Palomarez Chapter 2 The Fox Outfoxed?, a zorro fanfic

CHAPTER TWO – The Fox Outfoxed?

As Diego rode back to the hacienda, he was still in deep thought. Except for Felipe and himself, there was no one at the hacienda. The servants were given a couple of days off, with only Maria the cook on duty, and she only came to prepare and serve meals. She usually left in the early evening. The vaqueros stayed in their bunkhouse.

As he entered the cave, Diego's frustration came tumbling out. "Colonel Palomarez is a madman! There is no reasoning with him! And as our 'esteemed' alcalde said, he has no mercy, either. He's going to hang Sergeant Mendoza at dawn – unless…unless I give myself up!"

Felipe looked up in shock. After explaining to him what he'd learned in the pueblo, Diego said, "There seems to be only one way to get Sergeant Mendoza off the hook."

"Zorro will have to give himself up." If Felipe could look even more shocked, he would. He shook his head wildly.

"Don't worry, Felipe. It will be on my terms, not his. We'll simply plan it that once Mendoza is free, I will escape myself, with Toronado's help, of course – and yours!"

Throughout the next couple of hours, as Diego bounced things off Felipe, they both realized at least one back-up plan was also going to be needed. They thought of contingency after contingency and tried to plan for all of them.

Around 2:30 a.m., Zorro rode through the countryside on his way into the pueblo. He quietly positioned Toronado outside the window, then did what he had to do to enable his escape – in case his first plan didn't work – this would be part of Plan B.

It was dark in the tavern, and quiet. All of the Colonel's men had gone to bed. Only Palomarez was up, sitting at a table entering the day's events in his journal. His sword was next to him on the table. Although a wall sconce was lit, the colonel had a single candle on the table near his writing, and his jacket hung over a corner of the table.

All of a sudden, he felt the tap of the end of a sword on his shoulder. "Zorro!" he whispered, his eyes opened wide. "Shhhh," came the reply.

"Guards!" Palomarez said in a hoarse whisper. Zorro's sword moved up to his throat.

"Pleeeaaaase," Zorro said softly, as he drew out the word. "People are trying to sleep. Keep your voice down, or your sleep could be longer than you'd like."

Palomarez was alarmed, but there was no way he was going to show that. He was also somewhat angry at himself for almost being caught by surprise. "In the event of my death, I have given orders for my men to execute two people each day until your capture."

Zorro replied, "I'm not here to take your life, Senor."

"Prove it."

"Under certain conditions, I'm prepared to surrender." Zorro removed his sword from the colonel's throat and re-sheathed it, all the while looking at Palomarez to gauge every nuance, every word, watching for the treachery he expected to show itself.

Palomarez rose from the table with his drink in his hand. Now, he looked at Zorro with a hard, calculating eye. A small, smug smile of perceived victory crept up his lips.

A small gracious smile came and went on Zorro's lips.

"What are the conditions for your surrender?" Palomarez asked, more out of curiosity than anything else. He knew he would never abide by any conditions except his own, but he didn't want his adversary to know that.

Zorro said confidently, crossing his arms. "That you and I meet on a field of honor, man-to-man."

Palomarez smirked. "I'm a master swordsman. You wouldn't dare challenge me."

Zorro replied confidently, "I would indeed, Senor."

"I promise you an agonizing death." His smirk turned ugly.

"Justice for the people is not without its price," Zorro said softly, with confidence and with honor. He kept his folded his arms in front of him. If Palomarez had thought back a few hours, a certain caballero also folded his arms. But the colonel was a soldier, not a body language expert. He didn't make the connection.

Palomarez walked towards him. "Shall we say the Plaza, at sunrise?"

"Si. If I win, you and your men must leave Los Angeles."

Palomarez said with all seriousness, "And if you lose, then you will die."

In all seriousness, Zorro replied, "In either case, innocent people will be kept from the gallows."

"You are indeed a man of honor."

"Gracias, Senor." Zorro's face shone with humility and grace.

Smirking again, Palomarez said, "And a fool!" With his voice raised, he called out, "Guards! Guards!"

Zorro's look said, I expected as much. Guards appeared from all sides.

"Put him behind bars. He hangs at sunrise." Palomarez lifted his glass in a toast to himself with great satisfaction. With muskets in his face, Zorro was led away. He went quietly, without a word. So far, this is what I expected, Zorro thought. We can get out of this. Toronado is ready.

