Chapter 3
When he woke again, he could smell the smoke of a campfire and hear a large group of people speaking. They must have arrived at the village, he surmised.
"I want to call him Tall One!" The child touched the dark hair that fell across his forehead.
He tried to open his eyes again but the pain in his head would just not go away and he closed them again with a loud groan.
"He is very lucky to be alive." An older voice echoed from above him. "He has a very powerful guardian spirit."
He felt a something solid and wet at his mouth. "Chew this. It will give you strength and help your body fight off illness."
He bit down on it and winced at the motion. Even the slightest movement hurt every bone in his body. "What is it?"
"Chuchupate." Answered the shaman.
"You are a medicine man?" he asked, overjoyed to finally be able to string together more than three coherent words.
"Yes."
"Thank you for helping me."
He felt himself weakening and soon was sound asleep once again.
"The alcalde is being very secretive about where Zorro fell." Alejandro scowled as he followed Victoria into her kitchen.
"Probably because he doesn't want anyone else to go looking for him!"
"I'm certain that is the reason. He's been very disappointed that he's not found Zorro's body yet."
"Which means maybe he isn't dead!" Victoria said the words with such passion and hope that Alejandro could see himself believing it. But, it had been over a week, with no sign of the masked man.
"I think we have to accept that he is, Victoria."
He saw Victoria swallow hard and her hands began to shake. Alejandro instantly felt sorry for his words but he knew the sooner the she accepted them, the sooner she could go on with her life.
"He asked me to marry him, you know." Victoria plunged her hands into her dishwater and absently began scrubbing the bowls.
Alejandro smiled sadly. "I didn't know. I'm sorry, Victoria."
He could see her sigh heavily and wished he could find a way to comfort the distraught woman. "Any man would be proud to have you for his wife." Perhaps a compliment would help her mood.
"Thank you, Don Alejandro." Victoria whispered. "I waited for so long for him and I really thought that we would be married one day, have a house-full of niños." Her voice broke as she thought of the children she would never have with the man she loved. She had waited so long for him. So very far past the time she should have married and had children of her own. He was well worth the wait, but now . . . now she was alone again. Who would want her? Would she even want to love again having loved so deeply and so completely before?
"Victoria, come stay at the hacienda." Alejandro implored. "Diego will be back soon; well, he's overdue, actually," he added with a frown and then continued. "Perhaps we can keep you so busy and entertained that it will ease your pain."
She smiled at the invitation. "I'm busy enough here, but thank you. Business has almost doubled with everyone wanting to come see-" her eyes hardened and she scrubbed the dish in her hand with a ferocity that proved to Alejandro that he was happy he was on her good side. "See that abomination of a memorial de Soto has erected."
"I'm sure his coffers are overflowing with the travelers tax he's collected." She spat and tossed her rag, with a disgusted sigh, back into the water.
"No doubt." Alejandro nodded and took her hands in his. "You are welcome in my home at any time, Victoria. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to come to us."
"Thank you."
Diego had drifted in and out of consciousness for at least a week and when he was finally able to open his eyes for more than a few moments at a time, his vision was blurred.
He was well cared for, but his body knew it had sustained serious injuries and refused to allow him to move more than a few inches at a time. Fragmented memories were slowly coalescing into a larger picture of his life, but as often as he slept, and as little as he could concentrate without his head threatening to pound through his skull, he hadn't had much opportunity to examine them further.
"I've brought you some broth." A female voice said and Diego turned his head, slowly, at the sound.
"Thank you," he said as she placed the bowl in his hands and wrapped her own hands around his to keep the liquid from spilling.
After a few slow sips, he took a deep breath and lay back. "I've been rude. I haven't even asked your name." Diego exhaled slowly as dizziness came over him.
"I am called Kuyuma and my daughter is Hunata. My husband Tonoemu and I found you many miles away from here, nearly dead."
Diego nodded. "Thank you for taking care of me. It can't be easy."
Kuyuma smiled down at the handsome Spaniard and brushed an unruly lock of hair from his forehead. "Have you remembered your name?"
A familiar nagging crept along his neck and he hesitated. He had remembered his name. But why did he hesitate to reveal it? "No," he finally said with a sigh.
"It will come in time." Kuyuma patted his hand and smiled warmly. "You remember more every day, yes?'
"Yes. That is true." Diego leaned onto his uninjured shoulder and took another sip of the broth. He could feel fresh air blow into the hut and ruffle his unruly hair.
