Chapter 16

Zorro raced across the desert plain, his cape flying out behind him, giving the impression of a dark, cloaked avenging angel. The miles disappeared beneath Tornado's long stride as he gathered back his awesome strength and speed with every new intake of breath. Zorro, too, was grateful for the healing, cool wind on his face as they sailed toward the pueblo.

He could see the gallows that had been hastily erected in the plaza long before Tornado raced through the gates of the pueblo and stopped well away from the wooden platform.

"Alcalde! It is I you want. Why torture the innocent with your games?" Zorro challenged with arms held open wide. The sight of the armed lancers leveling guns toward them was the usual sign to the horse to run, but he held still at the almost imperceptible signals from his master.

"Fire!" De Soto screamed and a volley of shots rang through the pueblo all aimed at Zorro.

But he had judged his distance well and the rounds all fell just short of his place before the gate. As soon as the last shot was fired, Zorro urged Tornado forward to approach the gallows.

"How many times must I warn you against carrying out a sentence before a trial!" Zorro actually laughed and he hoped the apprehension he felt was not heard in his voice.

There were soldiers scattered throughout the pueblo that he'd never seen before now. Foreign faces amid the crowd stared up at him. Where had the Alcalde recruited these men? And just how skilled with those muskets were they? How fast could they reload?

The Alcalde laughed in return. "I have you now, Outlaw! And this man will die before you! He has helped you escape my plan to expose you with his lies. But no matter! We can unmask your dead body when it lies at my feet!"

Zorro looked over at the trembling man standing on the gallows with the noose around his neck. Looks exchanged between the two, one of resignation, one of apology. Lasting for only a few seconds, the pause was just long enough for a lancer to surprise Zorro, whose quick reflexes were now slowed by the latent traces of gas still flowing through his blood. The lancer hefted a huge club, swinging it in an arc, sweeping Zorro from his saddle. Tornado moved forward, ready to fight, but at a hand signal from Zorro, he backed up and stood still, but tensed and ready.

Looking to his right, Zorro could see the lancer who had wielded the club, now being held back, his arms pinned to his side by two strapping young caballeros. Peons, caballeros, townspeople and lancers filled the plaza. Yet the only ones coming forward were the new faces in the crowd. The new recruits the Alcalde had drawn from other pueblos.

Zorro drew his sword and the ring of new lancers gave him ample room. The odds were insurmountable, but they had all heard of this man's reputation. None wanted to be the first one to try to take him. A wide smile spread across Zorro's face as he realized the extent of their fear of him.

"Arrest him!" The Alcalde screamed at the lancers. "What are you waiting for?" But there was silence all around as eyes darted back and forth. "Kill him!" De Soto became livid. "I said, Kill him!"

Zorro stood smiling and ready, but no one challenged him. Then De Soto drew his own sword and advanced forward. Lancers backed away to let him through unobstructed. "Then the pleasure appears to be mine!"

"Pleasure or shame, Alcalde? It seems no one here wants to play your game." Zorro smiled as the man shouted at him to stand en guard.

Zorro passed his blade before his face in a quick salute and gave a serious nod. But De Soto was already charging with his blade. He lunged forward and went flying wildly as Zorro stepped coolly aside. He was back with a succession of thrusts and Zorro parried each one with ease, even displaying a touch of boredom. The new faces in the crowd witnessed the master swordsman playing, toying with his opponent as he maneuvered him around the plaza. No one interfered.

The clanging of steel upon steel was the only sound, save for the increasingly ragged breathing of De Soto as the battle wore on between them. Zorro allowed himself to be driven back at times and De Soto pressed his seeming advantage, not seeing the purpose of the moves. All the while, Zorro smiled and the Alcalde raged. The duel went on as the combat circled around until finally Zorro was in the place he wanted to be.

At his closest proximity to the gallows, Zorro disengaged and performed a perfect redoublement that sent De Soto's weapon flying out of his hands. As the Alcalde scrambled for his sabre, Zorro took the steps up to the gallows two at a time and had Hodge freed from the noose and his bounds cut before De Soto even turned around to rejoin the fight.

"You villain!" De Soto yelled gruffly. "You've interfered for the last time!"

In answer, Zorro leapt to the ground within a few feet of the man. "Now, where were we?" The sabres crossed again, and this time, De Soto's moves were totally defensive as Zorro grew tired of the display.

Suddenly, a shot rang out from a distance and Zorro turned toward the source. With his attention diverted for a critical second, De Soto lunged in a last great attempt to drive his blade into the outlaw. At the very last moment, Zorro deflected the blow downward, but he misjudged the movement and felt the sharp steel slice at his left thigh. His own self-inflected wound reopened at the strike and he could feel the warm trickle of blood oozing down his leg once more. Letting out a small involuntary grunt of pain at the intense sting of the wound, Zorro stumbled backwards.

