Chapter 32

The next day, Felipe and Diego decided to travel to a small settlement some ten miles from what had once been a battlefield.
Diego had hoped somehow there would be some kind of cemetery nearby, with perhaps some memorial to the many victims.
The settlement was so small. Felipe and Diego mistook the church for an abandoned barn. There was no building where travellers could spend the night. The padre, therefore, offered them to use the tiny spare room of his humble abode.
Diego explained to the man why he and Felipe had travelled so far. The padre had arrived in Mexico from Venezuela only three years earlier. And therefore could not tell him much about the events happening during the revolution.
However, he did know about an older woman living some five miles away. She had lived in this area for as long as anyone could remember. Perhaps she could help them, he suggested.

The following day, Diego and Felipe set off in the company of a boy of about fourteen years old. Juan, the padre explained, went faithfully to the woman three times a week to help her where she needed it most.
On the way to the remote farm, Juan told them his mother had already asked the woman several times to come and live with them. The woman kept refusing, and so he went to help her.
When Diego got a first glimpse of the farm, he saw how neglected it was. The living area was hardly worthy of the name house.
The woman, whose name appeared to be Sophia, reacted with surprise when she noticed that there were visitors.
The misty look in her eyes betrayed she could hardly see anything.

Juan introduced her to Diego and Felipe. And Diego briefly explained why they had come to her farm.
The woman was reluctant at first. Only when Juan told her that the padre had sent them and that Sophia might be able to answer some of the questions they had, did the woman open up a little.
Diego told of their hope to learn more about what had happened in the region during the revolution.

Sophia toldd that she had indeed lived here all her life.
Juan made coffee, and little by little, Sophia recounted her memories of those days over twelve years ago.
On how she had been born, raised, married, and had two sons here.

Her husband had died of an unknown disease at an early age. From the description Sophia gave, Diego thought it had probably been cholera.
Sophia was left behind with two young children and, assisted by her sons, had to run as best she could on the small farm that produced just enough food for them to live.
When the first rumours of the revolution reached them, they did not expect to get caught up in the struggle. Unfortunately, their modest house had stood right on the path that the army had taken on their way to defeat the revolutionaries. The house got set on fire, and when her youngest son tried to prevent it, an officer ordered him to get shot.
Behind the house was the last resting place of her son. Who, at barely seventeen, had tried to defend everything they owned.
Her eldest son had joined the revolutionaries two days later. Sophia never heard from him again. In the months following the battle, hundreds of mortal remains got found. Most of them mutilated beyond recognition. These had been the lucky ones. They had still got something of a funeral. Nobody knew how many more bodies were lying on the field that had never been discovered.
Sophia remembered the days well. The dismay and despair that had driven many people away from their homes. Entire families had flee with the sole purpose of getting away from danger. Some had succeeded. Many had not.
After the woman had finished telling her story, Sophia showed her son's grave. Despite her advanced age and limited sight, she had tried to maintain it as well as she could.

Felipe glared at Diego, and without a word between the two of them, Diego started sharpening an axe. About eighty yards from the farmhouse was a tree that had fallen over a long time ago. It could provide the woman with firewood.
Juan, meanwhile, cleaned the stable of her goat. Felipe found a hammer and some old rusty nails and set about repairing the fence to keep the goat in the neglected enclosure.

After several hours of physical labour, in which the three men tried to do as much work as possible, the woman offered them something to drink.
"Wouldn't it be better for you to live in the settlement? People can take care of you there." Diego asked as he almost broke his teeth on the piece of biscuit the woman had offered him.

"Ah, don Diego, I am already old. My time here is almost over. I can feel it in my bones. Juan comes to help me, and that's fine.
I can't leave my son. He is all I have left. I have lived here all my life. I will survive the few more days I have left."

Impressed by her story, Diego and Felipe returned to the padre.

For the rest of the week, they returned to the farm daily and did what they could, trying to make the woman's life a bit less hard.
Sophia told them as much as she remembered.
Felipe went to Hermosillo and bought a large quantity of dried fruit and beans, coffee, flour, two woollen blankets, and three chickens.
Sophia kissed the hands of both Diego and Felipe to express her gratitude for so much unexpected kindness.
Both men felt uneasy and regretted that they could do no more for her. However, Diego left money with the padre to give to Juan because he faithfully visited and helped the woman.