At the jail, a guardsman opened the door leading to the cells. Mendoza stood pacing in the far cell. Zorro was led in and put next to Mendoza, who looked on in shock! Zorro flashed a smile at Mendoza.

"Zorro! It can't be true! Zorro – is it really you?" Mendoza's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

"Indeed it is, Sergeant! I hope my arrival didn't awaken you." He was still smiling, his manner relaxed and easy. Yes, I think this will work nicely, he thought. It's all a matter of timing.

The sergeant's expression was miserable. "Oh no, I couldn't sleep anyway. You see, they're going to hang me tomorrow, and only Zorro could save me, and now – you're here. They'll hang you."

"Excellent point, Sergeant. I really should do something about this, don't you think?" His effervescent charm still exuded from his jail cell.

"Yes, of course, but what can you do?" Mendoza felt a grain of hope, but he had no idea how all this would work out.

Outside the tavern, Palomarez met Ramone in the plaza. Palomarez said quickly to the alcalde, "We have Zorro. He's in the jail."

Ramone was clearly shocked! "Zorro! It's impossible!"

"Are you doubting me?"

"Oh, I'm not doubting you Colonel. You just make it sound so easy." Ramone thought, how could he do this when I couldn't? He's here only one day, and he has Zorro in jail. I've been here a couple of years, and I've never been able to do it!

"It is easy when you know what you are doing, Ramone. The man is nothing more than a criminal. I merely met him on his own terms."

Ramone stopped a moment. "What about my man? What about Sergeant Mendoza?"

Palomarez stopped as well. "Now that we have Zorro, his sentence is commuted." Palomarez walked away. Ramone looked up to heaven in gratitude, and determination. Now, he couldn't wait. Who is the man behind the mask? I'm going to finally find out! Ramone thought.

Meanwhile, inside the jail, Zorro pulled his sword and whip through the bottom of the bars from string that seemed nearly invisible. "Our little secret, Sergeant. Or else…" and did a slash of the throat gesture. Mendoza kept quiet. His respect for the masked man and his ingenuity was growing by the second. Maybe I'll live through this. Maybe Zorro will live through this, too, he thought. No wonder Zorro defeats the Alcalde all the time. He really is cunning like a fox. I wish I had some of that cunning. I'm a simple man, what you see is what you get.

At that moment, Alcalde Ramone entered. "So you are finally here!" He was beaming! He couldn't have been happier! I can't believe Zorro is finally in myjail! Who IS this man who has outsmarted me at every turn? I can't wait to find out!

"I offered the Colonel a fair fight, but we seem to have had a slight misunderstanding," Zorro smiled with all graciousness. He spoke with all humility, but he also knew what he was about to do – at just the right moment. He knew Ramone would want to gloat. Well, let him have his moment, Zorro thought. It won't last long.

Palomarez sneered, "There is no misunderstanding." The Alcalde's expression was one of pure glee. "You hang in three hours."

Ramone had to get his two cents' worth in. "Considering that reality, I'm going to unmask you now."

Mendoza was shocked. "You're going to unmask – Zorro!" Zorro continued smiling his charming smile. Well, Plan B is definitely working. They haven't released Sergeant Mendoza yet, but everything is ready for my escape. I just have to wait for the right moment, Zorro thought.

"Sergeant, his capture means your freedom!" Ramone 'pointed' that out, literally – to Mendoza.

"Yes, good, but – he is – Zorro! Something of a tradition around here." Mendoza couldn't believe it! How could the Alcalde even think of unmasking him here in jail!

Palomarez asked menacingly, "Perhaps you would rather die in his place?"

Mendoza sounded a bit desperate. "I didn't say that."

Ramone had heard enough. "Sergeant – enough!" To Zorro, he said, "I'm going to unmask you now." He gloated, and so did Palomarez. Their expressions showed the pride they both had in themselves and their own abilities to defeat their foes.

Zorro knew that now was the time. Unfortunately, he was not going to be able to free Mendoza at present. That will have to wait until morning, he thought. All the while when talking to Palomarez in the tavern, and talking to Ramone here in jail, Zorro had a 'humble' and softer tone of voice. It was part of my plan to make them think they have the upper hand, he thought. "I thought you might be paying me a little visit, Alcalde. So I took the opportunity to ask Toronado to drop by."

At that, Palomarez grabbed the keys from Ramone and hurriedly tried to open the door. "You are going to hang!" But he fumbled with the keys.

