Author's Note: Here is the next chapter, as promised. The chapter after that, which I'll probably have up on Sunday, will conclude this arc, but the story will go on ...

When Zorro scouted out the scene from behind a nearby hill, he could see that the situation was serious. Mendoza and the lancers were in a face-off with the Imperial soldiers and swords were already drawn. Zorro realized that he was still too far for his whip to be effective and he would be seen and shot at long before he could get within a useful distance. He was prepared for this, however, having brought a few time-delay bombs with him from his laboratory. By creating a diversion, he could approach the Imperial soldiers from behind while their attention was drawn elsewhere.

Zorro was reaching into his saddlebag for one of the bombs when De Soto drew up with his group of lancers. At the sight of the alcalde, Mendoza felt encouraged. Leaving the soldiers and lancers, he approached De Soto. "Alcalde, we found these men in the very act of destroying the farm. They are the ones who have been causing trouble in the pueblo."

"Mendoza," the alcalde growled, "You are a fool! And now, you are under arrest for disobeying my orders."

"But alcalde," Mendoza found himself almost wimpering. "These men….."

"These men are under my orders and you are under arrest. Corporal, lead Sergeant Mendoza back to the cuartel and lock him up where he won't cause any more trouble. The rest of you lancers, get back to town where you belong. This doesn't concern you." The corporal tied Mendoza's hands and helped him mount. Together with the other lancers, they rode back to town. De Soto watched them go, then turned to the Imperial soldiers. "Any sign of Zorro yet?"

"No, alcalde," was the reply.

"What does it take to draw out that fox? Well, keep at it. He's bound to hear about these attacks and react at some point. He always does. Continue on, men!" De Soto turned his horse and he, too, rode back to town.

"So," Zorro thought to himself," it is all a trap to catch a fox. But he who sets a trap must be careful not to fall into it himself!"

Back at the cave, Diego thought out loud to Felipe. "It appears that all these activities by the soldiers are part of a plot to draw Zorro out into the open where their more advanced weapons can be used against him."

Felipe made the sign for the sergeant. "Mendoza? Oh, he tried to help but only got himself jailed for it. He did a brave thing but I'm afraid he's going to be made to suffer for it."

Felipe signed "Now, what?" but the expression on his face alone was enough to guess his meaning.

"I'm not sure, Felipe. What really surprises me, though, is why the soldiers are still here weeks after the Emisario was killed. With all the unrest going on around Mexico City these days with the rebels, I would have thought that the administration would have called them back long before now. Unless…"

Felipe drew a question mark in the air.

"Unless they have been recalled and the alcalde hid the new orders," replied Diego. "I will need to look into that possibility. First, though, let us go comfort the good sergeant."

But Diego was not given a chance. When De Soto found him speaking to the guard to be allowed to visit Mendoza, he immediately intervened and forbade any contact between Mendoza and anyone outside the military. "I will not have you interfering with my military discipline, de la Vega!" he scolded. "And I have already warned you about writing seditious articles. Now get out of here!"

At nightfall, a black shadow crept into the sleepy pueblo. Zorro had delayed action long enough—it was time now to act and to put an end to this senseless violence against the people. Silently and gracefully, he climbed the side of an adobe building and swung himself onto the roof. The plaza was deserted. Carefully, he walked along until he reached the place above the alcalde's office where he knew the tiles were loose. He then took a mirror out of his shirt and angled it to catch a beam of moonlight and reflect it over the gate into the darkness beyond.

Felipe was waiting. He lifted a figure of Zorro to the back of a horse that was tethered loosely to a stake. After tying the mannequin's feet into the straps, he rubbed the horse's neck to soothe it. Then, he advanced a short distance and bent down. Four times he advanced and bent down, each time putting a match to a long string. Finished, Felipe quickly swung up into the saddle of his pinto and galloped off into the night. For several minutes all remained quiet and calm.

Then, suddenly, there was an explosion and a frightened neigh. The horse sped off down the road as more explosions sounded. Shouts and cries from the cuartel added to the confusion as the men mobilized to chase Zorro. The alcalde burst through the door of his office. "Finally, there he is! My horse! Quickly men, after him!" A soldier brought the alcalde his horse and, moments later, de Soto was leading a large group of lancers through the gates of the pueblo.

Zorro waited until the soldiers had disappeared into the night and even their sounds were fading away in the distance before quickly removing the tiles and lowering himself into the alcalde's office. A single lamp burned in one corner, casting large shadows across the room. Zorro opened the drawers of the desk, looking for… well, he would know it when he saw it. Seeing nothing of significance, he went over to the safe and picked the lock, but found only money inside. He moved along the wall and slid his hand behind the painting of Machiavelli. Feeling a folded-up piece of paper stuck to the wall behind the portrait, Zorro brought it over to the light of the lamp and opened it. Yes, there they were, the new orders for the Imperial soldiers! They had been ordered back to Mexico City a week ago to help with the increasing unrest, but de Soto had hidden the orders so that the soldiers would stay under his command. Carefully, Zorro slipped the document back into its hiding place and moved toward the door.

A voice behind him made him turn. "I suspected as much. It was all a diversion to get me away from my office. But I am too clever for you, Zorro. I came back!" It was De Soto. Despite the dim light, Zorro could see that De Soto's gun was out and pointed at him. Faster than his shadow, Zorro swept up the lamp and threw it toward De Soto while dropping to the ground out of range of a stray shot. The lamp hit De Soto in the arm, deflecting his aim, and fell to the floor where it broke. A flicker of flame began to lick up the oil spilled on the floor. Instantly, Zorro was back on his feet and on the other side of the desk. Before De Soto could reload, he had unsheathed his sword and saluted. De Soto, too, unsheathed his sword but lunged without pausing for the traditional salute. Zorro parried and teased as his sword whipped back and forth, deflecting De Soto's attempts to impale him. "What a pretty light, alcalde. I'm afraid that it's causing a bit of damage to your office."

"It's damage to you that I intend to do," menaced De Soto, aiming another thrust at Zorro's heart. Senses on the alert, Zorro heard the slightest sound in the corner and realized that someone else had entered the room. He jumped to the side and just missed being hit by Sanchez, who had also drawn his sword. "Two against one, now the odds are more even," joked Zorro. "But seriously, this fire is getting out of hand and it is time to end our game." With a lightning-fast series of jabs, Zorro disarmed de Soto and spun him around by the arm so that he ended up facing Sanchez with Zorro's naked blade against his throat. "First things first. Put out that fire."

Sanchez kicked a rug onto the flame and smothered it. The room grew dark, lit only by the moonlight coming through the window. "Now," continued Zorro, "I have enjoyed our little time together but all good things must come to an end." Zorro edged toward the door and whistled. An answering nicker assured him that Toronado was outside. "And just so you don't forget me…" Zorro neatly sliced a "Z" into Sanchez's jacket. Then, with a terrific shove, he threw de Soto against the Imperial soldier, and while they were disentangling themselves, exited the office and jumped onto Toronado's back. By the time de Soto had reached the door, the sound of galloping hooves was fading off into the distance. There was no point in pursuit.

"So that is the famous fox?" exclaimed Sanchez. "Shut up!" replied De Soto. Two hours later, the lancers that had followed the alcalde in pursuit of the fake Zorro returned, tired and empty-handed, to the cuartel.