Chapter 2
Victoria's eyes widened in astonishment.
"What year—? Diego! You can't be serious!" She couldn't believe her ears! "Are you… do you mean that you…?" Her voice rose with each unfinished question.
"Victoria, Shhhh," Diego cut her off quickly. He didn't want any other ears to hear. "It will be all right, I am sure." He hoped he could convince her, for he certainly wasn't convincing himself. "I am just having a little difficulty at the present time remembering some things." The look on her face was still one of shock. "Victoria, please …just tell me the year." His voice portrayed a calmness that surprised even him. "Really, I need to know."
She told him the year and carefully studied his face. Her panic was subsiding somewhat because of his studied tone, but her mind was spinning, thinking of all the possibilities that his question had meant. The doctor had said that his injury might mean some changes in Diego, but she had never considered this!
Diego's mind was racing. Five years! He had lost five years!
He was shocked and he felt he had to hide that fact. How much more could he dare risk asking? One thing he needed to know was why he was feeling so secretive. There had to be a reason for this almost ominous warning in his brain not to say too much. What was is? Should he even trust Victoria?
He looked at her. This woman loved him! It was obvious. But the last he remembered of his relationship with her, his love had not been returned.
Victoria had always been besieged by admirers since their childhood. The young lads of the pueblo, those closer to her own station, displayed far more courage than he ever could in efforts to win her affections. He was a caballero's son. A de la Vega, even. He had purposely held back his own intentions from her, hoping that she would not succumb to any of her multitudinous offers before he could complete his education and be ready to offer her marriage. Anything less, because of the difference in their familial backgrounds, would have reflected badly on Victoria. Besides, making the leap from best friend to potential suitor was indeed a difficult one. But from the look on her face, he must have taken that step. But how? And when?
"Victoria…are we…I mean… are you…" The sweat began to bead on his brow. "I don't even know how to ask this."
"Diego, just what was the last thing you remember? Tell me. I will help you. You know that, don't you? I would do anything for you." The earnestness on her face was so very apparent. He wanted to trust her. But he still wasn't sure. "Diego, please!" Her voice began to rise in volume and pitch.
"Victoria, I am sorry. My head is throbbing so. I m not sure what I remember right now. Why don't you tell me what happened when I was hurt. Maybe it will jog my memory." He managed a weak smile for her.
She told him of the bandidos' rampage in the plaza. She watched his face intently as she described his own actions to him.
But his face was now masked yet again. He wore that nonchalant expression she had grown to know so well in the past few years. But now, she knew that it was as much a mask as the black satin one she had also seen him wear. He wasn't going to tell her just how big the gap in his memory was and that hurt. He didn't fully trust her. She felt the tears welling up behind her eyes.
Diego could see the emotions play plainly across her face. She had not changed so drastically in these five years. She was so beautiful. Why couldn't he be honest with her? This was madness. Why did every fiber in his being scream at him to tread carefully here? What could he have forgotten that was so important he couldn't be completely open with a woman staring at him with so much love in her eyes? As she finished her account of that day, he tried to lighten her mood.
"It sounds like I was a little reckless." He gave a little laugh and continued, "I don't think I'm usually that foolhardy, am I?" He patted the back of her hand and his tone turned serious. "I am fine, Victoria. I will remember everything in time, and all will return to normal in a few days. I am sure of it. I know you will be thankful to get the use of this room back and your tavern back to turning a profit. It does seem that you are the one person this situation has impacted financially more than anyone."
"Except for the relatives of the peons who were killed," she said soberly, letting slip the information she had carefully made everyone else avoid. Her hand clamped over her mouth, but it was too late.
"Killed! Nobody said anything about anyone being killed!" He was startled at her revelation.
"Oh, Diego. I shouldn't have said that." The words were out and she could already see the fire they had kindled in his eyes. "We had agreed that you shouldn't be worrying about that right now."
"How many?" There was now a dangerous look on his face. This was Zorro before her, not Diego.
"Five. Diego, it was terrible. Juan Morales left a wife and 4 young children. And Arturo Ramirez was to have been married next week…I didn't know the two other men. They were from Monterey and visiting the Guttierez family. And Marisa Santos was just 15 years old…" The tears did come then as she remembered the losses.
