"A Tale of Two Outlaws"
by Belle Book
Part Four
Just outside Los Angeles, 1821
A blue circle of light appeared
just outside the pueblo of Los Angeles,
depositing two very unusual teenagers.
Then, the circle vanished.
Ivy and Zack looked around them.
"Where are we, little bro?" asked
Ivy.
"According to the Chronoskimmer,"
whispered Zack, "we're in Los Angeles,
California, in the year 1821!"
"What does Carmen want that would
justify her going back in time to 1821?"
asked Ivy.
"I don't know, but we'd better find
out," said Zack.
"Where should we start looking for
answers?" asked Ivy.
"Well, in that time period, there would've
been a tavern where people went to eat and
talk," said Zack. "Let's look for a tavern in
Los Angeles."
"Okay," said Ivy.
They passed the sign welcoming them
to Los Angeles, and looked around.
They stood in a plaza, with a number
of houses and buildings around them. One of
the buildings was called, "Victoria's Tavern".
"Looks like that's the tavern," said
Ivy.
"Wait a minute," said Zack. "Who is
Victoria? And why would a woman run a
tavern in 1820s Los Angeles?"
"Maybe she's good," said Ivy.
"But most women don't run taverns in
the 1820s," explained Zack.
"Well, let's find out," said Ivy.
"Wait a minute," said Zack. "Haven't
we forgotten something?"
Ivy frowned for a minute, then sudden-
ly realized what Zack was referring to when
she noticed a peasant woman carrying a basket
toward one of the houses.
"Clothes!" she whispered. "We need
appropriate clothes! What do we do?"
"I'd suggest buying some, except we
probably don't have the appropriate currency,"
whispered Zack. "Let's find a safe spot so
we can contact the Chief."
They did so, and when the Chief heard
about Zack and Ivy's predicament, he said, "No
problema! The Chronoskimmer is connected to
the C-5, so all I have to do is C-5 the right
clothes to you!"
"Make them American clothes from the
early nineteenth century," said Zack, as they
had also decided to let people know they were
American.
"Coming right up," said the Chief. Within
minutes, clothes that American boys and girls
of Zack and Ivy's ages wore during this century
were dropped off. Ivy was less than pleased
with her outfit, as she hated dresses.
"Do I have to wear this?" she asked as she
held up her dress.
"Afraid so, sis," said Zack, already putting
on his new clothes.
Ivy muttered something inaudible as she
put on her dress. Then their former clothes
disappeared in the C-5 corridor, ready for them
when they returned to the 20th century.
Once that was done, Ivy said, "Now we can
go to Victoria's Tavern."
"Then let's go!" said Zack.
So together, they approached Victoria's
Tavern.
Once inside, they sat down at the near-
est table they could find.
A beautiful woman approached them and
said, "Buenas tardes. I've never seen you
here before."
"This is our first time here," said Ivy. "My
name's Ivy, and this is my younger brother,
Zack."
"I'm Victoria Escalante," said the woman.
"Welcome to my tavern."
"You own your own tavern?" asked Zack.
"Si. It belonged to my parents," ex-
plained Victoria. "But my mother died some
years ago, and my father died recently, so
I now own it."
"Oh," said Zack.
"So, do you two have parents?" asked
Victoria. "And what are you doing here in
the pueblo de Los Angeles?"
___________________________________________________________
The de la Vega hacienda
While Ivy and Zack were busy talking
to Victoria, Carmen had gotten up from the
secret passageway before Felipe returned with
the news that the guest room had been prepared.
Carmen had already been informed by
Don Alejandro that Felipe couldn't hear or
speak. She also knew that Felipe could hear,
but did not wish to reveal her knowledge of
that fact just yet, so she signalled to Felipe,
"Gracias." They were standing in the library
at that time.
Don Alejandro and Diego emerged from
the secret passageway. Between the time that
Carmen left them and their leaving the cave,
Diego had told his father that he planned to
tell Victoria as soon as possible, preferably
that night. He also revealed that he'd been
wounded by a gunshot from one of Resendo's
men while trying to rescue Tornado from Resendo.
They entered the library, where they
learned the guest room had been prepared.
"Gracias for taking me in, Don Alejandro,"
said Carmen.
"De nada, senorita," said Don Alejandro.
Carmen noticed Diego holding his arm
stiffly, so she asked, "Something wrong, Don
Diego?"
The two gave each other a glance. What
should they tell the senorita?
Finally, Diego said, "It is a wound. I was
practicing with a gun and clumsily let it go off
and shoot me in the arm."
