DAY EIGHT

The next day, Ignacio De Soto came back from lunch to catch up on the mountain of paperwork. He was seated behind his desk when Mendoza came in as ordered.

Mendoza saluted, then stood at ease. This was a standard practice with De Soto. He wanted his due respect, but he didn't always want a stiff-as-a-board Sergeant standing in front of him. He knew he to be literal with Mendoza, as the sergeant was an uncomplicated man. But he did know how to follow orders. De Soto thought about one order Mendoza didn't follow, and for that, he was actually thankful. Padre Benites had encouraged him to express his gratitude to the sergeant.

"You wanted to see me Alcade?" Mendoza stood at attention, then went to the "at ease" position.

"Yes, Sergeant. I have a new announcement that I want posted in all the prominent places in the pueblo. I'm going to be calling a meeting of all the citizens of Los Angeles."

"What is the…nature of the….meeting, if I may ask, Alcade?" Mendoza was a curious person, always wanting to know what's going on. He usually found out too. But today, it seemed to Mendoza, the Alcalde was more secretive than ever. It wasn't so much as what he said, as what he didn't say. Mendoza inwardly scratched his head at that. The Alcalde was something of a mystery sometimes, and if he didn't want to tell you, he wouldn't.

"It's a surprise Sergeant. But suffice it to say – there will be some changes coming to the pueblo."

"Pardon me, Alcade…may I ask – what changes?"

"Sergeant…if I may say something to you..."

Oh boy, here it comes, thought Mendoza, but he was totally shocked by what De Soto said next. "I want you to know that I appreciate the way you handled yourself during the Emissary's rule. The way you refused to execute me. I don't know if I fully expressed my appreciation that day, but I do so now."

Mendoza was touched and it showed on his face. "Oh Alcalde. I am touched by your generous words. I knew I could not go through with it. It was wrong."

"And now, Sergeant, will you post this announcement?"

"Si, mi Alcade. I will get on this right away."

Z

The three de la Vegas rode up for a late lunch, tethered their horses outside Tavern Victoria, and entered. Even though Felipe wasn't an "official" de la Vega yet, (the paperwork had been initiated), he certainly began to look like one. He now had at least four caballero suits, and felt uncomfortable in all of them, and yet, he took pride in them.

Since Diego's recovery, he and Alejandro agreed that Felipe should be formally adopted by Alejandro, to replace Gilberto as the son he lost. That way, Diego was free to marry and have children of his own. He would be Alejandro's legal heir, inheriting the ranch. Felipe could then pursue whatever course of study or occupation he desired. And upon Alejandro's death, receive a lesser, but still very substantial inheritance.

After the Emissary's death, business in the pueblo had slowly but surely, returned to normal. People went about their business. The tavern was nearly full for the lunch crowd, even though it was late.

The de la Vegas sat at their favorite table by the pillar. Victoria spotted them right away, grinned, and walked over to take their order.

"And what can I get you fine gentlemen for lunch? You are here for lunch?"

Alejandro looked up and smiled. "What are your specials today, Victoria?"

"Today – we have chicken empanadas, arroz del pollo, and a beef chili." She gave a sly wink to Diego as they caught each other's eyes.

"I'll take the arroz con pollo."

With a twinkle in his eye, Diego said, "Make that two. What would you like, Felipe?"

Felipe signed chili.

Diego acknowledged the order, then to Victoria, he said, "He'd like beef chili."

"Gracias. We'll get that right away for you. And what would you like to drink along with your lunch?"

"Some of your best lemonade."

"I will just take some water, Victoria. Gracias."

Mendoza walked in while Victoria, Diego and Felipe were discussing what Felipe wanted to drink with his lunch. Mendoza posted the announcement on a pillar, with a hammer and nail, nearly bashing his thumb. He temporarily walked out the door, and posted one outside on the community bulletin board, then re-entered the tavern, checking to see if he posted the announcement straight.

