Palomarez Chapter 4 Forgery, Antidote & Cover Up, a zorro fanfic

CHAPTER FOUR – Forgery, Antidote, & Cover up

It took 15 minutes before Zorro got to the cave from the countryside entrance. He'd run all the way and was a little out of breath. He forced himself to stay calm. He placed a hand on Felipe momentarily as if to comfort the young man, who he knew would be on the verge of panic.

"Were you watching?" asked Zorro.

Zorro held up the small, brown vial he had flicked away from Palomarez. His left shoulder felt as though it was on fire and he could feel the searing heat creep slowly away from the scratch, throughout his entire body.

He uncorked the bottle and sniffed. No discernible odor. "It appears to have natural origins," he said. "Possibly a refined snake venom." He re-corked the bottle and set it down.

Felipe pointed worriedly at his shoulder. There was blood on the shirt around the cut. Zorro could see the worry in his eyes. "Yes, I know," he acknowledged, putting his gloved right hand on the burning cut, "it's already inflamed."

"But even the strongest poison has to have an antidote," he said, some of his wits coming back to him. Felipe hopelessly shook his head. "Exactly," he agreed. "It would take months to research all possibilities. By then, I'll surely be dead."

Zorro noticed a white quill lying on the laboratory table and picked it up. An idea began to form in his head, one that hopefully would lead to his full recovery.

He tentatively touched the end of the white quill to his gloved left index finger and felt its prick. "Actually quite sharp, isn't it?" stating the obvious.

"Go down to the river and select a strong, straight thistle reed," he instructed Felipe who shook his head, not knowing where this was leading. "Because Felipe," Zorro explained, "we're going to get Colonel Palomarez himself to lead me to the antidote."

"Now, it's nearly sunrise. I must get back to the tavern before my father misses me. Hurry," he urged. He patted Felipe's arm to encourage him, and to encourage himself. Thank goodness the cut wasn't too long, but as the entry point for the poison it was sore.

Felipe ran as fast as he could. He'd heard Colonel Palomarez say that Diego only had 24 hours to live. That fact alone made him ran faster.

While it was still dark, Zorro made one stop on his way back to the tavern. He snuck into Padre Benites' private quarters at the Mission. The Padre was fast asleep. Zorro sat on the edge of the bed, and put a gloved hand over the priest's mouth to keep him quiet. At that, the priest woke up startled. Zorro's voice hissed softly with all seriousness.

"Sorry, Padre, I must ask you to please not cry out," The priest nodded, and Zorro removed his gloved hand from Benites' mouth. Zorro lit a candle so that Father Benites could see who had interrupted his sleep.

"Zorro! What are you doing here at this hour?"

"Sorry Padre, I don't have much time – in more ways than one. Don't talk, just listen, comprendre?"

"Certainly. What can I do for you?"

"Padre, I've been poisoned, and if I can't get to the antidote, I may die very soon. I ask you to hear my confession and I will also ask a favor from you, should this be the last time I see you."

Padre Benites sat up in his bed and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He saw the earnest look of desperation in Zorro's eyes. "Tell me what's happened, my son."

Just before dawn, Victoria got up to get the tavern ready. Today was a big day. Mendoza was going to rule on the land grant of Colonel Palomarez today. She just didn't know how they were going to get out of this. Everyone was going to be there. The guest rooms were all full, two of them being used by Alejandro and Diego de la Vega, who had been thrown out of their hacienda. She hoped that Zorro could help the pueblo find a way to rid itself of Colonel Palomarez. He had before, but she hadn't seen or talked to him since the colonel arrived.

She was in the kitchen when she thought she heard a small noise outside the door. Cautiously opening the door, she saw Zorro sneaking his way towards the tavern. But something was wrong. He held a hand to his left shoulder and swayed a moment. He nearly fell.

She ran to him, grabbed his arms, and whispered, "Zorro! What's wrong?"

He shook his head, trying to clear it. It was still dark, but he had to get to his room, and now Victoria was here. Dios mi, what am I going to do, he thought.

"Victoria, what are you doing up at this hour?" He put a hand out again, swaying. She grabbed his arm tighter and said, "Come with me, quickly!"

She led him into the kitchen and made him sit on a stool. "What happened?"

"I was doing research on the land grant for Don Diego, and…" he nearly fell off the stool. Victoria stifled a cry and grabbed him to keep him from falling off the stool.

"Zorro, tell me what happened!" she demanded quietly. He seemed to regain his balance a moment, so she got him a drink of water.

Zorro took the drink and gulped it down. He swallowed his pride, and said, "Colonel Palomarez poisoned me."

"What! How? When?" Victoria's alarm was written all over her face.

"About an hour ago, as I returned the land grant…he scratched me…" The room started spinning again.

"He scratched you? What do you mean?" This was taking too long. She needed to get him somewhere to rest, but where? Her tavern was full.

"With a poison-tipped sword…he said I have 24 hours to live. The poison has already begun to work."

Victoria was in shock. "What are you going to do?"

Zorro looked at her with somewhat glazed eyes. "I'm fighting it the best I can while planning to find the antidote."