He raised up from the bed to put his arms around her in comfort. All at once, the simple action flooded his mind with the ever-present desire for her that dwelt in his heart. How had he gotten so close to her that she accepted such an intimate action on his part? He was lying in a bed, at night, wearing only minimal clothing, embracing the woman he loved. This could not be proper! His sensibilities were reeling. She had all but melted into his arms. He pulled away and looked into her eyes. She was not shocked. If anything, she was enjoying his closeness. How had they come this far!
"Victoria, I think…you …had better …go… This is…" He was beginning to stammer. What love could do to a man! "This …this…would be hard to explain. It was one thing to be with me like this, alone, at night when I was unconscious, but now that I'm recovering…well, it just…"
"Diego, you are such a prude! How like you to think of —"
"Please. Victoria, we will talk tomorrow. Really! Everything will be just fine. You must trust me." He smiled the smile of Zorro and she felt his confidence flow to her. She gathered the tray and left him, silently vowing to herself to help him gain his memory back at all costs. She would not lose him now!
The next morning, Diego's father helped him into the carriage in front of a very silent entourage of onlookers. There were people scattered up and down the street watching the young caballero with interest, but all were strangely quiet. It was as if everyone in the town had made a pact to voluntarily ignore the magnitude of the situation that surrounded Don Diego de la Vega. Everyone present knew a secret about him and yet not one man would have told that secret to another on pain of death. He was Zorro. He was their hero, their friend and their patron. And he was now more than all of that.
When the people had discovered Zorro to be a rich caballero, it had made his sacrifice for them all the more incredible. Don Diego had risked his freedom and his very life for them when he could so easily have only led the life he had pretended to lead. He had done so much for them these past years as both Don Diego and Zorro that he would never be betrayed by any of them. The secret of Zorro was safe. It was safe in the hearts and minds of every person in the pueblo.
Every person except one. The Alcalde, coming out of his office door, noticed the scene before him in disgust. So de la Vega was well enough to travel! Well, it was about time the pueblo returned to normal and the sniveling peasants got back to their work!
It was just as well that Zorro had not been causing any trouble lately. For his lancers were so busy elsewhere, they would have been hard pressed to try to capture him. But they would be ready for him soon. De Soto was almost gleeful as he thought about his latest scheme. Forty more lancers were going to be assigned to his quartel this month! It had been a coup to gain the positions, but he had made his argument to the Governor and won. Zorro was going to be in his jail before too long. No, make that in a coffin! For now, it was time for deadly force to be used. Once he had Zorro dead and buried, he would be one giant step closer to getting out of this stinking pueblo. One step closer to Madrid and the recognition he deserved!
Don Alejandro was watching Diego's pained expressions as the carriage bounced over the rough road. "Son, hang on. We'll be there soon. It may have been a mistake to take you home so quickly. You don't look well at all!"
"I will be fine. It is just a headache. And Dr. Hernandez did say that headaches would be expected, did he not? I just want to get home. Sleeping in my own bed will make all the difference in the world. But that reminds me, you did make sufficient remuneration to Victoria for all the expenses of the past week, didn't you?"
"Yes, I took care of that, though it was a bit of a struggle to get her to take anything. That girl can be quite stubborn when she sets her mind to something—"
"And what about the victims of the shootings? Can we do something for them? Victoria was telling me that—"
Don Alejandro assured his son decisively. "Son, Felipe and I have been very busy in that regard, and I don't want you to even think about all of that. I don't want you dwelling on any part of this incident. Time enough for that later when you're back to full health. Right now, the order of business if to get some meat back on those bones and some color back in those cheeks."
Felipe signed his agreement by pinching his own cheeks and pointing to Diego.
"Felipe and I have made quite a team this past week with you laid up. Haven't we, my boy?"
Diego smiled at Felipe. The boy could look at you as if he could see through to your very soul. Diego had to avert his eyes. Felipe had changed so much. It was hard to imagine how their relationship had changed in the past 5 years. Perhaps Felipe would be the one to trust. But he was going to have to work at communicating with Felipe. He seemed to be using a whole new language of signs that Diego had a difficult time following. It was very plain that Felipe expected Diego to understand him perfectly and was confused as to why he didn't.
"I had hoped you might be well enough to make the trip to Santa Paulo for the cattle auction next week. But I do believe we had better not count on it. Felipe, I think it's time that maybe you take on some new responsibilities and make the journey. We will leave Diego at home this time and let him recuperate. I'm sure a certain young Señorita will drop in to check on him, eh?" he said with a wicked little smile and elicited a great big grin from Felipe. "I see you have been making great gains in that direction, Diego. Perhaps my dreams of grandbabies will soon be a reality!"
