CHAPTER 6
Life at the hacienda de la Vega was back to normal, with jobs to be done, cattle to be sold, rancher meetings, and paperwork to be filled out. In the pueblo of Los Angeles, everything was just as peaceful under the command of Sergeant Garcia, who still maintained his post as deputy commander. With no problems to be solved, Zorro's presence was not required to the relief of Don months since his son's kidnapping, and Alejandro still had to answer sporadic questions about the vigilante's identity, even if against his will.
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When Dr. Fuentes examined Diego, he wasn't entirely surprised when the boy told him that the last thing he remembered was trying to ride the wild horse on the farm. Of course, upon hearing that, the old man didn't hesitate to ask if he remembered being in Spain. When the confused Diego repeated the horse answer, Dr. Fuentes took Don Alejandro aside to talk.
''What is happening to my son?'' asked Don Alejandro ''What makes him think he is eleven years old?''
''Don Alejandro, as I told you, it was possible that Diego suffered some damage due to his head wounds. Remember, he suffered terrible trauma these last few days. Our brain is still a mystery. My conclusion is that the damage has taken Diego back to a happier time...so to speak.''
''I see...'' grumbled Don Alejandro. ''Will he recover?''
''I suppose so. Let's wait and give it time and maybe he'll recover his memory and go back to being the man he was before,'' he said. ''For now, we do everything to ensure he´s safe again. It will be the first step to his recovery.''
Once Dr. Fuentes left, Don Alejandro went back to his son's room to find Diego laughing with Bernardo, who was trying in vain to explain what had happened in the last few days. He took a deep breath and approached them and asked Bernardo to go warn Thomas and Cresencia that Diego was awake.
Seeing his father's serious face, Diego swallowed hard, thinking that he would be scolded for having disobeyed him. However, to his surprise, Don Alejandro sat on the edge of the bed and looked at his son.
''Son, tell me, before the accident with Nestor, what do you remember?'' he asked and Diego shrugged.
''I asked Cresencia for some tamales she was baking, and she said only after dinner, so I went to the stables. Why? And father, who is that man? Why doesn't he speak?
'Calm down Dieguito, one question at a time. First, you're forgiven for trying to ride Nestor, just don't do it again. Second, Bernardo is a good servant. He doesn't speak, but he is a good friend. Don't you remember him?" Alejandro asked. In response, Diego shook his head. ''It's okay, I suppose we're all going to have a long road ahead of us, including good Bernardo. Now rest, son, you need it.'' Alejandro smiled and watched his son fall asleep again.
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Evidently, when he woke up again and found his finger missing, Diego panicked and screamed for his father, who came running to see him. Upon showing his hand still bandaged and realizing that there was no finger there, Alejandro cautiously decided to tell Diego the real story of his kidnapping and even of Zorro, in the hope that it would bring his memory back. However, when such a story only caused a nightmare, the father regretted it and decided not to make any further comment on the subject, imagining that there would be some other way to bring back Diego's memory.
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Those were the most confusing days not only in Alejandro's life but for everyone on the farm as well. Most nights Diego was haunted by nightmares of huts and ghastly faces. During the day, he was just an innocent boy, curious, trying to understand why his house, his clothes, and many other things had changed so much overnight.
Some days he was confused, as if he felt that there was something missing in his day. So many other times, he dreamed of situations he had already lived in the near past.
''Papa,'' he said one day at breakfast. ''I had a funny dream. I dreamed that I was in Spain and Bernardo was there too. Have you been to Spain Father? Is it beautiful there? Can I go one day?'' he asked curiously.
Alejandro laughed. ''Yes, it's very beautiful in Spain. Haven't you been there? Think about it.''
Trying to concentrate, Diego closed his eyes, trying to discover if he had really been to that country, however, when the only answer came in the form of a fart, followed by a scolding from Alejandro, he gave up trying.
When talking with Dr. Fuentes during the next appointment, it was said that the boy's memories were still inside him, waiting for the moment to return. The dream were his mind's way to help Diego to return to what he was before.
Then one day, something unusual happened. As the day was open and pleasant, Don Alejandro decided to go to the pueblo to resolve some matters. Suddenly Diego, who was sitting on the floor playing with the cat, got up and ran to his father, holding his arm.
''Father, can I go with you?'' he asked.
''Diego, I won't be long, I'll be back before dinner, you'll be under Bernardo's care and-''
''Please Papa, I don't want to be alone, please let me go with you?'' he insisted and Alejandro sighed.
''All right, let's go, but we won't be long.'' he said. The boy smiled in relief.
During the journey, Alejandro noticed that his son seemed nervous. Diego did not stop looking to the sides and rolling his hands like a madman. Upon arriving in Los Angeles, Diego shivered and broke out in a cold sweat as they approached the tavern.