"And how are you going to do that?"

"I'm working on it. I've got Fffell…uh…I'm working on that." At that, he swayed again and tried shaking his head to clear it. He put a black-gloved hand to his head, then rose to leave. "Thank you Victoria, but I've got to go."

"Go? Go where? You need rest!"

"No…I've got to be somewhere…very soon. I've got to go, before I'm missed."

Victoria put a hand on his right shoulder. "Is there anything I can do?"

He put a hand over her hand and said, "Pray. I think I need it. Pray for the hearing. Pray that Don Diego can present the evidence I'm going to give him…all the evidence he'll need to prove the document is a fake."

And with that, he quickly left a stunned Victoria standing in her kitchen alone.

Zorro snuck out and climbed up to his window. He had to wait five minutes before the most recent dizzy spell ended. How am I ever going to do this, he thought? I've got to stand up as Don Diego, and present this evidence – supposedly without having 'studied' the actual document itself? I just hope I don't faint. That would give everything away. Padre, Victoria, please pray for me, Zorro thought. He rested a couple of minutes once he climbed through his window, while he changed in his Diego clothes. He noticed Felipe wasn't there yet with a reed, so he thought he'd go downstairs and wait for him.

A few minutes later, Victoria brought out a tray with a tea pot and five cups, and a few saucers. Maybe I can't serve food, she thought, but I can serve tea or coffee. She looked up and saw Diego coming down from his bedroom. She noticed he came down a bit slowly. He looks somewhat the worse for wear, she thought. But, she couldn't help herself. This was very unusual for Diego to be up this early. "Don Diego, this is awfully early for you, isn't it?"

Diego replied, "Couldn't sleep. I guess I'm a bit worried about the hearing." He slowly lowered himself into a chair at the first table beyond the stairs.

Victoria thought about the upcoming hearing, and said, "Yes. Coffee?"

"Please. Maybe that's what I need." Her mind was still on Zorro. When he didn't know she was looking, Victoria noticed something not quite right about Diego, but dismissed it. She knew he was often 'ill', and slept through the morning many days, so she wasn't worried about it – or him. She couldn't understand how someone who looked so healthy most of the time – was so sickly. She didn't connect Zorro's problems with Diego's problems.

She poured some coffee into a cup. He flexed his left hand. His whole arm was getting numb and his muscles felt weak. As he reached for it, he fumbled the cup, dropping both it and the saucer, and spilled the coffee on the table, and on his hands.

Diego knew had to try to cover himself. "Sorry. I'm sorry." He put his hands in a gesture of surrender. He put a hand to his face in embarrassment and dizziness, then removed it.

She looked at him with a bit of concern, but thought nothing of it. He must be really tired, she thought. "That's all right. I'll get something to clean it. I'll be back in just a moment." She looked at him one last time, before she went back to the kitchen for a towel. The thought ran through her head – he looks tired. He said he didn't sleep, but Don Alejandro said he went to bed before dark. I wonder what's the matter with him this time.

He wiped his hands with a napkin. I've got to get through this, he thought. The dizziness was increasing, with bouts coming more frequently, and he was beginning to lose muscle control.

Felipe ran in with a nice thin reed. He knew time was of the essence. Diego asked, "Find one?" Felipe handed it to Diego, who took it. "Perfect. Look how sharp I made the quill." He pulled the small feather from his pocket. He had cut off most of the plume, and whittled the point down until it was very sharp and would easily penetrate skin.

All of a sudden, Diego let a breath escape – he nearly passed out right there. "Oh…" He put his head down a moment. With a worried look, Felipe put a hand on Diego's shoulder for comfort and support.

"It's all right, the dizziness comes and goes."

He nodded. Felipe helped him up, and kept a hand on Diego's arm for a moment. "Come and learn the proper technique for hitting a target."

He patted Felipe's shoulder. Felipe bounded up the steps ahead of Diego, who slowly followed him with the reed in his hand. Holding on to the bannister, he slowly climbed the stairs, when yet another dizzy spell hit him, but not quite as bad as the one at the table. Felipe kept an eye on him as Diego climbed the stairs, making sure he was there if Diego needed help. Dizziness caused Diego to put his head down a moment here and there as he climbed the stairs. Victoria came from her kitchen to finish cleaning the table. She looked up and saw Diego's door to his room close.

Shaking her head, Victoria said, "I should have known. He went back upstairs for more beauty sleep." She giggled at the thought, but something was niggling in the back of her mind. Zorro said he'd been poisoned, and now Don Diego seemed tired. She wasn't sure what that meant, but she thought no more about Diego. She was worried about Zorro. He had asked her to pray for him, so she whispered a short prayer under her breath as she finished cleaning the table.

Up in the room, Felipe helped Diego sit down on the edge of the bed for a few minutes until the dizziness passed. Then, Diego started his instruction.

"You put the quill in one end, then blow through the other, but you have to aim it like you aim a pistol. Think of the reed shaft as the barrel of a pistol or an arrow from a bow you want to shoot. Hold the reed very steady as you blow. Why don't you practice awhile?"