"Father, really!" Diego feigned a look of indignation. "But I think you are right. Felipe would enjoy the trip, and I could use a little time on my own to adjust. It is an excellent idea." He looked over at Felipe who was beginning to show a little more ease.
Felipe hadn't exactly thought Diego would agree to the idea. But the fact that he did must mean that all was well.
He had thought Diego would be planning on tracking down the rest of the bandidos. It was not like Zorro to leave loose ends dangling. And the bandidos that escaped were still running free. There was also still no explanation for the raid on the pueblo. They had not robbed. They had only killed and wounded. It had not made any sense. And those men had behaved so, well, wildly!
And now, it was said they were acting even stranger. The captured men had not talked at all. It was even rumored that they were in a sort of dazed state and had refused all offers of food. Yet their thirst was great! They were to be transferred soon to the prison at San Pedro and that was unusual too. The evidence against them was overwhelming, and yet they were not to be tried, sentenced or hanged, just transferred. It was all very strange. It was just the sort of mystery to get Zorro back in business.
Then there was the matter of most in the town now knowing just who Zorro was. It had been amazing. But from all accounts, it was as if everyone in the pueblo had guessed that day that Don Diego was Zorro. But now, not one single person was willing to openly say it. There seemed to be an unspoken agreement that Zorro would be protected and Diego de la Vega could continue his secret life in "secret".
Zorro's father had known this "secret" for quite some time. He had kept his knowledge from his son, hoping that someday Diego would tell him on his own. But that day had not come. All he could do in the mean time was to help him whenever he could by generally just not hindering him, which is what he had done so often in the past without knowing it. But from the day he had figured it out, he had changed all that. Though he had to admit, there were times that he had been unable to resist the temptation to play a few tricks on this errant son of his. It served him right for all those years of not trusting him with the secret of El Zorro. Someday soon, they would have to sit down and have a nice long talk about all this. He needed that.
For one thing, he had a lot of apologizing to do to his son. There were words he had said to him that he wished with all his heart he could take back and erase from his own memory, especially that one word, "coward". Now, it was almost comical to think he had ever had that thought about Diego. But at the time… It just proved what an excellent play actor his son was. The stage had lost a fine talent in his son! He had fooled the whole of California. He had probably gotten that talent from his mother. How she would have reveled in her son today!
The carriage rolled to a stop in front of the hacienda. Several of the house servants and even a few from the stables had assembled to greet the de la Vega men.
Diego was ushered inside by a very motherly, older woman. Obviously the housekeeper, Diego thought. He wished he could remember her name. Soon, he found himself tucked in bed like a little boy. This wasn't exactly what he had wanted, but it was hard to refuse the woman. She was soon bringing in steaming bowls of mouth-watering foods and a wonderful fruit juice drink (which had been carefully mixed with a nice sleeping potion according to Dr Hernandez's directions). And before long, he was dozing comfortably amid freshly plumped pillows and scented sheets.
Preparations for the trip to Santa Paulo had proceeded. But as the time for the trip approached, Felipe was growing more agitated. Diego could see it in his manner plainly and wondered at the cause. He and Felipe had progressed a little in getting to know one another again, but Diego could not understand why Felipe would be so reluctant to go on this trip with his father. He was almost in a panic about it.
"Felipe, you will have a marvelous time. I cannot imagine why you do not want to go."
Felipe signed that he did not want to leave Diego. He had his chores.
"Felipe, your chores will be performed quite adequately by others. You just need to relax and have a good time." Diego was beginning to be able to follow Felipe's signing better, but there were times it was absolutely hopeless. "Felipe, slowly. I cannot understand you when you—."
Felipe signed about feeding the horses. "The stablemen will do all that. There is nothing to worry about." Felipe pointed to Diego with great meaning. "Yes, I will see to it. I really do not know why you should worry. Things have a way or working out, do they not? Now, let's see if we can find a sash that will match that, shall we? As a representative of the de la Vega household, you must convey just the right touch of élan. Here. Yes, this one will do nicely." And so he continued to go on and on about the most unimportant small details.
Felipe was exasperated with Diego. Over the last few days, it had become obvious to Felipe that Diego was not quite himself. Or rather, the problem was that he was too much like himself. Like Diego. And he had forgotten so many things. He called servants by the wrong names and had asked about a nearby neighbor that had died two years ago. He had yet to go into the cave and he had not even asked about Tornado. He had not talked about the Bandidos and his plans for finding them.