Victoria, used to being annoyed at posted announcements, exclaimed, "What now?" She stalked over to the post, and confronted Sergeant Mendoza with her disgust.

Mendoza hung his head a little, then looked up. He knew that most of the announcements posted were new taxes or traps for Zorro. He wanted to assure Victoria that this announcement was different.

"Senorita, don't be alarmed. It's not a new tax, I promise you."

"It better not be, Sergeant."

Diego strolled over and read the announcement out loud." 'In three days, at noon, all the citizens of Los Angeles will be present for and attend – a general meeting in the Plaza to discuss the future of the pueblo…' Hmmm. The future of the pueblo." He read more. "It is imperative that every citizen be present at this meeting of important public policy. The course of the pueblo will be set for the foreseeable future."

"Well, that's 'clear – as mud.' Sergeant, what can you tell us about this announcement? Why don't you join us at our table and we can discuss it?"

"Gracias, Don Diego."

They went back to the table. Victoria retreated to the kitchen to get their orders, but Diego and Victoria's eyes met. They made an effort to behave a bit less forward with each other now, but smiled with familiarity at each other.

After he sat down, Mendoza said, "The Alcade asked me to post this announcement all over the pueblo. He said that changes were coming. But he still wouldn't tell me what they are. I think he is going to keep them to himself until the meeting."

Alejandro was somewhat surprised. Usually the Alcalde told Mendoza nearly everything. Because most of the time Mendoza was his 'partner in crime.' "But surely, he gave you some indication, didn't he?"

Diego interjected, "What was his mood Sergeant?"

"Well…he told me he appreciated that I did not execute him when the Emissary…" His voice trailed off. He felt uncomfortable talking about it in front of the de la Vegas.

Alejandro put his hand on Mendoza's shoulder. "It's all right, Sergeant. We grieve in our own way. He nodded to Diego, who nodded back. "It does not hurt us to speak of him."

Victoria brought their lunches. She also brought an extra order of tamales for Mendoza.

"Here are your arroz con pollos, Alejandro & Diego. Here is your chili, Felipe, and for you Sergeant – a plate of tamales."

"Oh – Gracias Senorita! You remembered my favorite!" Mendoza dug in right away.

"Of course, Sergeant. We must keep you well fed." Victoria looked at Diego, who winked at her.

Diego asked, "So Sergeant, how does the Alcade seem to you, now?"

Mendoza put a mouthful in, chewed a moment. "He seems just fine, Don Diego."

"I mean, what's his attitude? What do you think he'll be announcing?"

Mendoza took a drink of water. "Well, as I said, Don Diego, he was grateful. He has not said a harsh word to me in many days…since before the day…of the Emissary's death."

Diego asked, or rather tentatively stated, "So…he seems – different?"

"Si, si. I believe he is different."

While eating, conversation moved to other things. At the end of the meal, Alejandro and Felipe got up from the bench to go home. Mendoza went back to the garrison. Diego lingered.

Diego said to Alejandro, "I just want to speak to Victoria for a moment."

Alejandro cleared his throat, but said, "All right son, but these unsupervised meetings must come to an end when you officially court Victoria."

Diego rolled his eyes and said, "Yes, I know, Father. Just this one last time. I promise we don't do anything improper, but it is important that we talk alone. After all, 'Zorro' has been meeting Victoria privately for several years now, and nothing improper happened."

At that, Alejandro and Felipe headed home, and Diego headed behind the curtain.

Victoria was cleaning up in the kitchen. As they talked, Victoria performed some of the "closing" duties, cleaning tables, sweeping, dealing with the cash box, and getting everything ready for the next day. Diego helped her until they were through, and then they sat at one of the empty tables.

"Victoria, is this a good time to talk?"

"Of course, Don Diego. Let me release my helpers to give us a while, if possible, and I'll be right back."