Felipe took the quill and the reed from Diego, then helped him lie down. He signed "rest."

"Yes, Felipe, I'll rest awhile, but I can't afford to sleep. I have to put my thoughts together for the hearing. Oh – draw a small circle on the far wall and see how many times you can get the quill in that circle. When you hit it circle nine times out of ten, you know you'll be ready to hit your target in the morning."

Diego got up and drew some paper and a pen out of his suitcase. He intended to write a few short notes to several people, and an outline to organize his thoughts. This plan has to work, he thought. Dios, give me strength.

Fffftttt! Felipe started practicing.

Padre Benites was troubled by Zorro's visit. He got dressed and moved quietly into the chapel, where he lit a candle, then went to the foot of the altar to pray. Zorro had requested something very odd "in case" he didn't live through this. He said the de la Vega servant boy Felipe would be giving him some letters to distribute if…"Santo Padre, por favor…" Benites interceded for Zorro, and the man behind the mask.

As Victoria finished cleaning the table, those niggling thoughts came to the forefront of her mind.

Zorro could hardly stand up in my kitchen. He nearly fell off the stool. If I hadn't known he was poisoned, I would have thought he was drunk or something. Don Diego almost walked like a drunken man. He couldn't even hold his cup. Zorro had trouble too. The thought struck her. Could it be? But if so, I can't let on I know. I know how Zorro feels about people knowing his secret. Dios, I pray for Zorro. I pray for Diego. Help them both today, and if they are the same person, help him.

Up in Diego's room, Felipe was still practicing an hour later. Diego had finished his notes, and was lying down. Felipe had looked at Diego's shoulder cut. It was red and swollen, but it had stopped bleeding. They had cleaned it and put salve on it in the cave before leaving, as well as a few other smaller cuts he got from going through the window, which thankfully, weren't noticeable.

Despite his efforts to stay awake, Diego had fallen into a deep sleep. He had made Felipe promise to wake him in one hour, so he could finalize his preparations for the case at the hearing.

Ffffftttt! One last time, Felipe shot the quill into an outside wall where no one would hear it. He'd gotten his accuracy level up to Diego's standards. He knew there was no way he would miss Colonel Palomarez's neck.

At the prescribed time, he woke Diego, made sure he was lucid, then snuck out of the room before the rest of the guests were up, so he could make his way to the back room of the tavern to await Diego's signal.

The tavern was crowded. All the caballeros, landowner farmers, and most of the businesspeople were waiting for the public forum – the hearing to start. Colonel Palomarez sat at the left end of a table with the box holding the land grant never out of his grasp.

Sergeant Mendoza relished his role as adjudicator of the legality of the land grant. He pulled at the bottom of his jacket. "I will judge the document's legal appointment." Palomarez placed the box in front of Mendoza, who leaned over and said placatingly, "Not that there is any doubt of course. What do I do now?"

Colonel Palomarez was clearly annoyed at having to submit to this bumbling Sergeant in any way. "Examine the document." Palomarez was nervous. He felt all would go his way, but until the inept Sergeant actually made a formal ruling…and then there was Zorro. He knew there was a possibility he could still show up and interrupt the proceedings. He must be feeling pretty ill by this time. Those headhunters knew what they were talking about, Palomarez thought. They used this poison against their enemies in the Amazon. I was impressed at the speed of the poison's work, quick enough to make you ill quite soon after exposure, but slow enough to torture the person being poisoned. And I do so want to see Zorro tortured to death! No one has ever humiliated me like he did! He must die for what he did to me!

Mendoza took the land grant out of the box and looked at it, held it up to read it, turned it over, then made his preliminary finding.

"This is a transfer of deed granting complete control of the territory to Colonel Palomarez." The crowd murmured. This wasn't going the way they hoped.

In the crowd, Alejandro and Diego stood towards the back. Diego blinked a couple of times to keep his vision clear. The Englishman Bickle stood by a wall, he was clearly nervous. Palomarez was pleased at the finding, and smiled. Diego leaned on to a post for balance.

Victoria spoke up. "Are you sure, Sergeant?"

Diego interrupted. "Excuse me Sergeant."

Alejandro was concerned Diego would get into some real trouble here. He put a hand on his arm to discourage any further talk, but Diego was not deterred. The dizziness had lifted for a short time, and his mind was clear. He knew what he had to do. He looked at his father to reassure him, and gestured.

"I may not have any skill with the sword but I do know fraud when I see it. Could you hold the document up to the light, please?" I hope my energy holds out, he thought. He was a little out of breath from standing so long. But he couldn't ask to sit down. That would practically shout his 'illness.'

Mendoza looked at Diego questioningly, but complied with Diego's request. "It still looks like the King's signature."

Diego's mind cleared and he got a small burst of strength as he began to state his case. "As it should. Enrique Rodero is very good at his trade."

At the table, Colonel Palomarez looked up at Diego obviously irritated. He had expected this to be a rubber stamp type of hearing. What was Diego de la Vega up to? How did he know about Rodero? What else did he know – and how did he know it?