Felipe was beginning to wonder if his memory was more than just a little patchy, as he claimed. It was as if he couldn't remember being Zorro at all! But that was impossible, even inconceivable.
Diego saw his father and Felipe off at the door and gave a sigh of relief. Now, maybe he could get somewhere with remembering. He wouldn't have to pretend so much and could concentrate on the problem at hand. A few flashes of memory had come to him here and there, but they just didn't make any sense.
He sensed that the library was a key to something of his past. He had been drawn there from the moment he had entered the hacienda. So he made his way into that room and sat on the chair by the window. Now if he could only just concentrate. The headache this caused was substantial. The more he strained at the haziness of his mind, the more intense the pain. But it could be endured. Shadows played across his mind. All he had to do was tame those shadows. He shifted his gaze about the room.
The piano. He could visualize playing the piano. Chopin, Mozart and Brahms. Sonatas, etudes and minuets. He knew the fingering for the keys. But that was a memory of before…
He looked toward the window…. He could see a telescope set up there in his mind. It was not there now. But it had been placed there from time to time. Where was it now? Hmm.
He looked toward the fireplace. There was no fire, now. It was unseasonably warm just now. The fireplace. His eyes narrowed and he frowned as he tried to force the memory into focus. Yes, there was something meaningful there. But what was it? He got up and crossed over to the fireplace and examined the objects on the mantle with interest. Nothing seemed significant to him. They were all things of his father's.
He rubbed his brow. The headache was worse. He leaned heavily against the mantle, willing the pain away, and as he did so, his hand found and pressed a hidden lever! It was almost as if his body knew something his mind did not. He stepped back and looked on, amazed, as a hidden door inside the fireplace opened to reveal a secret passage! This is it, he thought. But was he ready for it? He toggled the lever again and the door closed. He was beginning to tremble slightly with the excitement of his discovery.
"Diego!" He turned to see Victoria standing in the doorway. "How are you doing? I thought I'd better check on you. I can't believe that Don Alejandro and Felipe have gone on their trip and left you by yourself.' She was taking off her shawl and making herself at home.
"Alone? Victoria, there is a houseful of servants at my beck and call. I wouldn't exactly call that alone. Here, let me take that."
"Well, still, I don't think they should have left you just now. It's too soon after your ordeal. How are the headaches? You look like you have one right now." She was looking at him with that stern look that told him he might as well give in and be pampered a little. And it would be pleasant to just spend some time with her. The passage could wait. He wasn't sure he was ready to face what was behind it anyway.
"How could my head ache when such beauty stands before me?" He smiled as he took her hand and kissed it softly.
"How sweet!" And how like something Zorro would have said, she thought. "It seems that blow on the head has turned you into quite a charmer. But, here, sit." She gestured toward a chair. "Let's try to ease those lines in that handsome brow of yours." Smiling, she pushed him firmly down into the chair and went around his back and began massaging his temples with her fingertips.
For the next few moments, he allowed himself the luxury of her gentle touch. They both kept the conversation light and playful while their innermost thoughts were of everything that was being unsaid. Victoria wondered what questions to ask him that would tell her just how much he remembered. Diego was consumed with just how much he had forgotten, and how to keep her from realizing it. They laughed together and teased each other and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon. Diego's headache seemed to ease a little more with each passing moment.
But the visit was cut short by the unexpected arrival of the Alcalde. De Soto made a little small talk with the two before he made it clear to Victoria that he had important matters to discuss with Diego and that her presence was not wanted.
"Really, Alcalde, Diego is not up to any of your business discussions! He has only just come home and he needs rest and quiet!" She was bristling at the Alcalde's whole attitude. "You can just—"
"Victoria, there is no need to defend me like a mother tiger! I think I can manage to live through whatever Ignacio came all the way out here to say."
Diego's mind was racing, weighing the possibilities of which of these two would be the most difficult to stave off from asking things he did not want to be asked. Victoria's questions were confusing to him. There was so much he needed to know about what had happened between the two of them in the past five years before he could spend too much time with her safely.
And Ignacio! Diego wasn't even sure at this point what he thought of the man. His father had called him "an idiot". That didn't even make sense. Diego only knew him from Madrid and the man was a very driven, very clever student that had done extremely well in school. Now he was the Alcalde of Los Angeles!