''Come on son, you're going to have some refreshment while I talk to Don Nachos...''
''Father, wait, let's not go, el hombre malo might be there and...''
''El hombre malo? Diego, this is foolish. You are safe son. You don´t need to worry about it. Now, let's go.'' Don Alejandro pulled Diego by his arms, causing the younger man to feel dizzy.
It was the first time that had happened to him since he woke up. Suddenly, Diego found himself inside the tavern. A female voice caught his attention, a man with an ugly face growled at him and everything went dark. Returning to reality, Diego fell to his knees and started crying like an eleven-year-old boy.
Forgetting his embarrassment, Alejandro knelt beside his son, trying in vain to calm him down. People started to gather in the place to see what was going on. Nobody imagined seeing a man like Diego openly crying in a public square like a child. When Garcia approached, Dr. Fuentes was also called and in a calm voice, he advised Alejandro to take Diego home.
''He was afraid to go into the tavern. He said an evil man was there.'' Don Alejandro repeated.
''He may have remembered something related to the kidnapping or the trauma he suffered. I don't think it's advisable, exposing him to trauma in this way, Alejandro,'' said the doctor, helping the old rancher guide his son to the wagon.
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After that day, everything changed. Diego's mental age seemed to have deteriorated further. Now he refused to be alone, even at bath time. His nightmares came more frequently and the mental confusion increased for a few days. Don Alejandro began to believe that he had no more hope.
One afternoon, Don Alejandro was alone in the courtyard, reading a newspaper, when he heard the sound of a carriage outside the gate. Without taking his eyes off the paper, Don Alejandro asked Thomas to answer the door. In came Anna Maria Verdugo, who had arrived with a basket.
''Buenos Dias Don Alejandro, how are you?'' she asked politely.
''Senorita Verdugo, buenos dias, what a surprise receiving your visit. When did you arrive?''
''Just this morning. I won´t take long. I came with my cousin. We decided to stay at the tavern for the time being,'' she replied. ''I came to visit Diego, how is he?'' she asked. ''And I also needed to talk to you.''
''Oh, Diego is fine, he must be somewhere around the farm with Bernardo. I had forgotten how my son liked to explore things,'' he laughed. ''But tell me, my dear, what did you want to talk to me about?''
''Don Alejandro, I want to apologize for what my father said in that letter. He shouldn´t have ever suggested you take Diego to that… place. It's unfair, Diego doesn't deserve that.''
''I understand Senorita Verdugo. I know Gregorio didn´t mean to say that. I understand he was trying to help and he knows I will never going to admit my son. If he is destined to be like this for the rest of his life, I will take care of him. For eternity, if you know what I mean.''
''I do,'' she smiled. ''And if you permit, I will do my best to help.'' Suddenly, they hear hurried footsteps approaching. It was Diego, who came running with a smile from ear to ear, followed by a worried Bernardo.
''Papa, Papa, you won´t believe it! Bernardo took me to explore a cave inside the walls! It was amazing and we found a sword there….'' He kept talking nonstop, excited to tell his father what he had found. Bernardo just shot his patron an apologetic look.
''Diego!'' Alejandro cleaned his throat. ''You remember Senorita Anna Maria Verdugo? She came to see you.''
''Oh.'' Diego became shy again. He smiled at the lady like a real gentleman. ''Mucho Gusto, Senorita Verdugo,'' he said, offering his hand to her.
''Mucho gusto Diego.'' She smiled politely shaking his hand. Despite Diego almost giving the secret of Zorro away, Anna Maria was polite enough to pretend she didn´t hear a thing. ''Here, I brought you something.'' She took a box of tamales from inside the basket and gave it to Diego. ''You liked these when you went to Monterey, so I brought a few to you.''
''Muchas Gracias, ma´am,'' he smiled, and turned to his father. ''With your permission Papa, can I eat before dinner?''
''Go and ask the cook to help you with it,'' Alejandro said. Once Diego disappeared inside the house, he shot a look to Bernardo to follow. '' If I had forgotten one thing, it was that Diego was a glutton. If I didn't send Bernardo after him, he would surely eat all the tamales at once... Thank heavens he lost that after he grew up,' he said, making Anna Maria laugh.
''Don Alejandro, with your permission, what did Dr. Fuentes say about Diego's mental state?'' she asked.
''Well, according to Dr. Fuentes, the traumatic event plus the blows he took to the head not only caused him to lose his memory but caused him to retreat to a safe place in his own mind, so to speak,'' replied the father. ''Now with calm and time, he can again recover his memory. But really, only time will tell.''
''He will recover Don Alejandro. We just have to be patient,'' she replied politely.
''We hope,'' Don Alejandro agreed. ''But I don't care. It doesn't matter to me what state he is in. My son is safe and sound again in my arms. That's enough for me.''
Anna Maria smiled in agreement.
END