Carmen knew Diego was lying, but she
said nothing.
Instead, she said, "I may have some-
thing for that."
"You do?" asked Diego.
"Si," Carmen said. "While in Monterey,
I met an old Indian treating a gunshot wound
in a fellow Indian. I asked for some of the
medicine in case I needed it, and he gave it
to me. Here."
And with that, she withdrew the med-
icine she had actually stolen out of her coat
pocket. She'd taken off the label, but she
already knew it would work quickly.
Carmen said, "Show me your wound, Don
Diego."
Diego hesitated, then rolled up his shirt,
exposing the wound.
Carmen poured out some of the medicine,
and began to rub it in Diego's wound.
"I was told it would work very quickly, so
quickly that in a few days, one would never
know there was a gunshot wound," said
Carmen.
"Gracias, senorita," said Diego.
"De nada," said Carmen.
"Father, maybe you can prepare dinner
for the senorita while I go to the tavern,"
Diego said.
Carmen suspected Diego wished to tell
Victoria the truth, however, and she wished
to be present when he did.
So instead, she said, "I'd like to see this
tavern."
Diego looked uncomfortable, so Don
Alejandro said, "We'll all go. I'll escort
Senorita Carmen Sandiego."
Diego agreed, and it was settled.
None of them, not even Carmen, knew
that the following events would make Carmen
not a witness, but a participant in history.
___________________________________________________________
Later that night, at the tavern
Ivy and Zack were sitting at the table,
drinking orange juice and eating some of
Victoria's chile con queso.
"This is good," said Zack. "This
Victoria is a great cook."
"Yes," said Ivy. "And a kind woman.
After we're finished eating, she's going to
send us to the church to stay with Padre
Benitez."
Zack had told Victoria that he and
Ivy were from the United States, and that
they had come with their parents to San
Francisco on a business trip. But while
in San Francisco, bandits made an attack.
In the confusion, Zack and Ivy got separated
from their parents, and hid in a wagon that
was heading to Santa Barbara.
Once in Santa Barbara, they walked
to Los Angeles, hoping to get as far away
from the bandits as possible. Of course,
Zack wasn't telling the truth, but he had
to tell something.
Victoria then explained the condition
of Los Angeles to Ivy and Zack. She told
how Alcalde Ignacio deSoto unfairly taxed
the people of Los Angeles, just like Alcalde
Luis Ramone did before him. However, he
never got away with his taxation programs,
because El Zorro always stopped DeSoto.
As Victoria spoke about Zorro, Ivy saw
that the tavern owner had stars in her eyes.
It was clear that she loved Zorro.
Victoria then heard the door open, and
turned to greet the newcomers.
"Don Alejandro! Diego! What a pleasant
surprise!" Victoria said.
Zack and Ivy turned as well -- and stared.
Standing there was an older gentleman
with white hair and a small mustache, a tall
man with black hair, and a black mustache --
and Carmen Sandiego!
____________________________________________________________
"Buenas noches, Victoria," said Diego to
Victoria.
Carmen watched Don Alejandro and Diego
greet Victoria.
"Who's the senorita?" asked Victoria. "Do
I know her?"
"No," said Don Alejandro. "This senorita --
and she is a senorita -- calls herself Carmen
Sandiego. She was travelling to San Diego,
where she was born, when she ran into a bandit
attack on the way and lost all her companions."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," said Victoria.
"Welcome to the pueblo de Los Angeles, Car-
men Sandiego."
Carmen said, "Gracias."
"Oh, Don Alejandro, there's some other
newcomers, from America, who also ran into
some problems," said Victoria.
She turned to wave two teenagers over.
Carmen recognized them at once.
It was Ivy and Zack.
Ivy and Zack came over and Victoria
introduced them to the de la Vegas and to
Carmen. To Carmen's relief, Ivy and Zack
gave no sign of recognition.
"Why don't we sit down with you, Ivy
and Zack?" said Don Alejandro. "You are
all alone here, and we must extend hospi-
tality to you."
"Gracias, Don Alejandro," said Zack.
Ivy, Zack, Carmen, Don Alejandro, and
Diego sat down and Victoria took the orders
of the newcomers. Then she went to get
them all what they ordered.
In a few minutes, she came back with
the food and drinks -- beer for Don Alejandro
and Diego, and orange juice for Carmen.
As Carmen sipped her orange juice,
she happened to hear the door to the ta-
vern slam open.