He turned to Victoria. "Victoria , would you mind? There are some things I would like to discuss with the Alcalde. And I'm sure you should be getting back to the tavern soon anyway. I do appreciate your coming this afternoon. I am already so much in your debt. I will try to come into town tomorrow, and we will have a nice long talk. But will you forgive me for now if I seem inhospitable?"
"Yes, of course, Diego. I understand." But the look she shot at De Soto belied the tone of her words. "I will expect you tomorrow and bring a hearty appetite, because I plan on making you the most delicious meal you've ever had, and getting back those pounds on that frame that you seem to have lost lately!" She took her leave, smiling brightly at Diego and shooting a wilting look at the Alcalde.
As the door closed behind her, Diego laughed and said, "Ignacio, if looks could kill…This had better be good. I was quite enjoying her visit, you know."
"Yes, I could see that. You two seem to be the talk of the pueblo lately." De Soto gave a little grunt that signaled his impatience with the whole subject. "Diego, what I really wanted to talk to you about was this. I have gotten approval from the Governor recently to expand the military garrison of Los Angeles. We are a growing community and the central government is finally realizing the needs we have here." De Soto was positively swaggering back and forth across the room as he talked.
"That's wonderful. But what kind of expansion are we talking about?"
"More soldiers! What else? We will be getting quite a few men assigned to my command in the near future and some of these men will be very well trained." He accented his last words with the appropriate pointing finger in the air. At least one of the men will be an excellent marksman and one other has had some extensive training in England in the very latest detective techniques! They will be quite an addition to my quartel."
"That's most impressive, Ignacio! When will they arrive?" he said aloud. But silently, he wondered, "Why does that bit about an "excellent marksman" bother me so much?"
"Well, I'm not quite sure of the exact date. But it will be soon. In fact, I have it on good authority that the governor himself is on his way to Los Angeles right now to go over the final details with me. And that brings me to my point. In order to finance the burden of these extra troops, there will have to be some sacrifices made by the good people of the pueblo. A tax increase is necessary and inevitable! I was hoping that the de la Vegas would help me present this idea to the people in the hopes of making it sound a little more palatable."
When Diego said nothing, he continued, "I know we've had some differences in the past over some tax issues, but surely, you can see that this tax will be necessary for the good of the people."
"It certainly won't do you any harm either to increase the number of soldiers under your command" thought Diego, but he remained silent as he looked the Alcalde over appraisingly.
"Your position with the newspaper will be invaluable in informing the people of the need for this expansion. I hope I will have your support in this matter." He almost heaved a sigh of relief upon finishing his carefully prepared speech.
"May I ask the reason that we are being honored with this… opportunity to pay more taxes?" Diego asked quietly. He was still digesting this new bit of information that he must write articles of some kind for the local newspaper!
"Well, it is needed! We are a growing community!" He searched for words. "Did I tell you that the Governor has approved this?"
Diego rose from his chair. "Yes, I believe you did. Tell me, Ignacio, does this have anything to do with the attack on the pueblo by those bandidos? Or does it have more to do with Zorro?"
Ahhh! He seemed to be making some headway here, if he was reading Diego properly. "Well, between you and me, Diego, the decision was really made before the attack. I have been requesting the additional help for some time now. That infernal Zorro has become so widely know that it was really the need for his capture that led to this. It is quite a blot on the record of the garrison that he still remains free after so long a time. I think I finally convinced the governor that it is a reflection on him too."
De Soto did not feel the need to inform Diego that the governor, at one point, was leaning toward some sort of amnesty decree for Zorro. But now, he had mysteriously changed his mind about the whole thing! There would be no pardons for the outlaw. There were plans in the works that would solve the problem of El Zorro once and for all. He didn't intend to let the villain live long enough for the governor to change his mind again. "The problem is the funding!" De Soto continued. "They will provide for the men's salaries and provisions for only so long and then Los Angeles will have to take over—"
"Yes, yes, I can see your problem. But Ignacio, I may not be the one to talk to about this just now. I have been, shall we say, experiencing a slight problem with my memory lately. And it is hard for me to focus on the current situation without some background into this 'need' you speak of. But I do think I know of a way you might help me in this. Do you possibly have some kind of record of the activities of Zorro and the outlaws that have caused trouble for Los Angeles? It would be helpful for any articles that I write to explain the situation if I had specifics that I could include."
De Soto beamed. "Well of course, I have a full book of the nefarious deeds of that disgusting man. And there are other files as well. What a good idea! Then you could point out specific instances and win the people over to the idea—Oh, but wait, I don't think I can." His face fell. "The regulations state quite clearly that those type of records cannot be seen by eyes outside of the command officers."
