego's case, please do not hesitate to come to me. I assure you I have nothing personal against your son. I want only the truth and justice for the accused."
"Graciás," said Don Alejandro, with a slight bow. "Con permisso?" He turned and walked to the cuartel leading his horse, which he stopped to tie at the rail in front of the gates. The sentry posted at the gate looked across the plaza to Santiago and Hidalgo. Santiago nodded and the sentry allowed Don Alejandro to enter.
"Magistrado, do you not think one of us should be there to hear what is said?" asked Hidalgo.
"No, I do not think that will be necessary," mused Santiago. "Both you and I have warned Diego to keep his mouth shut. Fuentes is on duty, is he not?" Hidalgo nodded. "Diego knows that anything he says will be reported to us. He knows Fuentes is your man. Besides, if we are there, it might arouse Don Alejandro's suspicions that something is wrong. Do not be fooled by his somewhat pompous attitude, Capitán. Señor de la Vega is a shrewd old man and we must be careful how he is handled."
Not totally convinced, Hidalgo said, "As you wish, Magistrado." He was not used to such subtlety in his line of work. He just hoped Santiago knew what he was doing.
Santiago smiled and said, "Come, it is time to dine with the judge. Let us not keep His Honor waiting." Together, they entered the tavern.
Diego and Bernardo were being amused by watching Sergeant Garcia's lancers cleaning and polishing their boots, their saddles and other tack. There was little else of interest in the dreary cuartel and even watching soldiers polishing their boots was at least something to do. Bernardo was lying on his bed, holding some pebbles in his hand. He was tossing them idly at his upturned hat, trying to see how many he could get in, but not really concerned all that much with his accuracy. He, too, eyed the soldier's cleaning detail with detached interest. His attention was drawn to Diego as his young master sat up straight on his bed. He followed Diego's gaze and saw Don Alejandro standing at the cuartel gate, waiting to be admitted. Bernardo sat up also.
Diego watched Don Alejandro enter the cuartel accompanied by the sentry. His heart leaped with the love he felt for his father. He could see the toll that this whole affair was having on his father and was sorry for it. The muscles in his jaw worked with the frustration he felt in not being able to do anything about it. Bernardo caught his attention and motioned to indicate their guard who had gone to meet the two men. Bernardo cupped his ear and made the signs for Santiago and Hidalgo. Diego nodded. He also knew Fuentes was Hidalgo's man and would strictly follow his orders to listen to everything that was said. Fuentes was a no nonsense kind of soldier, and would not allow himself to be distracted. Again, Diego's jaw worked with his frustration. Oh, for only a few moments alone with his father!
But that was not to be. Fuentes accompanied Don Alejandro to the jail and then stood back only a few paces as he took up his post. His hard eyes met Diego's, promising that he would miss no detail of what happened here. Diego sighed. He returned his attention to the man in front of him. "Father," he said.
"Diego," said Don Alejandro, looking at his son through the iron bars of the jail cell. He took a deep breath. "I have come once more to ask you to make me understand what has happened," he said without preamble. "I want to help you, my son."
"I know you do, Father," said Diego sincerely. "I, . . .," he glanced again at Fuentes. There was no chance. He could only couch his words carefully. "I am sorry, but I there is nothing I am able to say to you." He looked deeply into Don Alejandro's eyes, willing his father to read between the words. "Nothing except to say that I am innocent." He glanced back at Fuentes to gauge the response. Fuentes' face was still hard, but he did not make any threatening motions.
Don Alejandro's anger and frustration, barely restrained, surfaced once again. "You have nothing to say to me? Me? Your father?" he said loudly. "What would you have me believe? You say that you are innocent. All right. Give me something to go on. Give me something to work with, Diego."
"I, . . . can only say . . . that I am innocent," said Diego as sincerely as he could.
Don Alejandro fumed. "Obviously there is something you are hiding, Diego," he said angrily. "Why won't you tell me?"