Mendoza asked, "Enrique Rodero, who's that?"

Diego walked towards the table where Palomarez sat. It was the equivalent of taking front and center stage. "A brilliant man who left Spain to embark on a career as a forger and a counterfeiter…."

Mendoza looked at the seated commander, who was trying to maintain some semblance of calm, but internally, he was boiling.

"…He now resides in a Brazilian prison." Diego continued.

"There's absolutely no evidence of forgery here." Palomarez strongly refuted Diego's claim.

Diego struggled to keep focused. I must think. I must present this case logically, point-by-point, so there is no doubt. His mind buzzed at the outskirts of another dizzy spell. He put a hand to his head a moment, then dropped it to give the appearance of thinking, instead of trying to maintain balance.

"Perhaps he has had a recent visitor…" Mendoza looked suspiciously at Palomarez as Diego continued to make his case.

"…Someone who claims to have returned to Spain, but who in fact went to Brazil instead." He looked Palomarez directly in the eye, accusation in his eyes.

Palomarez rose quickly. "This is absurd!" To Mendoza, he commanded, "Make your ruling!"

Mendoza looked at the document again. "It certainly looks like the king's signature."

Diego acknowledged that, then suggested, "Look at the watermark." Palomarez couldn't believe de la Vega could know so much about a document he had scarcely looked at! Zorro! He was replacing the land grant when I scratched him! He must still be alive! He must have told de la Vega what he found out! Palomarez was scarcely able to contain his fury.

Mendoza asked, "What's that?"

Diego pressed his point. "Every royal document bears the king's watermark." Diego walked back to his place by Alejandro. His father looked at him incredulously, but with great pride. My son knows what he's talking about, but I don't know how he knows it, Alejandro thought.

"It's in the parchment. Read it please." His eyes started to blur. He blinked his eyes wide to try to clear them. His only hope was that no one noticed his discomfort.

A low rumble went through the observers. Palomarez was incensed. This was not turning out the way he thought. Mendoza opened the document up and tried to read it.

"I'm sorry, I only read Spanish. This is in Portugese?"

Diego thought to himself, Yes, that's it! To Mendoza, he said, "Yes, which is the native tongue of Brazil, I believe."

Diego was a little short of breath as he put the last nail in the coffin, so to speak, and he swayed. Alejandro could hardly take his eyes off his son, he was very proud. But his pride turned to alarm when Diego swayed. He grabbed Diego's arm to keep him from falling.

"Are you all right, son?"

"Yes, yes. I'm fine." He felt anything but fine, but couldn't let anyone know. Not yet, anyway.

Mendoza questioned. "I don't understand. How can a parchment from South America bear our king's signature?"

From his position by a wall, the Englishman Bickle looked absolutely irritated. He knew the game was up. His superiors were not going to be happy if this deal fell through.

Alejandro was so proud of Diego. He could now see where this was going, so he answered. He could also see his son's discomfort. "That's just the point, Sergeant. It can't." Diego looked relieved, but was still having trouble catching his breath.

Palomarez had heard enough. He quickly drew his sword and placed it at Mendoza's throat. "Make the ruling Sergeant."

The townspeople gasped. Diego was not surprised. After all, Palomarez didn't like losing. He knew that from experience. He waited for the right moment, which he knew was at hand.

Victoria spoke up. "That document is a fake and so are you!"

Palomarez threatened. "That's enough! We've all agreed to abide by your official ruling, Sergeant."

Felipe peeked out from behind the curtains of the kitchen. He waited for Diego's signal to shoot Palomarez with the quill. He'd practiced for quite a while, at least an hour, and had gotten quite skilled – up to Diego's standards of nine out of ten in the little circle he'd put in pencil on the far wall of Diego's room.

Mendoza squeaked. "But I know you'll kill me. "

Victoria was exasperated. She turned to Diego. She still couldn't quite put the two men together as one, in her mind. She hadn't totally convinced herself they were the same person. "Where is Zorro?"

Diego shrugged his shoulders and shook his head, still watching Palomarez. Victoria continued, "He should be here." Diego waited for the right moment to signal Felipe.

Palomarez heard the question about Zorro. Still with his sword at Mendoza's throat, he turned his head and said, "Zorro? That fool is saying his prayers. He's a dead man."

With Palomarez's focus turned away from Sergeant Mendoza, Diego turned back to the curtain to look at Felipe and nodded. Alejandro looked at Diego, a moment, but couldn't keep his eyes off the scene in front of him.

"Make the ruling Sergeant." Palomarez insisted.

Felipe aimed through a small opening in the curtains, and blew through the reed. A soft Ffffttt was heard as the feather shot through the air. The quill hit its mark – the Colonel's neck. Palomarez winced from the pain of the quill. His sword came down, and he pulled the quill from his neck.

"What's this?" He looked at the little white feather with a black Z on it. "Zorro! He shot me! With the poison! I'm being poisoned!"

Reactions from the townspeople – they weren't sure what to think or knew exactly what happened, so there was shock and surprise. Diego looked at Palomarez. Way to go Felipe, he thought. New strength seemed to come to him. The plan was going well! Now! Now I can get the antidote!