Zorro graciously spread his arms wide. "Colonel, we have an appointment with fate, remember?"

Zorro whistled for Toronado, who whinnied in response. Before he entered the tavern to 'give himself up' to Palomarez, Zorro had secured a rope around the barred window and tied the other end to Toronado's saddle horn. As Toronado moved away from the window, he took the bars with him.

Zorro gave them his farewell greeting, "Buenos noches, Senor." He climbed out the window as Palomarez fumbled to open the door. 'I HAD him! I HAD him!"

Mendoza said, "Yes, you HAD him." Toronado was heard running away. They all knew who was riding the big, black stallion.

Palomarez was furious! He looked at Mendoza with a look that chilled the sergeant to the bone. "With Zorro's escape, the sentence is re-instated. You hang at dawn." Mendoza's hopeless look returned.

Plan B…I hope it works, Zorro thought as he rode through the countryside. I hoped they would release Sergeant Mendoza right away, but they didn't. Now that I've escaped, they'll proceed with their original plan to hang Mendoza. I can't let that happen. Plan B. It should work. Plan A could have worked – only if Colonel Palomarez had been an honorable man. I knew he wasn't, but I still had to take that chance. Nothing about my 'arrest' was surprising. We'd planned for it, and I escaped. I feel bad about leaving the Sergeant in jail overnight to hang, but I know that come daybreak, Plan B will surely work. Then, it will just be Colonel Palomarez and me on a field of honor. I have to make sure that happens.

Back in the cave, Diego and Felipe worked up the little surprises for later. Diego said, "All right, we're ready. Bring me an arrow, Felipe." He was working with something like dark gray clay in his hands, rolling it, shaping it, working with it.

"This is nothing more than a chemical compound, held together by charcoal and sulfur. It's all quite harmless, unless it's mixed together." He nonchalantly tossed the dark gray ball to Felipe, who caught it with astonishment. He held it like a hot potato.

"It's all right, "Diego snickered. "Gunpowder is not really that dangerous until it meets with friction or heat. Zorro will certainly provide plenty of heat at sunrise. Bring me another arrow."

Diego took a bit of the dark clay and folded it in a piece of cloth, and began wrapping string around it to hold it in place.

At sunrise, Zorro rode to the pueblo and looked for his best vantage point. The best place was the top of the Church. He would have a clear shot anywhere from there. Yes, that's the best place, Zorro thought.

Mendoza was taken from the jail and marched to the gallows. When he got close, Victoria stopped him a moment. She grabbed his arms, looked at him with great sympathy and said, "Vaya con Dios." She planted a kiss on both cheeks. Mendoza said nothing, but his thoughts were racing. He was in shock. I am on my way to death. I don't hold out much hope of being rescued by Zorro. After all, as a soldier, I have tried to capture Zorro more than once. Even if I don't try to fight one-on-one with Zorro anymore, I think Zorro probably doesn't have much feeling for me. My only hope for escape vanished when Zorro escaped.

Mendoza mounted the platform. A guardsman put the rope over his head. Everyone looked up. Mendoza looked down. I will be brave until the end, he decided. But I'm not happy about it. I am going to miss the Senorita's enchiladas, but I will miss her tamales more. I wonder if my life has counted for something. I have always tried to be helpful to others, but I am a soldier. I follow orders. That's all I know.

"Is everything ready?" Palomarez had put the Alcalde in charge of his own man's execution.

Through gritted teeth, Ramone answered, "As you ordered, Colonel." Even though Sergeant Mendoza is an imbecile, he was faithful, followed orders, and 'loyal' as all good soldiers are, thought Ramone.

"Read the declaration." He handed the parchment to Ramone, who read…

"Under emergency military law, and authority of the king in Spain, the prisoner is sentenced to death by hanging." The crowd murmured loud in protest.

Unseen by those in the plaza, Zorro climbed his whip to the roof of the church. There, with bow and arrows, he shot his gunpowder charges. When they exploded, it gave the impression that the pueblo was under attack. A slightly different way than he had tried it a year or so earlier with Ramone, but effective nonetheless.

The townspeople scattered, yelling and screaming. All over town, charges went off. Palomarez was confused and enraged. Mendoza thought, hmmm, maybe I'll get out of this after all. That has to be Zorro! He did come to my rescue after all!

"What is that!" Palomarez asked, his face turning red with rage.