Looking, she saw a tall, average-looking
man who was dressed well. What she didn't
know was that this man was to be the person
who would cause her to take part in history,
and not just watch it unfold.
___________________________________________________________
"I want service!"
The voice startled Diego. Turning around,
he stared.
Don Luis Alvarez! he thought to himself.
Victoria came up to him and asked what
he wanted.
"I want a room and some supper!" Don Luis
commanded.
Victoria led him to a table and began to
take his order. Diego's eyes followed them.
"Something wrong, Don Diego?" asked his
father.
"Si," said Don Diego. "I think I should ex-
plain, both for you and for the other three, who
don't know me.
"Carmen, Ivy, Zack, almost ten years ago,
I went to the University of Madrid to study the
sciences. I also was to study the sabre."
"Under Sir Edmund Kendall," Don Ale-
jandro explained.
Diego continued, "While I was at the
University, I met Don Luis Alvarez. He was
from San Juan Capistrano."
"I think I've heard of the man," said Don
Alejandro. "He left the University shortly be-
fore I sent for you, didn't he?"
"Yes," said Diego. "But he was forced to
leave."
"Why?" asked Carmen.
"He was extremely reckless," explained
Diego. "He provoked a few fights and would've
provoked many more if I hadn't stopped them.
"Finally, he became fed up with my inter-
ference, and challenged me to a duel. I tried
to calm him down, to keep the duel from hap-
pening, but I finally had no choice."
"How good was he?" asked Carmen.
"Very good," said Diego. "Fortunately, I
got extremely lucky and defeated him."
In fact, there was nothing lucky in Diego's
defeat of Don Luis. Diego won by means of
his extraordinary skill. But Diego had to tell
that lie to Ivy, Zack, and Carmen, since he had
no idea they were from the future, and that Car-
men knew of his skill.
"Don Luis became so furious over losing to
me that finally he was forced to leave the Uni-
versity before graduation," Diego concluded.
"What happened to him?" asked Carmen.
"I heard he went to Mexico, and later heard
that he was taking part in the strife between
Spain and rebels in Mexico who wanted inde-
pendence," Diego said.
"Do you think he's here to stir up trouble?"
Carmen asked.
"I don't know, but I think so," said Diego.
In fact, Diego suspected that if Don Luis
was in California, Mexico was probably on the
verge of independence, and therefore, he might
be trying to bring about independence from
Spain in California by means of force. And
bloodshed.
Diego couldn't let this happen. Neither
could Zorro.
They finished dinner, then went to say
goodbye to Victoria.
Victoria asked Diego to please escort
Ivy and Zack to Padre Benitez, where they
could stay until word could be found about
their parents. Diego promised he'd do so.
Then he asked, "Victoria, are there any
guests staying the night besides the new-
comer?"
"No," said Victoria. "Just Don Luis Al-
varez. That's what his name is. He's stay-
ing in one of the two upstairs rooms. That
one," she pointed up the stairs to a room on
the right.
"Thank you, Victoria," said Diego.
Then all of them left the tavern.
___________________________________________________________
Later that night, outside the tavern
Carmen was glad she remembered
how to ride a horse. And that she had
brought some of her gadgets with her
to the past.
She knew that at this point in history,
Mexico was gaining its independence from
Spain. She also suspected that Don Luis's
coming to Los Angeles had something to
do with the fight for independence.
Don Luis was a violent person, who
would probably prefer to bring this indepen-
dence about by means of violence. The idea
repelled Carmen. She was nonviolent, and
would rather use her wits than her fists to
achieve her goals. That was another quality
that she had in common with Zorro.
No doubt Zorro would be coming along
soon to find out what Don Luis was up to.
However, she planned to find out herself,
and if he planned something extremely viol-
ent, it would have to be stopped.
Even if it meant revealing the truth about
herself to Zorro.
It was time to get to work.
Carmen pushed a button on her left wrist.
A line and hook latched itself around the bal-
cony.
Carmen pulled herself up and over the bal-
cony, then tried the window. It was locked
and shuttered.
However, she knew the window locks were
latch-hooks, and she could get past it easily.
She just hoped Don Luis wasn't inside his room.
Carmen took a pick from one of her coat
pockets and used it on the lock. It worked
perfectly.
Carmen quietly opened the window and
peeked inside. There was no one inside the
room.
Good, she thought. I can sneak in and
out before he knows I'm even there.
So, Carmen snuck through the window
and inside the room.
As soon as she snuck inside, a shadow
emerged.
It was Zorro.