Alejandro looked at Palomarez, then looking for Zorro, his eyes drifted towards the curtains, then upstairs. Those were places Zorro usually came from when he showed himself. Alejandro wondered if Zorro would show himself now, but he didn't. I wonder why, thought Alejandro.

The Englishman looked with a mixture of sorrow and sympathy towards the colonel. Caught in his own trap, he thought.

"I'm being poisoned!" Palomarez made a hasty exit, with one of his guardsman following him. The other one stayed in the tavern as ordered.

Alejandro looked at Diego, then around to Mendoza.

One last thing Diego needed to do – release Mendoza to make his official ruling. He could hardly wait. "I believe you're free to make whatever judgment you wish, Sergeant." Alejandro looked with great pride at Diego. Diego just couldn't wait for it to all be over – so he could go after Palomarez.

Mendoza began to speak. "This document is a – what's a good word?"

Alejandro answered, "Uhm, fraudulent." Diego nodded, but he was beginning to feel faint again, so he said nothing. He blinked his eyes and he a bit short of breath.

Mendoza held up the document. "I declare this document to be fraudulent – and it's also no good!"

The people in the tavern clapped and cheered, very happy with the outcome. Mendoza seemed very proud of himself. The people talked among themselves about how Diego de la Vega had systematically pointed out each flaw in the document. They also talked of Zorro and the Colonel's hasty exit, but they wondered why the masked man hadn't shown himself. He usually did. Knowing there was no chance of a reversal, the Englishman Bickle slinked out, talking to no one, but as he walked by, Diego watched him go with relief.

Alejandro was ready to celebrate. He had his land back. "This calls for a drink!" He turned to the bar.

Diego sighed with relief. He didn't think anyone is watching he put a hand to his head. Oh these infernal dizzy spells! From slightly behind, on his right side, Victoria watched. Her curiosity got the better of her.

"Don Diego?"

At hearing his name, he quickly snapped to attention. "Hmm?"

"How did you know about the paper?"

"Books." He smiled at her, trying to make light of it all. "You can learn almost anything from books."

Victoria smiled, then giggled. "Yes. I should have known." But there, in the back of her mind, was that niggling again. Something must be wrong; I'll cover for you, Diego. She was too busy now, dealing with customers, to think about whether or not she was right.

Alejandro brought an extra drink with him for Diego, who refused it. He had to somehow make an exit. He had to get going. Every minute now was precious. It had been about 18 hours, and he didn't know how long it would take him to track and find Palomarez and the antidote.

"No thank you. All this excitement has given me a bit of a headache. I think I'll go upstairs and rest." He placed a hand to his forehead.

"Diego, are you all right?" Alejandro looked intently into Diego's face.

"Yes, Father. I'm all right." Diego blinked his eyes, hoping his vision would clear. "I'm sorry, I really need to lie down."

"Let me help you, son, please." He placed an arm on his swaying son.

"No, I'm sorry, I don't have much time. I need to go…rest." He gently, but firmly removed his father's hand. "I promise you, Father. I'll be fine. Trust me, please." There was an almost desperate quality to his voice.

Alejandro watched Diego as he climbed the steps. He knew something was terribly wrong with his son, but what? He saw Diego grab the bannister when he had only reached the second step. Diego put his head down to try to clear his vision. Alejandro watched with great concern. I'm going to have to talk to that boy. Something is definitely wrong with him. He's not just tired, and he doesn't just have a headache. There's more to this, Alejandro thought. But what? I wish he would tell me. He is very ill. What did he mean, 'I don't have much time?' Alejandro was extremely worried.

He ran up the stairs and knocked on Diego's door. "Diego?"

Diego opened the door. "What is it?"

Alejandro thought his son looked more like death warmed over. Oh no! That can't be! Palomarez said Zorro was a dead man! Then, he said he was poisoned, he thought. "Diego, are you sure you don't need me to help you? Is there anything I can do?"

Diego looked at his father in desperation. "Please Father. There's something I must do, and I must do it – now…or… or it may be too late! Please don't keep me any longer. I'm sorry, I'll – I'll – explain later. But I must rest."

As Diego closed the door, Alejandro thought he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It looked like a pile of black silk. Alejandro went back downstairs to rejoin the celebration. His face smiled, but his heart was with his son. Vaya con Dios Diego, he thought.

Once Alejandro left, Diego quickly changed clothes. But with virtually no sleep, coupled with the poison continuing to seep through his veins, Zorro opened the window to climb out, but got dizzy again. He had to shake it off. There was so little time left. He had to pick up Palomarez's tracks as quickly as possible.