Again Diego said the only thing open to him, "There is nothing I am able to say, Father." He could see the negligent effect his words were having on Don Alejandro. His father's anger was obscuring Diego's actual words. He only knew that his son was refusing to confide in him and that hurt him deeply. He could not hear the inflection which Diego had placed upon the words he had spoken. What Diego was able to say was just not enough to give his father a clue about what was really happening. In his turn, Diego was also becoming frustrated.
In a sarcastic tone which scorched Diego's soul, Don Alejandro said, "Are you not able to say anything because that would expose your master, Zorro? Are you protecting him?"
"Oh, no, Father!" exclaimed Diego before he could stop himself. Fuentes took one step closer to the cell in response and Diego pulled himself up short. He could not respond further without endangering his father. But how his heart was being torn by his father's words!
"Then just what is going on?" demanded Don Alejandro all the louder.
Diego could only shake his head. Sadly, he looked into his father's eyes and said nothing. His throat was constricted with the anger, frustration, and sorrow that he was feeling right now. For just a moment, he almost decided to throw every caution to the winds and defy the Magistrado's threats. He would just tell his father everything and suffer the consequences. Anything was better than having his father think him a despicable traitor. Even if they both should die from it, that would be better than what he was facing now. He paused and reflected. But that would be selfish, he thought to himself. My honor is nothing if I protect it only to see my father die beside me on the gallows. I have sworn to protect those that I can and if my death will protect my father, so be it. Diego dropped his eyes and would no longer meet his father's.
Seeing Diego's refusal to answer, Don Alejandro raised his chin and squared his shoulders. "All right then. I have tried to help you. You obviously do not want my help. I will not trouble you further. Farewell, my son." With one last soul wrenching look, Don Alejandro turned to walk away.
Diego could not help himself. Through the bars of his cell, he reached out and clutched at his father's shoulder, causing him to stop. "I am so sorry, Father," Diego said softly.
Don Alejandro did not turn around. He would not look at Diego. He remained unyielding and, after only a moment, he began walking toward the cuartel gates, leaving Diego to look after him from the confines of his cell.
Tears were chasing down Bernardo's face as he watched Don Alejandro walk away.
Don Alejandro walked outside the gates of the cuartel, moving through the curious people who had gathered there to watch the meeting between himself and Diego. He neither looked at or acknowledged any of them as he took the reins of his horse from the rail. His heart was full of anger and pain, but he set his face in stone. He would give none of these people a display, nothing for them to whisper about behind his back. He prepared to mount, but stopped as he heard some people from across the plaza cry out. Still holding onto the saddle horn, he turned to see what was happening.
"Zorro! It is Zorro!" the people were crying loudly as they scattered, running for their safety.
Don Alejandro looked and saw to his surprise that it was indeed the masked outlaw flying through the plaza on his raven black horse. He rode straight up to the Magistrado's house and flung something at the front door. Spinning his horse around, he raised his fist and cried out, "Magistrado! Heed my warning! I keep my promises!" Then he kicked his horse into a flat gallop and flew out of the plaza in the opposite direction, his black cape billowing behind him. After a momentary pause, the soldiers on duty were finally able to get organized and they fired several shots after the outlaw, but they hit nothing. The outlaw escaped and the plaza grew quiet.
Seeing then that the soldiers were just milling around and doing nothing as they waited for further orders, Don Alejandro growled deep in his throat and angrily mounted his horse. "Out of my way!" he cried as he whipped his horse into a gallop. "Out of my way!" He was going to follow Zorro into the fires of Hades if that was what it took to capture or kill the man responsible for embroiling his son in his schemes. He wanted answers or he wanted revenge. He urged his horse on, flying out of the pueblo in pursuit of the masked man.