To be continued
by Belle Book
Part Four
Just outside Los Angeles, 1821
A blue circle of light appeared
just outside the pueblo of Los Angeles,
depositing two very unusual teenagers.
Then, the circle vanished.
Ivy and Zack looked around them.
"Where are we, little bro?" asked
Ivy.
"According to the Chronoskimmer,"
whispered Zack, "we're in Los Angeles,
California, in the year 1821!"
"What does Carmen want that would
justify her going back in time to 1821?"
asked Ivy.
"I don't know, but we'd better find
out," said Zack.
"Where should we start looking for
answers?" asked Ivy.
"Well, in that time period, there would've
been a tavern where people went to eat and
talk," said Zack. "Let's look for a tavern in
Los Angeles."
"Okay," said Ivy.
They passed the sign welcoming them
to Los Angeles, and looked around.
They stood in a plaza, with a number
of houses and buildings around them. One of
the buildings was called, "Victoria's Tavern".
"Looks like that's the tavern," said
Ivy.
"Wait a minute," said Zack. "Who is
Victoria? And why would a woman run a
tavern in 1820s Los Angeles?"
"Maybe she's good," said Ivy.
"But most women don't run taverns in
the 1820s," explained Zack.
"Well, let's find out," said Ivy.
"Wait a minute," said Zack. "Haven't
we forgotten something?"
Ivy frowned for a minute, then sudden-
ly realized what Zack was referring to when
she noticed a peasant woman carrying a basket
toward one of the houses.
"Clothes!" she whispered. "We need
appropriate clothes! What do we do?"
"I'd suggest buying some, except we
probably don't have the appropriate currency,"
whispered Zack. "Let's find a safe spot so
we can contact the Chief."
They did so, and when the Chief heard
about Zack and Ivy's predicament, he said, "No
problema! The Chronoskimmer is connected to
the C-5, so all I have to do is C-5 the right
clothes to you!"
"Make them American clothes from the
early nineteenth century," said Zack, as they
had also decided to let people know they were
American.
"Coming right up," said the Chief. Within
minutes, clothes that American boys and girls
of Zack and Ivy's ages wore during this century
were dropped off. Ivy was less than pleased
with her outfit, as she hated dresses.
"Do I have to wear this?" she asked as she
held up her dress.
"Afraid so, sis," said Zack, already putting
on his new clothes.
Ivy muttered something inaudible as she
put on her dress. Then their former clothes
disappeared in the C-5 corridor, ready for them
when they returned to the 20th century.
Once that was done, Ivy said, "Now we can
go to Victoria's Tavern."
"Then let's go!" said Zack.
So together, they approached Victoria's
Tavern.
Once inside, they sat down at the near-
est table they could find.
A beautiful woman approached them and
said, "Buenas tardes. I've never seen you
here before."
"This is our first time here," said Ivy. "My
name's Ivy, and this is my younger brother,
Zack."
"I'm Victoria Escalante," said the woman.
"Welcome to my tavern."
"You own your own tavern?" asked Zack.
"Si. It belonged to my parents," ex-
plained Victoria. "But my mother died some
years ago, and my father died recently, so
I now own it."
"Oh," said Zack.
"So, do you two have parents?" asked
Victoria. "And what are you doing here in
the pueblo de Los Angeles?"
___________________________________________________________
The de la Vega hacienda
While Ivy and Zack were busy talking
to Victoria, Carmen had gotten up from the
secret passageway before Felipe returned with
the news that the guest room had been prepared.
Carmen had already been informed by
Don Alejandro that Felipe couldn't hear or
speak. She also knew that Felipe could hear,
but did not wish to reveal her knowledge of
that fact just yet, so she signalled to Felipe,
"Gracias." They were standing in the library
at that time.
Don Alejandro and Diego emerged from
the secret passageway. Between the time that
Carmen left them and their leaving the cave,
Diego had told his father that he planned to
tell Victoria as soon as possible, preferably
that night. He also revealed that he'd been
wounded by a gunshot from one of Resendo's
men while trying to rescue Tornado from Resendo.
They entered the library, where they
learned the guest room had been prepared.
"Gracias for taking me in, Don Alejandro,"
said Carmen.
"De nada, senorita," said Don Alejandro.
Carmen noticed Diego holding his arm
stiffly, so she asked, "Something wrong, Don
Diego?"
The two gave each other a glance. What
should they tell the senorita?
Finally, Diego said, "It is a wound. I was
practicing with a gun and clumsily let it go off
and shoot me in the arm."
