No Sabe de que Habla

Chapter 4- El Telón Deber Caída



As Diego put on the costume of Zorro, he noticed that nothing was heard, nothing except Tornado's heavy breathing.

If there was one think wrong, it was the silence of the hacienda, but the loud jeering of the Tavern. Sergeant Garcia probably got himself into another mess again.

Another reason to go.

As Zorro left, Tornado let out a long neigh that would've scared any other man...except the fox.

"I'll be back in a little while, Tornado. Just be patient," Zorro soothed as he turned to leave the dungeon. When he faced the blackness of the night, he sighed, "Although that isn't one of your stronger points."

Something was up in the Tavern and it was the job of Zorro to find out. Zorro thought for a moment on how to make his big entrance. All of a sudden, he heard something.

"Zorro! Everybody, wake up. It's Zorro!" Someone shouted. Zorro wheeled himself around and was face to face with the Comandante himself. In an instant, all the lancers in the Tavern were rushing out to face the masked rogue.

Sergeant Garcia was behind all the men, carrying a half full glass of red wine. He downed it before he drew his sword and started chasing Zorro himself.

The Lancers had come prepared. There were just too many...

ZZZZZZZZ

Bernardo jumped at the sound of a gunshot. Something was wrong, and it was his job to find out.

There were no windows in the little room that he called his own, but at least the door was facing the plaza. He opened it just enough to see all the Lancers crowded around someone.

His curiosity growing, he opened the door all the way. It was hard to see over some of the guards.

As he squeezed his way through the mob, he could see a dark figure in the hands of Garcia. The face was hard to make out. It was hidden behind a black-cloth mask.

A mask! Then it would have to be Zorro. But, wait a minute, Diego was Zorro.

"Senores and Senoritas, I give you the people's champion, Zorro." The Comandante's voice boomed over the crowd. The mob had some protestors and some defenders.

Bernardo glanced at Garcia, who noticed him standing there. For once, Garcia understood what he was saying. A troubled look fell over his face.

As the Comandante continued, horror inside his stomach grew.

"Tonight, you will actually see who your champion is. Tonight, the mask is taken off!" Cheers erupted from the mob. People tried to push through the Lancers blocking their view.

It was now or never, he had one chance to stop the insanity. Bernardo got up all his courage and-in his head-said a small prayer. He walked up to Garcia tried as hard as he could to find a way to get him to let his grip go.

He couldn't pry his hands from Zorro's shoulders, but a diversion was enough. Garcia let go without paying attention.

Zorro tried to get away, but the Lancers grabbed at him, tearing the cape and pulling him down to the ground. Bernardo got frustrated, and started throwing the Lancers off of him.

As Bernardo struggled for his friend, Garcia grabbed him and put him back behind the mob again. The Comandante's voice stopped the uproar.

"Wait! Garcia, bring him back up here. He probably works for Zorro himself."

Time was running out. He tried to muster up any sound he could, but he was to busy trying to brake free of Garcia.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, for every great hero, the curtain must fall. This is your champion!" The Comandante untied the knot, and the mask fell to the ground...