Victoria left the kitchen for a moment. Diego looked around. He looked at the window he'd jumped through many times as Zorro, both coming and going. He smiled wistfully at the memory. Victoria was back within a few seconds. Diego drew her to himself and they shared a passionate kiss. Then, she stepped back a step, determined to tease.

Victoria feigned shock."Diego, what would the customers think if they saw us?"

He drew his lips up in a Zorro smirk. "What do they already think?"

"Already think? They don't think anything do they?"

"It appears I can't put on my 'Diego' mask any longer. I'm afraid I haven't been very good at hiding my feelings."

"I afraid I haven't either. What shall we do?"

Diego drew her in for another passionate kiss. She returned it. This time, he stepped back a step. "I'm sorry, I just had to do that."

Victoria is breathless, "Don't stop…" She pulled him to her and they kissed again.

He pulled away again. "I'm afraid I have to…we need to – uh – make some plans. That's why I stayed, so we can actually talk. Although it looks like the Alcalde has changed, and will govern accordingly, until we know what his plans for Zorro are…"

"Yes, I know Diego. We need to know how we are going to act in public."

"There are several ideas we can discuss. One of them we've already…sort of…started on."

"Oh, you mean the one where we're teasing each other with this 'courtship' dance, pretending that we are still 'just friends?'"

"I could openly court you, but how will you explain Zorro?"

"I could say I got tired of waiting. I could say that in taking care of you during your recent illness, knowing what you'd been through in the last couple of weeks…that I came to appreciate you more through your gentle ways. I found myself falling in love with you. And since no one seems to know what has happened to Zorro…"

"I've been spreading the rumor he was killed under a pile of rocks in Diablo Canyon. And no one else knows anything different."

"Diego, can you tell me what happened that day? You've answered many, many questions for me, but you haven't told me about 'that day.'"

"Let's sit down, shall we?" They sat on a couple of chairs at a small table in one corner of the kitchen, where Victoria and her helpers took their breaks and ate lunch. "Now, what do you want to know?"

Victoria took his hand in hers. "Well, first of all, I never heard directly from you, about your feelings towards your brother, what happened to your arm, what happened in Diablo Canyon."

Diego's eyes widened, teasingly. "Well – if that's 'first of all,' do I need to be nervous about 'second' of all?"

Victoria smiled, but her smile faded. "Diego, can't you be serious for just one minute?"

In a half teasing, half serious manner, he said, "I'm sorry Victoria. I'm feeling almost lighter than air." He stood up, did a jig-jump, then sat back down again. "Because you love me! That you didn't reject me! Nothing else, besides freedom, seems to matter to me!"

Victoria stroked his hand tenderly. "Tell me, please. I want to share everything with you. You've been alone in this for far too long. You don't have to be any longer. I'm here."

Diego's smile faded and his face clouded. "You may not like to hear it."

"Maybe not. But I need to hear it. I need you to share your life with me. You promised."

Diego sighed. "Maybe it is time to tell you everything…"

He stopped a moment, collecting his breath and his thoughts. "My arm was not wounded by Gilberto in the fight 'that day.' It was a musket wound, as you no doubt, heard Dr. Hernandez say a few days ago."

"But how did you….oh!" She remembered, and put pieces together in her mind. "Oh! Toronado's rescue! Is that when it happened?"

"Yes."

"But you came to the celebration that the Alcade held! You danced with me."

"Yes. Sergeant Mendoza grabbed my arm, and it throbbed the whole time, but I was determined that no one would suspect. I was concerned the wound had re-opened, but thankfully, it didn't at that time."

Victoria's eyes misted. "Oh Diego. The pain you must have been in."

Diego remained strong, even though it was hard to look at Victoria at that moment. "It was much worse a couple of days later when the wound was purposely re-opened."

"Purposely?" Victoria was shocked, but let Diego continue. She wanted to acknowledge she was listening, but he was on a roll now, and she didn't want to interrupt him, if at all possible.

Diego took a deep breath. With each revelation, more shocking than the last, he feels lighter. Just having the one person he loved more than anything else on this earth love him back – and – ask him to share his life…the pain, the hardship…it was almost overwhelming. But it gave him strength.