During one of their visits, Sophia told them about a mass grave. It had got dug to give the deceased a final resting place. Diego and Felipe went there. It was not far from where the fighting had been fiercest. There was only a simple cross as a memorial. How many people had got buried here? Women, men, children, no one could know. On their way there, they stopped and picked flowers. Felipe placed the bunch next to the cross.

"We will never know if my parents lie here too. Yet I will always remember this place." Silently, the men stood side by side. Grieving for strangers and the parents of an orphan boy found years ago.

More than six days passed, and Diego and Felipe agreed that it was time to embark on the journey home.
They decided to stop by Sophia's house to say goodbye before travelling back to Los Angeles. They bought some fresh fruit from a local merchant and started the five-mile ride to the small farm one more time.

When there was no response to their knocking, Felipe cautiously opened the door and called out, "Sophia." so that the woman would know that she had visitors. The house was deserted. Knowing the woman never actually left the house, Diego and Felipe searched for Sophia.
They found her next to the newly built henhouse holding the remains of a broken egg in her hand.
There was no doubt that she had died.

Felipe offered to go to the settlement to fetch the padre and Juan. Diego searched among the meagre possessions for a shovel and began to dig a grave next to her son.
After an hour, he received help from Felipe, Juan, and his father. The padre took it upon himself to make a cross from a few pieces of wood.
After the simple funeral, Diego and Felipe returned to the room they had been sleeping for the past few days. Because of Sophia's death and their wish to give her a place to rest, it had become too late in the day to accept the return journey.
Juan and his father promised to take care of the goat and the three chickens. Since Sophia, as far as they knew, had no one else in her life, there was little else they could do.

Before dawn the next day, Felipe and Diego said goodbye to the padre for the second time in two days and began their long journey north.
The following days they made good speed. Diego looked forward to being home soon.

The days in the saddle were long. Both men were in good shape and kept a pace comfortable for both horse and rider. They left every morning at dawn and rode on until after midday. When the heat became too intense, they would find a shady place to rest. When the worst of the heat dissipated, they would ride on. About an hour before darkness fell, they would look for a place to sleep that was as comfortable as possible. Unless they knew of a monastery or tavern nearby to spend the night.

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In Los Angeles, meanwhile, there was finally news from Monterey. The long-awaited letter from Francisco Carvajal had arrived by stagecoach. De Soto was indeed facing a court case.
Francisco got asked to stay longer in Monterey to testify. And there was the request to have various reports and records of de Soto brought to Monterey as soon as possible. Alejandro and Estaban had spent over a week with the help of Mendoza collecting the requested papers.
With the letter came a decree signed by the governor authorizing the organization of elections.
In Diego's absence, don Alejandro had asked Pablo to spread the news through the newspaper and call on people interested in standing for election.

Diego and Felipe had been gone for over six weeks, and it would not be long before they returned to Los Angeles. Victoria was glad that she was beginning to notice that she was not as tired as in the beginning. Her body was getting used to the fact of being pregnant. She missed Diego intensely and hoped every day more he would return.
Victoria had hired Isabella to work in the tavern. Now that she was serious about trying to slow down and do less work in the tavern, an extra pair of hands got needed.
Because Pilar and Alicia were also good friends, Victoria could still be regularly found in the tavern. To chat a little while doing more than she had planned. After all, sitting still was not one of her virtues.

"Don't you think it's weird that we haven't seen anything of Zorro for the last few weeks?" Alicia asked her friends.
It was siesta time, and the women were cleaning the tables and adjusting the chairs to get the dining room ready for when they opened again later that day.

Victoria opened her mouth to give the answer that came first to her mind.

Pilar answered more quickly. "Alicia, give the man a break. Why would he? Most of his work was to keep de Soto a bit in line. And since that is no longer necessary."

After this, the conversation quickly turned over to the more general things concerning the women.

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Alejandro and Victoria were playing a game of chess. For the past few weeks, they had depended on each other for company.
It was beginning to get dark outside. "I would have expected them back by now." Victoria sighed.

"You know it can take several more weeks. It's a long journey. At least we don't have to worry about Diego and Felipe getting lost and ending up in Acapulco or something. Less than a year ago, I would have seriously considered it an option." Joked Alejandro, thinking back to all those times his son had misled him.

"In the tavern, Alicia started to ask questions about Zorro and why he hasn't been to the pueblo in weeks."

Alejandro peered at the chessboard and asked. "What did you say?"

"I only nodded consenting at what Pilar assumed. That Zorro thinks it's less necessary now to ride. With de Soto gone and all."