"That – is Zorro!" Victoria answered with a great smile on her face!

"Zorro! He must be leading an attack on the pueblo!" Ramone knew it had to be Zorro, and stifled his 'happiness' at having Mendoza's execution interrupted. Ramone remembered this tactic from about a year to year and a half ago. He was never quite sure if it was just a tactic or if Zorro really did have a small army that backed him up from time to time. This will be interesting, Ramone thought to himself.

Palomarez barked "If it's a battle he wants, it's a battle he gets! Soldiers! To your mounts!" Palomarez's soldiers, Los Angeles lancers, and Alcalde Luis Ramone mounted up and rode out of the pueblo. The rest of the townspeople had scattered, leaving a fairly empty plaza for soldiers to ride out.

Mendoza still stood with the rope around his neck on the gallows, eyeing them. Victoria watched them ride out.

Palomarez shouted, "Brigadiers! Bring me the head of Zorro!"

From his vantage point out of the way, Jose Macias watched as Ramone led lancers and guardsmen out of town.

Palomarez mounted his horse to join in pursuit. Mendoza looked up and saw Zorro on the roof of the church, pointing a charged arrow at him!

"Hold still Sergeant." Zorro murmured to himself as he took aim. "Hold very still." Mendoza watched as the arrow came his way. It hit its mark, the rope, and sliced through it cleanly. "Oh!" Mendoza couldn't help but exclaim as the rope was cut and he was free from it! He looked up with a huge grin – and got a corresponding big grin from Zorro! Yeah! I hit the target – and Mendoza will be free! Zorro thought, as he disappeared from the church roof. The plan was going well. Now it was time to deal with Colonel Palomarez.

Zorro swung down his rope and landed on the ground just as Palomarez rode towards him on his horse. Zorro casually drew his sword and laid it over his shoulder as he sauntered up towards the Colonel. When he got close enough, he cut the horse's reins. That threw the colonel off balance. Zorro smiled. This was going to be fun – the humiliation of that nasty, stuffy Colonel! But I so love a good fight! I hope he gives me one, Zorro thought. He said he was a master swordsman. So am I! This ought to be good!

Victoria smiled in defiance. The colonel was cock-eyed on his horse. He dropped his sword and held on to the horse's neck to try to stay on. The townspeople were already laughing in mockery. Jose Macias smiled too. Mendoza laughed as he went down the gallows steps, his hands still tied behind his back. Victoria stood at the bottom and released Mendoza's hands.

Meanwhile, Palomarez leaned way over his horse's neck, as he tried to grab what little was left of the horse's reins, but fell off trying. He rolled in the dust, the wind knocked out of him. The people cheered. This man was a menace, and they felt he deserved some humiliation.

Mendoza said to Victoria, "This should be interesting." Victoria said with confidence, "Zorro will defeat him."

Mendoza smiled, and said with all sincerity, "I hope so. I mean, I am a soldier, but I hope so." He was very happy to be alive!

Palomarez was on his face in the dust. He'd been stunned when he fell off his horse. Zorro walked slowly towards him, his sword still casually slung over his shoulder, as if he hadn't a care in the world – and all the time in the world.

"May I present to you the head of Zorro – firmly attached to the body." He strolled up to Palomarez as if it was a Sunday picnic.

Palomarez picked himself up off the ground and grabbed his sword.

"You promised, Senor." Zorro was going to make sure Palomarez kept that promise. As he saluted with his sword, he said, "Just you and me."

And the swordfight began. Zorro lunged and advanced. Palomarez retreated. Then they circled. Palomarez lunged and Zorro retreated towards the gallows.

Victoria, still gloating over the outcome she knew must happen said, "Zorro will win!"

Mendoza reminded her, "Palomarez has never been beaten!"

Neither could take their eyes off the duel, which went on for several minutes. The two seemed evenly matched, first one, then the other would lunge and advance, then retreat.

As the swordfight continued, Zorro seemed a bit on the retreat. The hilts of their swords came together, and the two swordsmen were eye-to-eye with each other. Zorro took that opportunity to smile at Victoria, who returned it. Zorro threw off Palomarez, who tripped and nearly fell to the ground.

The fight now had Zorro 'retreating' up the gallows steps, and Palomarez followed. Zorro was able to parry each thrust of Palomarez. They both ended up at the top of the gallows. Palomarez lunged one last time. I have him now, thought Palomarez. He's a dead man.