"Is it time to go?" Kuyuma asked.
"Yes," her husband answered. "I must go to the mission. I will be back in a few days."
"Tonoemu?" Diego asked softly.
"Yes?"
"The Mission Santa Barbara?"
"Yes. We work for the mission and they teach our children and give us food."
"Could you take a message to the padre there for me?" Diego grimaced as the dull, throbbing pain in his head began to worsen.
"Yes."
"Please tell him to contact Don Luis Cristoba and tell him his services are needed here in your village."
"What if he will not come?"
"Tell him you have news of the whereabouts of Zorro."
Felipe had made himself scarce since Zorro's death and Alejandro couldn't shake the uneasy feeling settling in his old bones. He needed to corner Felipe and find out where Diego had gone. Surveying de la Vega holdings north of Santa Barbara would not have taken so long to complete and Diego had been gone for nearly a month. Maybe he's off courting some young señorita, Alejandro thought with a small smile. He would forgive his son for being gone so long if that were the case!
Similarly, Zorro had not been seen in weeks and the pueblo had finally come to terms with the masked man's death. Even Victoria, as devastated as she was, had finally admitted to Alejandro that the masked man's absence from her life and the injustice running rampant in the pueblo confirmed the alcalde's claims. Zorro was dead.
Out of the corner of his eye, Alejandro noticed a small movement. He whirled on the deaf mute, stopping Felipe with a stern look.
"We need to talk, Felipe. Now." His tone left no room for argument and Alejandro was taken aback by the intensely sad look in the young man's eyes. Something had been pre-occupying the young man. He had permanent dark circles under his eyes and it appeared that he hadn't slept well in weeks.
The boy signed slowly and Alejandro's brows drew together in an effort to understand him. Diego could communicate perfectly with the boy. Why was it so hard for him to do the same!
"Invite Victoria?" Alejandro repeated with a slightly annoyed air. "Felipe. That can wait. We need to talk about where Diego has really gone. I don't blame you for not telling me if Diego has sworn you to secrecy but I must know."
Felipe nodded slowly but continued to insist that Alejandro get Victoria before he would answer any questions.
Alejandro's eyes narrowed in growing annoyance but the emotional turmoil reflected back at him in the young man's eyes gave the ranchero pause.
"Alright. Make sure you are here when I return. " The stern look forced Felipe to acquiesce with a slight nod.
Felipe paced nervously about the cave, glancing uncertainly at the two letters sitting on the edge of the mahogany desk.
Was it time? Was he really dead? How could Felipe know when the time was right to break the hearts of the two people he loved most in the world?
His quiet contemplation was broken as he heard Alejandro calling to him from the library. He waited until the library was unoccupied before he snatched the letters from the desk and slipped through the fireplace.
"I don't quite understand why Felipe insisted that you be here while I questioned him about Diego." Alejandro rounded the corner with Victoria.
The boy's heart plummeted into his stomach at seeing the lovely señorita's normally bright, cheerful gaze subdued these last weeks by the realization that the man she loved was dead. Now, Felipe would have to tell her that her best friend, that same man whom she loved so deeply, was dead as well.
Both eyes turned questioningly toward Felipe and as Alejandro opened his lips to speak, the mute extended his hand.
Alejandro forced back a sudden overwhelming feeling of despair and slowly glanced at the envelope before taking it from Felipe's outstretched hand. He briefly glanced down at the front of the envelope that read simply. "Father." His heart in his throat, he glanced warily at Victoria, who hesitated for a moment before taking the envelope Felipe now offered to her.
Victoria glanced down at the name written in Diego's elegant handwriting. "Victoria." She glanced uncertainly at Felipe and then Alejandro.
Felipe's eyes held a weary resignation that sent a chill down their spines as he stepped back with a heavy sigh and sank into the nearest chair.
"Felipe, what is this?" Alejandro asked but the boy simply shook his head and closed his eyes.
Alejandro slowly opened the envelope and began to read, his eyes scanning quickly over the lengthy letter. Similarly, Victoria opened hers and only when a horrified gasp slipped from her lips did Alejandro know the shocking revelation contained within his letter was mirrored in that which Victoria now held in violently trembling hands.
"No." Victoria whispered, tears instantly welling in her eyes. "It can't be. It's . . . not possible." She stumbled backwards, reaching for something, anything to steady herself.