Carmen knew Diego was lying, but she
said nothing.
Instead, she said, "I may have some-
thing for that."
"You do?" asked Diego.
"Si," Carmen said. "While in Monterey,
I met an old Indian treating a gunshot wound
in a fellow Indian. I asked for some of the
medicine in case I needed it, and he gave it
to me. Here."
And with that, she withdrew the med-
icine she had actually stolen out of her coat
pocket. She'd taken off the label, but she
already knew it would work quickly.
Carmen said, "Show me your wound, Don
Diego."
Diego hesitated, then rolled up his shirt,
exposing the wound.
Carmen poured out some of the medicine,
and began to rub it in Diego's wound.
"I was told it would work very quickly, so
quickly that in a few days, one would never
know there was a gunshot wound," said
Carmen.
"Gracias, senorita," said Diego.
"De nada," said Carmen.
"Father, maybe you can prepare dinner
for the senorita while I go to the tavern,"
Diego said.
Carmen suspected Diego wished to tell
Victoria the truth, however, and she wished
to be present when he did.
So instead, she said, "I'd like to see this
tavern."
Diego looked uncomfortable, so Don
Alejandro said, "We'll all go. I'll escort
Senorita Carmen Sandiego."
Diego agreed, and it was settled.
None of them, not even Carmen, knew
that the following events would make Carmen
not a witness, but a participant in history.
___________________________________________________________
Later that night, at the tavern
Ivy and Zack were sitting at the table,
drinking orange juice and eating some of
Victoria's chile con queso.
"This is good," said Zack. "This
Victoria is a great cook."
"Yes," said Ivy. "And a kind woman.
After we're finished eating, she's going to
send us to the church to stay with Padre
Benitez."
Zack had told Victoria that he and
Ivy were from the United States, and that
they had come with their parents to San
Francisco on a business trip. But while
in San Francisco, bandits made an attack.
In the confusion, Zack and Ivy got separated
from their parents, and hid in a wagon that
was heading to Santa Barbara.
Once in Santa Barbara, they walked
to Los Angeles, hoping to get as far away
from the bandits as possible. Of course,
Zack wasn't telling the truth, but he had
to tell something.
Victoria then explained the condition
of Los Angeles to Ivy and Zack. She told
how Alcalde Ignacio deSoto unfairly taxed
the people of Los Angeles, just like Alcalde
Luis Ramone did before him. However, he
never got away with his taxation programs,
because El Zorro always stopped DeSoto.
As Victoria spoke about Zorro, Ivy saw
that the tavern owner had stars in her eyes.
It was clear that she loved Zorro.
Victoria then heard the door open, and
turned to greet the newcomers.
"Don Alejandro! Diego! What a pleasant
surprise!" Victoria said.
Zack and Ivy turned as well -- and stared.
Standing there was an older gentleman
with white hair and a small mustache, a tall
man with black hair, and a black mustache --
and Carmen Sandiego!
____________________________________________________________
"Buenas noches, Victoria," said Diego to
Victoria.
Carmen watched Don Alejandro and Diego
greet Victoria.
"Who's the senorita?" asked Victoria. "Do
I know her?"
"No," said Don Alejandro. "This senorita --
and she is a senorita -- calls herself Carmen
Sandiego. She was travelling to San Diego,
where she was born, when she ran into a bandit
attack on the way and lost all her companions."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," said Victoria.
"Welcome to the pueblo de Los Angeles, Car-
men Sandiego."
Carmen said, "Gracias."
"Oh, Don Alejandro, there's some other
newcomers, from America, who also ran into
some problems," said Victoria.
She turned to wave two teenagers over.
Carmen recognized them at once.
It was Ivy and Zack.
Ivy and Zack came over and Victoria
introduced them to the de la Vegas and to
Carmen. To Carmen's relief, Ivy and Zack
gave no sign of recognition.
"Why don't we sit down with you, Ivy
and Zack?" said Don Alejandro. "You are
all alone here, and we must extend hospi-
tality to you."
"Gracias, Don Alejandro," said Zack.
Ivy, Zack, Carmen, Don Alejandro, and
Diego sat down and Victoria took the orders
of the newcomers. Then she went to get
them all what they ordered.
In a few minutes, she came back with
the food and drinks -- beer for Don Alejandro
and Diego, and orange juice for Carmen.
As Carmen sipped her orange juice,
she happened to hear the door to the ta-
vern slam open.