Alejandro picked up his bishop and moved it to capture a white pawn from Victoria.
"Perhaps we should do my proposal one of these days?" He cautiously suggested. Yet a kind of excitement was audible in his voice.

Victoria said. "You mean to let you ride dressed as ride and make sure Zorro gets seen? Diego was not in favour of your idea."

"Yes, but he had also said to expect to be back before it got noticed." Alejandro pointed out.

"I am not sure. I think it's dangerous, and the full moon doesn't start for another two weeks." She had to say something so as not to offend the old don that she felt particularly uncomfortable with the idea of him riding out as Zorro.

Alejandro grumbled indignantly. "You don't think I can't handle Toronado, do you?"

Hastily, Victoria stammered. "Of course not. Besides, Toronado will sense why you're doing it. It just doesn't seem necessary to me at the moment. Not yet anyway. After all, Zorro hasn't had a reason to ride either. Alicia agreed Pilar was correct when she said there had not been an actual reason for Zorro to be out."
For a second it seemed as if Victoria wanted to move her tower. Then changing her mind, grabbing the queen, and put it right next to Alejandro's king. "Checkmate." She said triumphantly.

"Hey, I hadn't seen that one." grumbled the don. "I was concentrating on your horse."
Alejandro toppled his king and began to move the pieces back to their starting positions.

Victoria did the same on the other side of the board. "Let's just wait a little longer. If Diego and Felipe aren't home in, let's say, a week, we'll see what to do."

"If you say so, dear, we will. Oh, by the way, I invited Mendoza and Estaban to dinner next Wednesday. It will be Maria's day off. And I was hoping to pursue you to make chilli."

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Diego and Felipe were both tired. Both longing for home, they had spent the last days in the saddle.
Felipe, meanwhile, had become more confident and at ease with his speech.
Diego was especially looking forward to seeing Victoria again.
Unfortunately, their plan of getting home earlier than planned had been thwarted when it turned out that they had had to take long diversions. Heavy rainfall near San Luisito had transformed a gently flowing stream into a raging, swirling river.

Diego feared for the inhabitants of the area.
The rain had flooded fields and covered the sown lands with a thick layer of mud.
The territory was facing a time of uncertainty, hunger, and poverty. Some families had already left in search of higher grounds.
With a heavy heart, Diego thought about how food preservation like the ones he had made with Victoria could prove to be invaluable if done on a larger scale in these circumstances.
Diego resolved to expand the few pots they had made to dozens. And to discuss with Victoria what other foods she thought might be suitable.
There was little he could do here except pray for the people that the damage would turn out to be less than feared.
The mudstreams had taken Diego and Felipe almost three days before they could return to ride in the right direction.

They had ridden on today as long as they could and hoped tomorrow start the last part of their journey. From previous trips south, Diego remembered a cave that would provide sufficient protection for the night.
Felipe began to take care of the horses while Diego searched for suitable wood to make a campfire. From a saddlebag, he took the last pot of carrots from their food supply and some dried fruit.
They were about twenty miles from the mission of San Luis, and the men planned to have lunch there. If all went according to plan, they would complete the final miles in the afternoon and arrive at the hacienda just before dusk.

After the simple meal, Diego and Felipe relaxed. They talked about their journey, and slowly the conversation came to Felipe's intention to go to university if circumstances permit.

"You shouldn't have to take Zorro into account. I appreciate that you want to do it." Diego felt uneasy talking about the help Felipe had given him throughout the years.
"To tell you the truth. Of all the things Zorro has done, that's the one he regrets the most."

"What do you mean?" Felipe asked.

"Asking you for your help. The sacrifices I asked you to make. When I created Zorro, I was a young fool with a bag full of idealism. I believed I could make the world, or well, at least Los Angeles, a better place."

Felipe uttering to Diego. "You did. Look at all the good things Zorro accomplished. Los Angeles is better off because of Zorro."

Wistfully, Diego gazed up at the starry sky. "That may be so. It was wrong of me to get you involved. I should have given you a choice. I failed you in that."

"But I didn't want a choice. Before you returned, I saw how the pueblo changed because of Alcalde Ramon. You were still in Spain, but I experienced first-hand how Ramon slowly turned from a selfish alcalde into an unscrupulous tyrant. He made it harder for the people to survive in the territory. I was young but not blind, nor was I deaf.
I had no idea what to do, how to stop it. Your father and some dons tried. Ramon didn't care about anyone but himself.
Then you returned. And within two days, you had already done more than all the others in the years before combined."

