Later that same week, after Zorro retrieved his teacher's sword with no alarm being raised and no questions being asked by the alcalde, DeSoto called a pueblo meeting. He invited the leading caballeros, as expected. However, he also included the leading and best-educated peons in the area. Even more surprising to Diego was the fact that he paid Victoria for the use of her tavern.
"I understand that times are tough, Don Alejandro. I know that the people have been overtaxed. However, I also know that the road between here and Santa Paula desperately needs improvement. I want to identify a way that we can do it. Any suggestions?" Watching him, Diego thought that DeSoto genuinely seemed interested in hearing what the people had to say about his new tax plan. He also watched the people's reactions to the new plan. They were upset, but since DeSoto practically asked their permission, they were open to the idea.
DeSoto spun to look at Diego, who had been leaning on the bar behind him. "Don Diego, you have not said anything this evening, and I'm particularly interested in what you have to suggest." Diego opened his mouth, but no words emerged. DeSoto wanted to know his opinion?
Don Carlos' booming laugh filled the air. His father's old friend said between breaths, "Diego doesn't have many opinions about the government, Alcalde. If it deals with books or art, he has something to say. If not, he doesn't! Everyone knows it."
The alcalde glanced at Don Carlos wearing a pleasant smile that Diego believed to be false. "Oh, I disagree, Don Carlos. I think Diego has many opinions on many different issues, but he has never chosen to share them with us." The smile he gave Don Alejandro was far more relaxed and real. "With such an outspoken father, it is very easy to be hidden and ignored. So, Diego, what is your opinion?"
Diego heard little warning bells going off in his mind, but he ignored them. Just once, he wanted to show the people of this pueblo that Diego de la Vega was not useless. He wanted a chance to impress his father and his friends. "I agree that the road to Santa Paula needs to be redone. It is too important a road to ignore--our mail and most of our supplies come from Santa Paula. The holes and ruts in the road have almost made it unmanageable in some areas. However, I do not believe that the people of this pueblo should be burdened with the costs of building a better road."
Looking at him intently, DeSoto nodded. Diego could feel the others stares, heard their unspoken questions about the suddenness of the young de la Vega speaking his opinion or even having one to speak. "The current road is used equally between the people of Santa Paula and Los Angeles. I believe that the people of Santa Paula should bear half of the burden for the new road."
DeSoto's smile seemed genuine. "I thought of that myself, Diego. I've already sent a message to the alcalde of Santa Paula, and I do believe that the man is willing to accept my proposal. However, they are also over-burdened from the taxes Spain has imposed on us to pay for the war, but they hope to have a plan on raising the funds themselves soon. They, too, are anxious for a new road. However, we are still left with half the cost of the road and no money to pay it."
Diego nodded at him, impressed despite himself with DeSoto's thinking and quick action. "The military is a great benefactor of a better road between here and Santa Paula. Most of the military supplies come through that pueblo, so I believe that the military should pay a fair portion of the amount needed."
The grin remained on DeSoto's face, and what it implied amazed Diego. The alcalde seemed to be enjoying the intellectual discussion in which they were engaged. "True! I have also thought of that fact. I will admit that I could raise a third of the money needed from next year's military budget. However, that does place the military in a very tight position. Nothing could go wrong for the year, and I doubt that would happen. I would prefer to only use the military budget to pay for a fourth of the road. That leaves the people of Los Angeles with three-fourths of their half to pay."
Diego could not stop the grin from forming on his face. He did not know why, but he was enjoying this exchange, too. DeSoto of late often reminded him of the older student that he had admired from afar at University. He really did seem to be trying to be a good leader, and he was thinking through problems and open to suggestions about fixing them. "I also don't think it would be fair to burden the peons with the tax for this road. Very few of them ever leave their homes for other pueblos. Most don't even use the mail system because they cannot read or write. It would not be fair to burden them with any tax for this road," he repeated. Diego could hear the murmurs of approval from the peon leaders and of disapproval from most of the caballeros.
"This, I had not thought about, de la Vega. However, I feel I must point out that the peons do benefit from the merchants using the road to bring in goods and from the military getting supplies," DeSoto answered. He stood there with his fist under his chin. "Shouldn't they receive at least part of the burden?"
"Normally, I would probably agree that a nominal tax would be fair. However, they are just now starting the road to recovery after years of being overtaxed unfairly by you and Ramón." Diego could hear the gasps of surprise that went through the room. Tonight, Diego had gone farther in condemning the alcalde's past actions than most in the room dared. "I don't think taxing them would help the pueblo or the people. Have you considered not taxing the people for this road?" Diego asked, suddenly struck by an idea. Ramón had used it for his advantage, why could not Los Angeles use it to benefit the pueblo as a whole?
"Not tax?" the alcalde asked, his eyebrows shooting up into his hairline. He leaned forward. "How would we raise the money then?"
"How about investment?" Diego suggested. "Ask the caballeros and merchants to invest in the road with a promised return on the bonds they buy."
"And we would pay interest on this investment how?" The alcalde voice held a note of interest.