"Let me put this in perspective. The day I rescued Toronado was the day I was shot. Gilberto and I fought on the roof. He was about to kill me then, but I kicked him, and he fell. Everyone thought he was dead, and the Alcalde hosted a celebration. A few days later, once Gilberto was able to re-assume his duties, he set the trap for Zorro at Diablo Canyon, then proceeded to our hacienda to kill both Father and me. I was knocked out under the rocks, but the mask helped protect me a bit."

Diego touched a forehead bruise, which was turning green and yellow. "When I got home, Felipe told me that Father and Gilberto were fighting in the garden. I heard them. Gilberto was about ready to kill him. I 'ordered' Father inside, and that's when Gilberto put the pieces together."

Victoria sat for a moment, thinking. "Diego, I am so overwhelmed at these details. It shocks me to know what happened. But – go on. What were the pieces he put together?"

"It seems I still smelled of the explosive he used in Diablo Canyon. He saw me try to hide from Father my skill with the sword. Then, he deliberately punched, then grabbed my arm deliberately to make it bleed again."

Victoria's face reflected her empathy. "Ouch! How that must have hurt! So, you heard all these revelations about him being your brother, then the Alcalde shot him?"

"Yes. Father and I talked long into the night that night. And you know what happened after that."

Victoria looked at him with loving amazement. "I am so amazed at all you've told me. If I hadn't heard it from your own lips, I might not have believed you."

Diego drew her into an embrace. "Now that you know, do you still love me?"

"Kiss me. I'll prove it."

Their kisses were always long and passionate now. They couldn't get enough of each other. They both went to the limit of their self-control before they broke off. They knew going further would not be wise.

Diego looked down and stroked her hair. "I'll think of a couple of ways out of this, so we can publicly proclaim our love. We have three days."

She hugged him tightly. "If it takes that long. I rather like the idea of you formally deciding to court me. I'll tell people that your recent brush with death has made me appreciate you more – that I've seen a change in you. That I didn't realize it until this week…that you are a man of flesh and blood, and that I've loved you for a long time, just didn't know it – which is true."

Diego drew away a bit to look at her. "What about Zorro?"

Victoria looked at him with great love in her eyes. His heart melted at the sight. "I will tell people I believe that Zorro is dead; that I will mourn in private. But I realize just how much Diego de la Vega means to me – how much you've always meant to me. My newfound love will help me get over my lost love. And I could also say that I realized I was in love with a hero…until or unless you decide to reveal yourself to the pueblo."

"But what if Zorro can't remain dead?" He looked a bit worried.

"By that time, my dear Diego, you will be openly courting me, and we'll hopefully be formally engaged to be married…as we really are."

"As long as you're comfortable with it."

I'm comfortable with it." She thought a moment."Diego, if you're pardoned, will you reveal yourself to the pueblo?"

"I don't know. I have to wait to see what happens first. And now, I must go, mi amor."

Diego gave her one last kiss. As he tore himself away, he cocked his head to the side and gave her his Zorro two-fingered wave.

"You're lovely as always, Senorita."

"Oh, I love it when I see Zorro in you!" Victoria threw her head back and laughed. As she put her head down, she looked. He was gone. "Just like Zorro, he disappears into the night." She smiled again.

ZZZZZZ

Over the next three days, life goes on in the pueblo, as people waited with anticipation the required town meeting. Many small things occurred, when taken together added up to change in the wind. De Soto continued meeting with Benites, Diego openly courted Victoria in the tavern. Alejandro and Felipe watched with genuine pleasure. Public reactions ranged from surprise, yet pleasure from some citizens – to ridicule. Others scoffed and scratched their heads. On the morning of the third day, a royal guardsman arrived in the pueblo on horseback. He came to the Alcalde's office, left him two scrolls, one of which De Soto opened and read, thoughtfully smiling to himself.