Toronado sensed that his rider needed all speed this morning, even though he could feel the Tall One's weakness. He had such respect for the Tall One. He would do anything for him. After all, Tall One had saved his foal. He trusted Tall One with his own life. He sensed the Tall One's greatness, even though he didn't always understand why he did what he did. There was an innate 'goodness' about the Tall One, a gentleness, yet he had great strength and fierce fighting spirit. And yet, like himself, Tall One also had a wildness about him. When he ran at top speed, and Tall One was healthy, they ran as one creature…free and wild. It was exhilarating! This morning, Toronado sensed the desperation of Tall One, and his weakness. When he felt Tall One was about to sway in the saddle, he would slow down a little and snort or whinny to get his rider's attention. That usually helped Tall One's concentration until the weakness had past, and he could again pursue at top speed.

Colonel Palomarez rode hard. I need to find the rare cactus quickly. The longer the poison stays in my system, the worse I will feel. So far, only my neck stings from the quill puncture. I know it won't be long before dizziness, balance and blindness will begin to take effect. I know the approximate place where I saw the rare cactus on my way to the pueblo, in case of an accidental poisoning of one of the guardsman. I never thought I would need it myself. His anger at Zorro was now replaced by fear for his own life.

He and his captain rode swiftly into the desert near some rocky mounds. They'd been riding about four hours out of Los Angeles, when he looked around, and finally saw it! He actually saw a couple of the cacti, but only one of them was in full bloom, and it was the blossom he needed.

"Captain, there it is! I've found it!" Palomarez shouted as he climbed up a small rocky embankment to get to it. He pulled his knife out and was about to cut the blossom off when a sword blade was put to his throat.

Zorro! He had followed. Yes, thought Palomarez, he's desperate, and so am I. But if we can bargain – maybe I can live through this.

Zorro stated the official name of the cactus, then said, "A man could travel 100 miles through the desert and not find another one of these rare blooms."

The colonel lifted his knife ready to cut the bloom off, but Zorro's sword held steady at his throat. "It's the antidote, isn't it?" Zorro asked.

"Yes. Yes, it only takes a single drop of the nectar to counteract the poison."

With a smile of one who had the upper hand, Zorro said, "Back away, Colonel."

Palomarez was desperate. "Please."

But Zorro's sword stayed in place. "I believe my need – is greater." Zorro swayed a moment, and was a bit out of breath. He put his head down a moment…

Suddenly the momentum changed, and Zorro no longer had the upper hand. Dios mi, which Palomarez is the 'real' one, he thought. He'd been dizzy for a day, now double vision was beginning to become more of a problem. It had started coming and going within the last hour, but was now a problem more often than not. When Palomarez talked, not only was it hard to see which one was the 'real' one, but his hearing was also being distorted. This was not a good sign.

Palomarez sensed the momentum shifting and he knew it was the time to take advantage of it. "Do your eyes bother you Zorro?" he asked tauntingly.

Palomarez stabbed at Zorro, but he sidestepped the action. At that point, Zorro saw the captain of the guard, and punched him out. The combat action threw off his sense of balance and he stumbled. He was still seeing double, and had trouble clearing his eyesight.

Palomarez decided to taunt Zorro with what was going to happen, as he drew his sword. He knew he had the upper hand. "First the eyesight. Then, all sense of balance." With that, he thrust forth his sword.

Which Palamarez was real? Zorro couldn't tell, so he fought both of them as if there were two people he was fighting, instead of one. The Colonel continued his taunt.

"And soon…death."

Zorro was becoming short of breath. He fought with the desperation of a dying man, which he knew he was. It had been about twenty hours since the scratch. It's all or nothing, and if it's nothing, I'm dead, Zorro thought.

Even though Palomarez a master swordsman, he was still no match for a desperate Zorro, and within a minute, the swordfight was over as the Colonel's sword went flying. The captain of the guard was still out for the count behind Palomarez on the rocks.

In a swift move, Zorro flicked the blossom off and was about to squeeze it. The Colonel exclaimed in desperation! "The flower!"

Zorro felt the advantage shift again in his favor. He knew he was going to live, and he savored the moment. "So delicate. So rare." He held the flower up over his head, opened his mouth, and squeezed. A drop of the precious nectar reached his tongue and spread throughout his system very quickly.

Seated uncomfortably on the rocks, with Zorro's sword above him within a foot of his throat, Palomarez was not above begging for his life. "Please. Let me have it," indicating the flower.

Zorro felt the nectar swiftly remove all traces of poison from his system. His eyesight returned to normal and his balance returned. He was no longer lightheaded, and his breathing returned to normal. He gained strength and energy with every passing minute. Since Zorro had Palomarez exactly where he wanted him, he was willing to 'bargain.'

"What do I receive in return?" Zorro asked, feeling stronger.

"Anything. Anything at all." Palomarez was desperate. He saw how quickly Zorro was returning to normal. Although nothing had happened yet, he knew it was only a short time until the dizziness started.

Zorro knew what he wanted. "All I want is for you to leave California, forever."

Palomarez reached out for the blossom. "You have my word. My men and I ride for Mexico today."

Toronado got the idea that Zorro had something for him to eat, because Zorro's left hand was held out. The black stallion strolled over and ate the rest of the blossom. Palomarez was mortified!

"The flower! He ate the flower!"

Zorro joked, "Perhaps I'm not feeding him well enough." He patted the stallion's nose.