Zorro parried and at the same time, kicked open the trap door. Palomarez unceremoniously fell through. The approximately eight-foot fall stunned him.

Zorro jumped from the gallows and grabbed the dazed Colonel from underneath, pulling him out. He put his arm around the soldier to keep him upright, but also took the opportunity to rub it in just a bit.

"As we agreed, Colonel, you must leave Los Angeles." Palomarez was only semi-conscious. Zorro looked over to the crowd and called out to a peon. "Senor," asked Zorro, "may I borrow your mount?"

The peon gladly brought his white burro over. Palomarez looked up at Zorro and shook his head. Not that, he thought. Not a donkey. That's too humiliating! Zorro took that opportunity to deliver a knockout blow, and then draped Palomarez brusquely over the back of the burro on his stomach.

The people cheered. Mendoza laughed. Zorro ended the fight with his final salute to Palomarez. At that moment, Alcalde Ramone rode through the pueblo gate with all the soldiers. They rode past the unconscious Palomarez on the white burro. Ramone stifled a laugh, but couldn't help but smile a half-crack smile. Then, he pretended to get serious, looking Zorro's way.

Zorro took advantage of that moment to 'slink' away, slouching behind the sergeant when he wasn't looking. Mendoza looked at his commanding officer with consternation. Was he still in trouble? Then he understood and whirled around – to face – no one!

"Zorro, I hereby place you under arrest…" was all he got out. To Victoria, he said, "Where did he go?" Victoria put on her most innocent 'I don't know' look and shrugged her shoulders.

"Where is he?" Mendoza asked her.

"Who?" she asked innocently.

"Zorro!" With great frustration, Mendoza growled between clenched teeth. "How does he do that?"

The townspeople saw Zorro riding away quickly from the pueblo and cheered. They had gotten their pueblo back.

Back at the cave, Zorro was invigorated. He excitedly related what happened to Felipe while he changed into his Diego clothes.

"I do so love a good fight. Palomarez said he was a master swordsman. I could see his technique was masterful, if a little exaggerated. But in order to truly win a fight, one has to use every tool at their disposal – including one's fist! And the pretty white burro was the crowning touch!"

Felipe signed "You are the master swordsman! No one is as good as you! Even your teacher said so!"

"Well Felipe, I will never rest on my laurels. I have to be diligent and aware every time I get out there to fight. At least Sergeant Mendoza is safe now, and the pueblo is back in the Alcalde's hands. Maybe he'll learn something from this. I know he was appalled at the Colonel's actions."

Felipe signed something.

"Well, since Palomarez took over the pueblo, there really wasn't anything Ramone could do about it."

Felipe signed, "Z." "Yes, Zorro took care of it."

And yet, Diego had a niggling feeling that his fight with the Colonel wasn't completely over. True, he had totally humiliated the 'butcher of Yucatan,' but he didn't think a man like Palomarez wouldn't take a humiliating defeat like this lying down. And if he ever comes back, he'll be more dangerous than ever, Diego thought. I'll have to stay on my toes.

Ever the storyteller, Sergeant Mendoza was in the tavern having a drink with Victoria and Diego later that day.

"And there he was – sitting right next to me in jail." Mendoza spoke about Zorro as if he was a close personal friend.

Diego asked with feigned curiosity. "You actually saw him there Sergeant?"

"Si, Don Diego. Zorro came this close to the gallows." He put his thumb and index finger almost together.

Victoria interjected. "Yet he managed to escape from the Alcalde's prison."

Mendoza answered, "Oh, between you and me, this Zorro is a pretty smart fellow. He is perhaps, even a little bit smarter than the Alcalde."

Diego said in mock surprise, "No, do you really think so?"

Mendoza observed, "Zorro was completely responsible for Palomarez's departure."

Diego continued his 'innocent' questioning. "But how could he single-handedly drive such a tyrant from the pueblo? He must have had help."

Mendoza tried to be nonchalant in his self-aggrandizement. "Well I was there – so there was a certain official military presence."

Diego replied, "That's what I thought Sergeant. So when Colonel Palomarez returns, he'll certainly be looking for you as well."

It hadn't hit Mendoza yet. "No problem, when Palomarez returns, I'll just…" And with a look of alarm, he said, "Madre de Dios, Colonel Palomarez is coming back?"

Diego gave him a look that said, you never know, do you?