His shoulders lowered. Just his luck! Diego would have to have a problem with his memory just when he needed his help. De Soto let himself ignore the fact that he couldn't have even brought himself to ask for Diego's help if his memory had been intact. It was only now that he thought there might be a chance that Diego would consider taking his side in this matter. After all, he had nearly been killed in the attack on the pueblo. And Don Alejandro was out of town….
"Well, Ignacio, I really don't think I will be much help without some background information. But I do promise to talk to my father, and I'm sure he will get back to you and let you know his position on all this." And that was certainly the truth. Diego was thinking just how fortunate it was that his father had not been here to hear about this new tax. De Soto would probably be nursing a sore jaw right now and his father would be headed for jail! "Father was right about one thing," he thought, "the man is an idiot!"
On his way to the door, he turned to Diego. "Diego, there is one small thing…. Lately, you have taken to addressing me by my given name. You really should be addressing me by my title. I've made allowances so far, but in the future, I shall expect—"
"I will try to remember that, Alcalde."
Immediately after shutting the door, Diego made his way straight to the library and the fireplace. He grabbed a candelabra from a nearby table, touched the secret panel and the door opened. He didn't even hesitate this time.
He went right on in and found himself in a passageway leading slightly down. There was very little here, so it took only seconds for him to figure out that the sconce on the wall was the mechanism to shut the door. He followed the passage down some steps and then stopped as it opened into a huge cavern-like room.
Then it was true! All those whispers he had heard behind his back during his stay in town had not quite prepared him for this, but at least it was not a total shock. Looking to his left, he saw raven colored silk draped over a tall coat stand. He walked over and fingered the material, lifted the black hat and then pulled the saber from the hanging scabbard.
At least, the sword was familiar! It was Sir Edmund's. He remembered when his fencing master had given him this fine sword of Toledo steel. It had taken some time to get accustomed to the weight of the heavy saber, but now it was like an extension of his own wrist. He sliced at the air and grinned at the feeling it gave him.
A shuffling sound came suddenly from the back of the cave, and immediately his whole body tensed as he turned to listen. He relaxed as he realized that no human had made the noise. A soft whickering led him to a small stable area and to a great, black stallion. The horse nosed at him eagerly with complete trust. If there was ever any doubt in his mind, it was gone now. This was Zorro's horse. He was standing in Zorro's lair. There could be no mistake. "I am Zorro!" he said with just a note of wonder.
The horse finally brought him back from his reverie. Tornado neighed loudly. It was plain that he was ready for some action. He had been ignored for far too long. He wanted to run!
"Are you hungry, boy?" Diego patted the horse soothingly. Another mystery was solved. It was apparent that Felipe knew everything. The alarm he had displayed with the feeding of the horses was about this horse. He must be worried sick that Diego didn't remember enough to take care of Tornado in his absence. It was also evident that his father did not know about his son's double life, since Felipe had never broached the subject in Don Alejandro's presence. "Well, finally, I'm making headway in learning about my own life!" He could at least talk to the horse freely. How he wished Felipe were here now! There were still a million other questions to be answered.
"And there's the most important question of all, Tornado. Just what kind of a man is Zorro?" Diego carried on his monologue while busying himself taking care of Tornado's needs. "He's a wanted criminal, an outlaw, and an enemy of the people according to the Alcalde. How in the world did I get myself into that? I've always considered myself to be a peaceful man. No, there must have been a reason that I felt the need to resort to all this." He looked about the cave. "Now, the laboratory…that will be to my liking! I can think of quite a few things to look into already in that area." He rubbed his forehead. "And the first thing will be to find a cure for these accursed headaches!"
He continued his survey of the cave and found several bound books of notes in his own handwriting. Only a few notations were of practical use in his search for his own past.
"I must remember to start a proper journal, Tornado. I just wish I had thought of it before. It would be invaluable now. But we'll have to make do with what's available, and I know of a certain volume that I would like to examine! Isn't it lucky that I am already an outlaw since it will take an illegal act in order to obtain it?" He chuckled. "That book of the Alcalde's should answer a lot of questions about the crimes I have committed." Diego smiled. "Of course, it may be a little bit one-sided. I will have to remember that and obtain an opposing viewpoint too!" He laughed out loud. For all of this, the cave, Tornado, the idea of traipsing about the peublo in a black silk cape and mask was beginning to feel not quite so strange anymore.