Palomarez said with disgust, "So, the great Zorro is nothing more than a murderer after all."

Zorro played with him then, smiling broadly. "Ah, the only poison you need to worry about is in your own mind."

"You mean – the dart? There was no poison?"

Zorro's playful mood disappeared. "No, only the motivation to get you to lead me to the antidote. I have no need to kill another man, Senor, not even you. But if you return to this territory, and give me the need, and I will kill you."

"Si, I ride south."

Zorro's smile returned. "Then let me be the first to wish you safe journey." And he carved a lovely "Z" into Palomarez's jacket. He turned to mount Toronado, leaving Palomarez and his unconscious captain on the rocks.

Normally, the Colonel would be enraged to have his jacket so disfigured, but he was so relieved to be alive, knowing he wasn't going to die, he didn't care. He looked up for a moment and watched Zorro as he rode away – with Toronado rearing up victoriously.

Zorro had little to fear now. What few lancers there were would be at siesta, so he could ride into town virtually unnoticed and complete the two short visits he had to make. The first was to see Padre Benites. He found the stocky priest tending his garden.

Benites heard a slight swish as Zorro's cape fluttered in the breeze. He turned and saw the masked man standing tall, with a huge smile on his face.

"I take it then, you are well, Zorro?"

"Yes, Father Benites, my plan worked. The Colonel led me to the antidote and I was able to secure it for myself. I must confess to something though."

"Gracias, a Dios! That is wonderful news, Zorro! Please, let's go inside."

Benites motioned for Zorro to follow him inside. They went to his sparsely furnished study, where they sat in two straight-backed chairs.

The padre asked, "Now, what is it you need to confess to?"

Zorro bowed his head. "I threatened to kill Palomarez if he ever came back to California."

"Zorro, may I ask you a question?" Benites asked.

"Certainly."

"When you threatened to take Colonel Palomarez's life, did you do so with hatred in your heart?"

"No. I could have killed him today, but – I told him I had no need to kill anyone – not even him. I did threaten him, though."

"And this makes you feel guilty?"

"Yes, Padre. I don't like to even threaten to kill – because I have no intention of ever killing anyone. But sometimes, I feel, the threat is all someone like Colonel Palomarez understands."

"Well son, as long as there was no hatred, anger, or bitterness in your heart, your motive was clean. All you need do is ask forgiveness for the threat itself. May I pray for you, Senor Zorro?"

"Certainly Father." Zorro removed his hat and got down on his knees on the floor. Father Benites put his hand on Zorro's head.

"Father in heaven, I pray that You aid our avenging messenger in his work for justice and truth. Thank You for sparing his life today. Continue to guide him in Your way. Et nomine patri, et filli, et spiritus sanctu. Amen." As he gave the blessing, Father Benites crossed Zorro, and crossed himself.

"Gracias, Padre." And with that, Zorro was gone.

After the hearing, and the ensuing celebration, Victoria closed the tavern for siesta. It had already been a long day, and she was worried about Zorro. She hadn't seen him since very early morning, and she wondered if he was all right. She heard a sound in the kitchen, and went to investigate.

"Zorro! You're all right? Did you get in by jumping through the window?"

"Yes, to both questions!" he said with a smile and kissed the back of her hand. "I was able to trick Palomarez into leading me to the antidote – a rare cactus flower. Only one drop, and all dizziness and double vision passed. I am back to normal, perfectly fine."

"Zorro, why didn't you come to the hearing today? We really needed you!"

"Ah, but I was there…and Don Diego had everything well in hand. I was able to give him the information he needed to present the forgery case. I heard he did an excellent job and that Mendoza judged the document 'fraudulent' and 'no good." He sat on the stool. Although the poison was gone, he was exhausted from lack of sleep. He was going to have to cut this short so he could go back to his room and rest before going back to help his father reclaim the hacienda.

"But Diego said he got it all out of books."

"Naturally. He isn't going to say he got it from me!"

"Zorro, may I ask you one more question?"

"Certainly."

"It seemed like Don Diego was also a bit dizzy today – as I noticed you were earlier this morning? Can you explain that? I am a little worried about him."

Zorro smiled inwardly. So she's worried about both of me, is she? "If he was dizzy, it might be because he had no sleep. We were both up all night, preparing for the hearing today. And now, I'm sorry, but I must go and get some rest myself. I just wanted to let you know that I…am all right. I think you must have been praying for me. Gracias. And I wouldn't worry about Don Diego. It's my guess, he'll be all right too, once he gets a good night's sleep."

And with that, he smiled, kissed her hand again, and left. His cape made a swishing noise as he left. Victoria sighed. She was falling deeply in love with that man, that gallant hero. He was everything she ever wanted in a husband. He certainly knows how to explain himself, she thought.

Once back in his room at the tavern, fatigue took over from adrenaline. Felipe helped Diego change clothes. Then he helped him into bed. Diego was asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow. Felipe loved taking care of Diego. It made him feel he was helping to repay the debt he owed for his life.