Everyone present heard the quiet exclamation of pain in the dead silence of the match, and De Soto sensed the sudden weakness in the masked man. As Zorro backed up a few paces, De Soto advanced menacingly.

Then a second shot rang out, this time much closer, and the sounds of thundering horses' hooves became audible to everyone there.

"Halt! I command you! A commanding voice broke through the sudden uproar of noise as an entire military regiment surrounded the outer rim of the pueblo and the plaza.

De Soto sheathed his sword in triumphant glee. Now his victory was imminent! Spain had sent his reinforcements. He smiled wickedly at the surprised Zorro. "Now! We will see just who is behind that mask!" De Soto stepped toward Zorro with authority, his hand outstretched, reaching for the mask.

"Halt, I say!" A uniformed General had dismounted and was striding toward the two men so lately engaged in combat.

"Gentlemen, just what seems to be the trouble here?" he asked seriously. The general had taken in the masked, caped man with no hint of surprise.

"General…?"

"General Hernando Manzanares, at your service. And you are…" he looked expectantly at the Alcalde.

"Ignacio De Soto. I am the Alcalde of the Pueblo de Los Angeles, appointed by the King of Spain," he announced impressively.

"Ah, yes, I have heard of you. But there is one small problem here, I see."

"Yes, and you are just in time to witness the unmasking of—" De Soto started forward again, hand reaching out toward Zorro's mask.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." The threat in the general's voice was obvious. Zorro remained silent as he studied the uniforms of the newly arrived soldiers. These were not Spanish uniforms.

"But he's Zorro! He's a criminal and I have just arrested him!" De Soto struggled to make sense of the man's reluctance to aid him.

"You do not have the power to arrest anyone! You had better get used to the idea." The man turned his back on De Soto and announced to the crowd around them, "People of Los Angeles, I am here to inform you of the military takeover of this pueblo by the Mexican government! We mean it to be a peaceful one. No one will be hurt, if you cooperate." The crowd stood stunned by the news.

"Mexico!" De Soto sputtered. "But that's impossible!" His fury was fueled as Zorro broke into laughter.

"He put you up to this!" He pulled out his sword once more and pointed it at Zorro. Immediately, at least forty of the newly arrived soldiers leveled loaded muskets at De Soto. His eyes grew into large circles.

"Perhaps you had better put that away, Ignacio. You are at a distinct disadvantage right now." Zorro said calmly. "However, I am flattered that you think me capable of controlling whole governments. Quite a compliment." He winked at the man.

The General advanced toward Zorro and extended a hand of greeting. "El Zorro! We have heard of you even as far south as Mexico City." He looked over at the gallows. "For you, I presume?"

"Not this time. But for an innocent man, just the same. I thank you for your intervention."

"No qualms about realigning political sympathies toward a different government?" The General eyed him suspiciously. He only hoped he would not have to go up against the man before him.

"I have no political feelings one way or another, as long as the government is a just one."

De Soto still stood there incredulous. "You mean you aren't going to arrest him?" He looked around at the impassive faces of the soldiers. "He's an outlaw! A criminal! A menace to society!"

"But he's broken no law of Mexico. At least, not yet. And Spanish law is now null and void in this pueblo. Do you wish to raise an objection?"

De Soto looked slowly around at the muskets still pointed in his direction.

"No, no objection," he said weakly. Inwardly, his feelings raged. "I will be willing to aid in the transfer of administration. If I may return to my office to ready the…uh…"

"Of course." And he let the former Alcalde of Los Angeles slink back through the crowd.

"A word of warning, General, you may have trouble with that one." Zorro inclined his head to the spot where De Soto had melted into the crowd.

"No need for that warning, El Zorro. I have seen full reports on that one from both Spanish sources as well as our own. One does not get to be a general without access to some information from all sides. I have also seen the reports about you."

"And…" Zorro prompted.

The general shrugged. "I am here with my men only temporarily, to prepare the people for the coming government and to keep the peace in this area. I would hope you will do nothing to prevent either of those goals. We do not expect much trouble with the transfer, but there may be some resistance. I hope the entire process is a peaceful one."

"As do I." Zorro said and almost immediately he stumbled as his injured leg gave way beneath him.

"Do you need help, Señor?" The General asked, ready to dismount and help the outlaw.

"No, no" he said as he recovered his bearing. "But I will be going now, if you have no objection?" Zorro let out a shrill whistle and Tornado nuzzled his way through the ring of soldiers that had separated him from his master. Responding to Zorro's commands, he halted just before the wooden gallows and turned alongside the platform. Zorro stepped into a stirrup, held up a hand to Lord Hodge and pulled him from the stand and into position just behind him astride Tornado.

With a smile and a wave, he gave free rein to the horse. The mass of people parted like a wave before them and the two med rode quickly through the pueblo gates.