"Tolls," Diego answered. "We could offer this idea to Santa Paula also. The new road could have select booths set along them where travelers pay a tax for using the road. That way only the people who use the road will be burdened by its cost."
"A tax for using the road? I've never heard of such an idea. What would keep the people from using the old road instead of the new?" DeSoto asked. The people in the tavern were quiet as this exchange took place. Diego could tell from how they were sitting what they were thinking; the idea interested them. It could work. Maybe.
"Nothing," he replied with a smile. His mind was working rapidly, thinking through possible problems and solutions. It could work. "The people would be free to choose the old road if they want. However, you told us tonight that the new road would shorten the distance between Santa Paula and Los Angeles. It should take an hour off the travel time, you said. With the current road falling apart, the time used for travel is only increasing. The new route you described should also be safer, with fewer places where bandits could hide. I believe most people would be happy to pay small tolls to be able to travel quicker, easier, and safer."
"You know, Diego, that might work," said Don Carlos with a measure of respect for the young don showing in his voice. "I'm a constant user of the road and would be glad to have my time spent on it shortened. I would be glad to pay small tolls to have a nice and faster road to travel on every week, and I would also be interested in possibly investing in this road construction."
Suddenly, the room erupted with ideas of what tolls should be charged and how much interest should be paid for investments. Also, the people began discussing who would be sent to Santa Paula to present the idea to the leaders there. DeSoto looked at Diego and grinned. "I knew you had it in you, de la Vega. You really should speak out more." He turned and walked closer to the center of the discussion. Diego could see the pride on Alejandro's face, and the sight of it twisted his heart. For a few minutes, he had been a son of which a father, his father, could be proud.
"He's right, you know." Victoria was looking at him with respect in her eyes. He had seen it there once before, after he had argued with the royal emissary in Santa Paula. "You should speak out more and share your ideas. You're wonderful at it." She smiled and started to serve the men in her tavern fresh lemonade.
Diego leaned back, confused. He was surprised at himself for "speaking out", even with the alcalde's urging. He knew that he needed to be unassuming in the pueblo to hide his secret, but he had been unable to resist the challenge and the lure of gaining respect as Diego for a brief moment. Something deep in his soul warned him that DeSoto had known it. What was the alcalde up to?
****
The following day brought with it a need for Zorro. Three bandits had attacked the carriage bringing a small fortune in jewels to Don Sebastian. They killed the courier bringing the gems—-a man Zorro believed had been involved in the plot to rob the kind landowner. With all the secrecy surrounding the gems, he was the most likely choice for being the thief's informant about the jewelry and the route. They had betrayed him in the end by putting a bullet between his eyes.
Putting on the black mask and cape to challenge the robbers had been a relief. Lately, he had only worn it to court Victoria. Riding into the pueblo, with the bandits--all with "Z"s cut into their clothing--sitting on their horses behind him, was an even greater relief. Now, he would at last be able to see the real Ignacio DeSoto and maybe put his unease to rest.
"These bandits already had rewards on their heads. I assume you wish me to put the bounty in the church poor box?" DeSoto asked, after noticing whom Zorro had brought with him. He calmly looked up at the outlaw he had tried for so long to capture.
Zorro shook his head to clear the mental fog. Expecting to hear the usual "Zorro! After him!" command, he again found a relaxed and friendly alcalde. "Excuse me?" he asked without thought. He could tell that the soldiers and people in the plaza were also confused. Even Toronado was uneasy with the change of routine. Zorro could tell that the great stallion was ready to run.
The alcalde smiled, bringing his hand to his chest. "I'm sorry, Zorro. I'm making assumptions again. I assumed that you haven't captured them for the reward, since you haven't received any for your previous captures, and I thought you would not wish to receive this one either and might like it to be contributed to the church poor box. Would you rather collect it, or perhaps give it to some other charity?"
"The church poor box will be fine," Zorro managed to answer. His voice was unsure and weak, very unlike it usually was.
"Very well." Ignacio DeSoto smiled up at the masked man. He waved for Mendoza and his men to take away the prisoners. "The church poor box shall be richer in a short time. Now, if you will excuse me, I must return these gems to Don Sebastian, with a warning to use more trustworthy men to escort such valuables in the future."
"The courier was killed by the bandits," Zorro argued, even though he too believed in the man's guilt.
"True, and I hope that I am making a mistake in believing the worst. However, from what little you and the coachman and Don Sebastian have told me, I think the courier was the only man who could have informed the bandits that such a treasure was on the coach. Few, if anyone else, knew that there would be such a treasure arriving at our pueblo today. Anyway, thank you again for stopping them from being able to rob another good citizen and for returning the gems. Good day." DeSoto turned and walked towards his office. He left behind a confused outlaw, a more confused group of lancers, and a lot of citizens who refused to believe what they saw and heard.
Zorro turned Toronado towards the pueblo's entrance. He could see his own shock mirrored on the lancers' faces. His father and Victoria, mouths wide open, were standing next to the tavern. He felt an insane urge to laugh. Instead, he did something he had never been able to do before--he rode Toronado out of the pueblo at a leisurely trot. No one followed and no bullets flew after him.