I'm so relieved, Felipe thought. He sighed as watched Diego sleep a moment. I was so worried. He was so ill, yet he was so brave, trying very hard not to let on he was so ill.

Felipe rolled up Zorro's things and hid them in a cloth bag, then climbed out the window. He would take Toronado back to the cave and wait until Diego and his father came home.

After siesta, Victoria saw Alejandro talking with a couple other caballeros, and watched for her chance to talk with him. Within a couple of minutes, Alejandro separated himself from them, and looked up towards Diego's room, the concerned look returning to his face.

Victoria saw that look, and walked towards him. "Don Alejandro, is everything all right?"

Alejandro shifted his gaze to the young woman coming towards him from behind the counter. "Oh, I'm a little worried about that son of mine. He's acting very strangely, and I think he must be really ill."

Victoria put her hand under his arm in 'escort' fashion. "Don Alejandro, would you take a walk outside with me a moment?"

Alejandro looked at her strangely, but said, "Certainly, my dear."

Victoria guided him through the kitchen and out the back door. No one was around. "Don Alejandro, I know you're concerned about Diego, but I think he's going to be all right. In fact, I'm sure of it."

"How can you be so sure? Do you know something I don't?" Alejandro looked at her somewhat suspiciously.

"I think if we put out heads together, we can figure out some things." Victoria was ready to tell Alejandro of her suspicions.

"All right. Since you brought me out here, you go first."

"Before dawn this morning, I ran into Zorro coming to the tavern. He told me he'd been poisoned by Colonel Palomarez, but he was working on a plan to get the antidote. He said and he Diego had both been up all night working on presenting the forgery case at the hearing. Zorro said he had gathered the evidence Diego needed and was giving it to him. But he also said he had to be somewhere before he was missed. Zorro was very, very dizzy, and had trouble standing without assistance.

"A short time later, Diego came down for a cup of coffee, and he fumbled the cup, spilling it all over his hands – and my table. He said he hadn't slept, worried about the hearing, but he didn't mention Zorro. And you had told me he'd gone to bed before dark last night."

Alejandro said, "I knew something was the matter with Diego. I've never seen him like this before, but he won't talk to me or tell me anything. I also thought I saw something in his room, but I can't be sure of that. But are you saying that you think Diego was suffering from the same thing Zorro was suffering from? Which you said – was – poison? That Zorro told you he had been poisoned?"

"Yes, that's what Zorro told me. And I think it's possible, I suppose, and yet, I don't know. They're just so different. Sometimes I look at Diego and I think it's impossible that Diego could be Zorro.

"Don Alejandro – Zorro visited me again just a short while ago. He said he was fine and that Diego would be fine after he got a good night's sleep. That's why I believe Diego will be all right. Zorro said so."

Alejandro smiled, as he looked at Victoria. "Well, let's give him a chance to explain himself, but if he chooses not to, we'll just have to let it drop – and never let him think we suspect anything."

They went inside. Later that day, the de la Vegas reclaimed their hacienda.

A few days later, Alejandro and Sergeant Mendoza carried in the new window panels from where Zorro had thrown himself out the window to get away. Diego was working with loosening a broken glass part of the old panel, when his hand slipped, and he cut his right index finger on a jagged end. "Ow!" He flicked his hand up and away from the glass as if he'd been burned instead of cut.

He sat down and held his finger to his mouth trying to stop the bleeding. It didn't bleed much, but a glass cut can be somewhat painful. He knew he could 'milk' this for all it was worth – just to perpetuate the 'weak' Diego. He felt his father had gotten too close to the truth this week. He didn't want his father to hang alongside him should he ever be found out.

Alejandro said, "Diego please, let us handle it."

He had been worried about Diego, but after his talk with Victoria, he felt a lot better. He asked Diego for an explanation later, but couldn't get any more information out of him, so he let the matter drop. All right son, whatever you say, he thought.

As Sergeant Mendoza brought in another window panel, he said, "The colonel didn't take very good care of your house."

Alejandro stated, "He's gone, that's all that matters."

Mendoza confirmed it. "Our courier saw Palomarez and his men riding south." Then, he looked at Diego, believing that he would somehow know, because he knew before. "I hope he's not coming back."

Diego said with conviction, "I don't think we'll hear from Colonel Palomarez again."

His father asked, "What makes you so sure, Diego?"

Diego sucked on his finger a moment, then answered, "Well, I read about a similar case history in one – one of my behavioral books."

Alejandro looked skeptical. I know there's something you're not telling me. I wish you would tell me what it is. You couldn't have presented that forgery case just from having read a book or two. You argued point-by-point, you could only have known if you had taken time to examine that document closely. And your illness…you can't fool me, son. But since you don't want to tell me, I won't be able to pry it out of you.

Diego replied, "Oh, you can learn a lot of things from books."

Alejandro continued to look skeptical. What is it with Diego and books? he thought.

Diego just smiled a half-crack smile, and still held his cut finger, pretending it hurt worse than it did. It's all right Father. I know what you're thinking. I just can't tell you how I did it right now. Maybe sometime later…when we are free and safe from tyranny and oppression.

THE END

-17-