Their meal interrupted by one of the peons who ran into the tavern to tell everyone about Zorro, Santiago and Hidalgo left the judge and ran outside just in time to see Zorro disappear in a hail of bullets followed closely by Don Alejandro in pursuit. They glanced at each other at this new wrinkle in the situation. Santiago had not planned for Uresti to be chased by the elder de la Vega. Santiago was not particularly worried about Uresti being captured or killed, he could take care of himself, but he was concerned Uresti might take it upon himself to be rid of his pursuer. That would not do at all. "Capitán!" he said loudly. "Take your men and set out after the outlaw at once!" In a lower tone, for Hidalgo's ears only, he hissed, "And whatever it takes, send that old fool home alive." Unspoken between them was that the elder de la Vega was to be protected even if it meant the death of Uresti. Don Alejandro's untimely death would put all of Santiago's plans in disarray. He could always get another Zorro.
Hidalgo was sharp enough to pick up on that point. He saluted smartly and said, "Sí, Magistrado!" Then he set off at a run, shouting to his own men to get their horses. He did not trust Garcia's men enough to take any of them. In just moments, he and his men were the ones scattering the crowds as they set off after the outlaw. Santiago watched them disappear. Then his attention was drawn to the people who were staring at the knife stuck in his front door. Grasping the hilt of the ever present sword by his side, he walked swiftly over to his home. He still had a bit of the drama to play.
"Magistrado!" said Doctor Avila who had come over to see what the commotion was all about. "There is a note attached to the knife Zorro threw at your door."
"Graciás, Doctor," said Santiago as he tugged at the knife and pulled it out of the door. Quickly he untied the note and opened it. Doctor Avila politely did not try to read it, but Santiago could tell that he, like all the others, was dying to know its contents. He would give them quite a performance. The paper in his hands began shaking as he said, "What!" He looked at the crowd, anger clouding his face. He waived the note. "This says Zorro intends to harm my wife if Diego de la Vega is not set free by noon tomorrow. See here?" He held the note so that Avila and some others could read it.
The note said: "Release Diego de la Vega by the twelve o'clock hour on Saturday or I cannot guarantee the safety of your precious wife. Her life for de la Vega's life. Continue with the trial and she dies. This I promise." It was signed, Zorro.
Santiago took the paper and read it again. "Never," he said forcefully. "Never will I surrender to an outlaw and a traitor."
By this time, Judge Vasca had arrived in the crowd. "May I see that?" he asked.
Santiago handed the paper to him, watching him as he read. When he looked up, Santiago said, "You know I cannot accede to his demands, Your Excellency. I have my duty to perform and the trial must go on. I will not allow personal matters to stand in the way."
"Very commendable, Señor Magistrado," said Vasca. "But you must take precautions to safeguard your wife."
Just then, Lozano, who had joined the crowd, said, "But everyone knows you cannot stop Zorro, Your Excellency. He goes where he will and does what he says he will do. How can you keep Señora Santiago safe from a man like El Zorro?" Everyone in the crowd murmured that Lozano was right.
"Sí, walls cannot hold him in or keep him out," said one man.
"And he cannot be heard or seen unless he wants to," said another.
"The soldiers have never been able to capture him," said a different man.
"Sí, sí," said another Santiago recognized as Aredo. "And now that he has turned evil, maybe he has sold his soul to El Diablo. Who can stop the black servant of El Diablo?" Many people began nodding and the fear of Zorro was flowing through the crowd.
Santiago was well pleased at the response. He turned to the judge. "Despite what everyone thinks of Zorro, I know he is just a man," he said confidently. "A man who must be brought to justice just like his accomplice, Diego de la Vega. For now, I will post extra guards around the prisoners and post guards around my house. This will stretch our resources very thin, but it cannot be helped. You will please excuse me, Judge Vasca? I am sorry we cannot finish our meal together. But I must go to the cuartel to make the arrangements for the guards. Con permisso?" He bowed to Judge Vasca.
"Of course, Magistrado," said Vasca. "By all means."
Santiago turned and walked toward the cuartel. Now if Hidalgo would just succeed in getting Don Alejandro to cease chasing Zorro, everything would be just as he wished it to be. He was concerned about that, of course, but he was forced to swallow the smile which threatened to cross his lips as he thought about how his plans were coming together and how that in little more than twenty-four hours, he would be rid of Gracilia forever. Assuming of course, Uresti did not get himself killed today.