Alejandro was instantly by her side, wrapping a comforting hand around the señorita's waist. He led her to a chair and she sank wordlessly into it unable to tear her eyes from the unbelievable words written in the recognizable handwriting. After a few heart-wrenching moments, the letter fell from slack fingers and she stared unblinking into empty air.
Alejandro knelt beside her and scooped up the letter. Turning to Felipe, he implored. "Fetch some wine. Quickly."
The urgency in his patron's voice prompted the boy to move swiftly to carry out the request. He returned quickly, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill from his eyes.
"Victoria." Alejandro said quietly. "My dear. Drink this." He took the glass of wine from Felipe and pressed it into her trembling hands.
She took a hesitant sip, and then another, and another, unable to find her voice. Unable to will away the revelation contained within the letter.
Victoria took a shaky breath and turned tear-filled eyes on Alejandro. "It can't be, Alejan-" A sob escaped unbidden from her lips and she gasped for breath at the intensity of the pain clutching her heart.
Alejandro took the glass from her hand and set it on the table beside the chair. "Victoria . . ." Alejandro didn't even know where to begin. He hadn't finished his letter and he wasn't sure if he believed its contents anyway. He wanted to read whatever else his son had written. But Victoria needed him now. He could read it later.
Victoria's eyes turned unblinking toward Alejandro, her head shaking with denial. "I can't believe . ." she whispered. "It can't be . . ." she gasped as huge sobs wracked her tiny frame.
Alejandro's heart broke at the sight of this young lady's heartache. He gathered her into his arms and held her close. He let her cry on his shoulder for a long time, her body shaking in uncontrollable denial. Why did he not believe? Why would his own tears not come? He didn't believe it, not yet. He needed proof before he would believe his only son was dead.
Suddenly, she stood and turned her full attention on Felipe. With a resolute air, she demanded to know, "Where is it?"
Alejandro looked at her curiously, wondering what she could possibly mean.
"The cave, Felipe." Victoria implored. "Where is it?"
Felipe instantly stood and nodded to Victoria. She had been in the cave before. He'd seen her. When he moved to the fireplace and the door swung open, Alejandro knew exactly what would be behind it. He closed his eyes and exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
Victoria closed her eyes, still clinging to some small shred of hope that what she was seeing could otherwise be explained. That Diego and the man she loved were not, could not, be the same person. She couldn't have lost them both.
They followed Felipe into the cave and down the stone steps, each living their very own emotional horror.
Alejandro stared in awe at the unmistakable evidence displayed before his eyes. He reverently brushed his hand over the top of the mahogany desk and along the laboratory table that contained various containers filled with unnamed substances. His son's unmistakable touch was littered throughout the room.
He swallowed hard as he looked into the empty stall where he knew Toronado had been kept. For the first time, he allowed the words contained within his letter, I am Zorro, to truly sink into his skeptical mind. He brought a clenched fist to his mouth and stifled a sob. He couldn't break down. Not yet. Victoria needed him. Suddenly remembering the distraught woman, he turned to find her staring at the rack on which hung his son's familiar clothing.
Victoria knew it was true the moment she'd read the words. I am Zorro. But some part of her refused to believe until she was provided with undeniable proof. That proof now hung within arms length of her and she reached out to brush a trembling hand reverently across the blue jacket she had seen Diego so often wear. She stifled a sob as she leaned in and rested her forehead against it, inhaling deeply of the all too familiar sandalwood scent.
Tears dripped down her cheeks as her eyes shifted to the torn black cape hanging on the opposite side. She knew that cape, had seen a lancers blade slice it all too recently. Her shoulders shook as she lifted the black silk and buried her face in the soft material. "No, please," She struggled to form coherent words. "Please, it can't be true."
As Alejandro moved to comfort the señorita, she turned wild eyes on the men and rushed up the steps. Felipe and Alejandro ran after her and stopped abruptly when she turned tear-filled eyes on Felipe.
"Let me out!" Her voice carried a hysterical edge that struck immediate fear into their hearts and Felipe immediately turned the iron-rod candle holder.
The door swung open and Victoria launched herself through it, disappearing around the corner before the two men emerged.
Alejandro knew instantly where she had gone. It was where he would have gone to feel close to his son.
He found her lying on his son's bed, crying hysterically into his pillow, Zorro's cape wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
Her pain broke his already hurting heart and Alejandro sat on the side of the bed and drew her into his arms. He lay holding her for a very long time until he could hear her steady, even breathing. Only then, in the calm, familiar surroundings of his only son's room, did the tears begin to fall.
TBC