Looking, she saw a tall, average-looking
man who was dressed well. What she didn't
know was that this man was to be the person
who would cause her to take part in history,
and not just watch it unfold.
___________________________________________________________
"I want service!"
The voice startled Diego. Turning around,
he stared.
Don Luis Alvarez! he thought to himself.
Victoria came up to him and asked what
he wanted.
"I want a room and some supper!" Don Luis
commanded.
Victoria led him to a table and began to
take his order. Diego's eyes followed them.
"Something wrong, Don Diego?" asked his
father.
"Si," said Don Diego. "I think I should ex-
plain, both for you and for the other three, who
don't know me.
"Carmen, Ivy, Zack, almost ten years ago,
I went to the University of Madrid to study the
sciences. I also was to study the sabre."
"Under Sir Edmund Kendall," Don Ale-
jandro explained.
Diego continued, "While I was at the
University, I met Don Luis Alvarez. He was
from San Juan Capistrano."
"I think I've heard of the man," said Don
Alejandro. "He left the University shortly be-
fore I sent for you, didn't he?"
"Yes," said Diego. "But he was forced to
leave."
"Why?" asked Carmen.
"He was extremely reckless," explained
Diego. "He provoked a few fights and would've
provoked many more if I hadn't stopped them.
"Finally, he became fed up with my inter-
ference, and challenged me to a duel. I tried
to calm him down, to keep the duel from hap-
pening, but I finally had no choice."
"How good was he?" asked Carmen.
"Very good," said Diego. "Fortunately, I
got extremely lucky and defeated him."
In fact, there was nothing lucky in Diego's
defeat of Don Luis. Diego won by means of
his extraordinary skill. But Diego had to tell
that lie to Ivy, Zack, and Carmen, since he had
no idea they were from the future, and that Car-
men knew of his skill.
"Don Luis became so furious over losing to
me that finally he was forced to leave the Uni-
versity before graduation," Diego concluded.
"What happened to him?" asked Carmen.
"I heard he went to Mexico, and later heard
that he was taking part in the strife between
Spain and rebels in Mexico who wanted inde-
pendence," Diego said.
"Do you think he's here to stir up trouble?"
Carmen asked.
"I don't know, but I think so," said Diego.
In fact, Diego suspected that if Don Luis
was in California, Mexico was probably on the
verge of independence, and therefore, he might
be trying to bring about independence from
Spain in California by means of force. And
bloodshed.
Diego couldn't let this happen. Neither
could Zorro.
They finished dinner, then went to say
goodbye to Victoria.
Victoria asked Diego to please escort
Ivy and Zack to Padre Benitez, where they
could stay until word could be found about
their parents. Diego promised he'd do so.
Then he asked, "Victoria, are there any
guests staying the night besides the new-
comer?"
"No," said Victoria. "Just Don Luis Al-
varez. That's what his name is. He's stay-
ing in one of the two upstairs rooms. That
one," she pointed up the stairs to a room on
the right.
"Thank you, Victoria," said Diego.
Then all of them left the tavern.
___________________________________________________________
Later that night, outside the tavern
Carmen was glad she remembered
how to ride a horse. And that she had
brought some of her gadgets with her
to the past.
She knew that at this point in history,
Mexico was gaining its independence from
Spain. She also suspected that Don Luis's
coming to Los Angeles had something to
do with the fight for independence.
Don Luis was a violent person, who
would probably prefer to bring this indepen-
dence about by means of violence. The idea
repelled Carmen. She was nonviolent, and
would rather use her wits than her fists to
achieve her goals. That was another quality
that she had in common with Zorro.
No doubt Zorro would be coming along
soon to find out what Don Luis was up to.
However, she planned to find out herself,
and if he planned something extremely viol-
ent, it would have to be stopped.
Even if it meant revealing the truth about
herself to Zorro.
It was time to get to work.
Carmen pushed a button on her left wrist.
A line and hook latched itself around the bal-
cony.
Carmen pulled herself up and over the bal-
cony, then tried the window. It was locked
and shuttered.
However, she knew the window locks were
latch-hooks, and she could get past it easily.
She just hoped Don Luis wasn't inside his room.
Carmen took a pick from one of her coat
pockets and used it on the lock. It worked
perfectly.
Carmen quietly opened the window and
peeked inside. There was no one inside the
room.
Good, she thought. I can sneak in and
out before he knows I'm even there.
So, Carmen snuck through the window
and inside the room.
As soon as she snuck inside, a shadow
emerged.
It was Zorro.
To be continued