Diego responded to what Felipe had just said. "I sacrificed myself for Zorro. And I asked you to make the same sacrifice. That was a mistake I shouldn't have made. Despite all the times I was grateful for you saving my life."

"I would do it again." Felipe drew a Z in the sand using a branch. "Los Angeles needed Zorro. And Zorro needed a confidant to help him. Diego, I am grateful you trusted me enough to let me help you.
That I could do something. You have nothing to feel guilty about."

Diego looked somewhat uncertainly at the boy beside him. There was so much sincerity in his eyes.

Felipe came closer to him. "You are like the father I don't remember having. And I love you."

Diego smiled when he answered. "And I love you like a son."

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The following morning, the men rose early. Determind to cover the last miles between them and Los Angeles in one day.
Felipe walked to the stream of water to fill their jugs. He knelt at the water's edge, stuck the jug under the surface, and immediately withdrew his hand. He had felt a sharp pain in his arm and screamed.

Diego, who had heard a cry, came running up.
"Felipe, what happened?"

Blood was already colouring Felipe's white shirt red.
"A snake, I think." The boy uttered.

Diego's eyes scanned the area around the boy, hoping to discover what kind of snake had bitten Felipe.

He ran back to the horses, pulled out his dagger from the saddlebag, and ran to Felipe.

Felipe looked curious at the small holes in his arm. "I'm going to die?"

"Not if I can prevent it. We have to try to get the poison out."
Diego pressed the knife into the arm, made the wound bigger, and started sucking the blood out of Felipe's arm and spitting it out. He repeated this five times, filled the jug, and while there was still blood flowing from the wound, Diego rinsed the wound clean.

"Did you see the snake? What did it look like?" Diego asked again, hoping for more information.

Felipe shook his head. "I don't know."

Diego tried to comfort the boy. "Most snakes are not poisonous. And if it was a venomous snake that bit you, it must have used enough venom for you to die. Most prey is smaller."

Diego got up again and returned with a shirt, which he began to tear into strips. "We'll have to wait and see what happens in the next couple of hours."

Felipe's face was full of pain. " Diego, I don't want to die."

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Diego sat next to the improvised cot. Felipe was asleep. His body was soaking in sweat. So the snake had been poisonous. Diego hoped now that the animal did not have a poison deadly to humans.
With difficulty, he had made Felipe drink a cup of tea with antipyretic herbs.
He couldn't do much more to place cool bandages to prevent the wound from getting infected. And make sure Felipe drank as much as possible.
The medical tea hardly seemed to work in suppressing the fever.

The sun was at its highest point. Felipe was unconscious but alive. HIs breating was heavier than normal.
In any case, the poison was not a fast-acting kind.
Diego prayed for the life of the boy who was dear to him as a son. Felipe started to toss and turn.

In a reassuring tone, Diego spoke. "Try to lie still." The more Felipe moved, the more the poison would have a chance to spread.

Felipe had feverish dreams. He was a small child again. He felt terrified of the loud bangs coming from all directions.
Someone was holding him. Dragged him closer to the clouds of smoke that hurt his eyes.

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Diego didn't leave the boy. Felipe's temperature was rising sky-high. The bite was almost fifteen hours ago. Giving Diego the hope that he could prevent the wound from getting infected, Felipe was going to live. He had made Felipe drink two more cups of tea. Both times, Felipe had spit it out again.
If Felipe couldn't keep down liquids, the chance of surviving would dwindle rapidly in the heat.
Diego had considered riding to San Luis hoping to find a doctor.
His medical knowledge was sufficient to know that the man could do nothing more than what he had done.
The most important thing at the moment to do was to try to bring the fever down. And getting as many fluids in Felipe as possible.
The wound had been sucked out and rinsed clean. Hopefully, most of the poison got removed before it could spread through the body. Diego did not dare leave Felipe alone. Even if he could find a doctor in less than five minutes after his arrival in San Luis, it would still take him hours to ride back and forth.
Diego hated the thought that kept crossing his mind. Should it come to it, he didn't want Felipe to die alone.

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Diego threw the last dose of herbs into some boiling water.
He would try again to give Felipe tea, praying fervently this time he would be able to keep it down.
Diego was so focused on taking care of Felipe, that he did not notice the bandits until he felt a gun pressed against his back.
Diego raised his hands in the air.

"Jef," Diego heard a man with an almost intelligible accent say. "These two have discovered our hideout."

"Kill them."

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