Chapter 7 – The speech

The plaza was more than crowded when Victoria was led to the gallows. She had not been sleeping the last night and looked very tired. Diego, his father and other friends had been visiting her, but they were not able to release her of her fear. Diego had tried to encourage her, but she could not see a way out of the dilemma. It was either her or Zorro to die this day. She was still grateful for his efforts and his support.

Diego had accompanied his father to the plaza. Don Alejandro had been talking to the caballeros and wanted to rally them for Victoria's support.

Don Alejandro was pleased that his son had finally decided to stand at his fathers side instead of hiding behind his books. For the special occasion he also wore a sword to complete his caballero outfit.

Diego had never been this nervous. He hoped the people of Los Angeles were finally standing up against the alcalde. It had happened only once before when the alcalde Ramone wanted to extract money from the people for the water in plaza. But would they stand up for Victoria as well?

He had talked to the peasants he had helped as Zorro and many had promised to come to the plaza and support Victoria. There were even some lancers whose life Zorro had saved on one or the other encounter with bandits. Would it be enough?

He had looked at the sword at his belt; since he couldn't wear Zorro's priced saber in the open, he had to take one of his fathers swords. He would turn himself in to save Victoria, but not without a good fight.

De Soto was surprised by the crowd that had come to Victoria's hanging. He had expected many people to come and watch, but not this many. There hardly seemed to be anyone left who hadn't come. Even the peasants seemed to have abandoned their farms today.

"I demand you to release Senorita Escalante, alcalde," he heard Don Diego saying. "The woman is innocent. She has done nothing wrong."

Surprised that it was the shy Don Diego de la Vega who had begun to speak, he turned to him slowly.

"Have you finally found some bone in your back de la Vega? You surprise me. I think we had this discussion some days before in my office. Nothing has changed since. If you want to start a revolt you are free to join your Senorita at the gallows. Do you want that?"

"Well, of course not." Diego replied retreating, "but have you asked the people who have come today? Did you read Zorro's letter in The Guardian?"

"Of course I have read the letter. I compliment you for publishing it. I was the best news I had in days. Today I can finally rid myself of Zorro by either hanging him or Senorita Escalante. One way or the other he will be gone from Los Angeles and I can leave this rotten nest and return to Madrid."

"Do you think the people here want Zorro to be gone? Alcalde, I know I can't change your mind. But don't you think it would look better on your report if the Senorita had a trial? Would you mind if I said some words in the Senorita's defense? Then you can say she had a kind of trial."

Without waiting for the alcalde's reply Diego stepped on the gallows and turned to the gathered crowd.

"Do you think the alcalde is right by hanging this woman? I believe Zorro when he says that he will no longer fight for you if you let this happen. Zorro has never killed anybody but has helped many of you in the recent years. Where would you be now without him or Senorita Escalante? I'm no fighter as Zorro is but for what he has done for Los Angeles he has my deepest gratitude."

Victoria looked Diego with respect. It was the first time in years that Diego had shown so much passion. She remembered the speech he had given to the King's Emissary when she had accompanied him to Santa Paula. He had seemed to be a different person then much more like the man who had defended her the first evening after his return from Spain.

Diego continued his speech by reminding the gathered crowd of the help they had received from Victoria or Zorro. He addressed several of the peasant and caballeros as well as the soldiers directly. The crowd listened in total silence to his every word. He showed them their lives and their future without Zorro. It took Victoria some time to understand what Diego was doing.

Diego was fighting for her with his words as much as Zorro had been fighting for her with his sword by playing with their feelings and hopes, slowly changing the mood of the people and gathering them on Victoria's and Zorro's side. He continued his speech several minutes captivating the crowd with every single word until he came to an end.

"The future of this woman is not in my hand, neither is yours. It is up to you now how your own future will look like. Decide between hope and despair not only for this woman but for yourself." There was a moment of stunned silence after he finished.

"I think Don Diego that is quite enough," the alcalde broke the silence. "One more word and you will hang besides Senorita Escalante. I give Zorro one final chance to turn himself in."

"No!" came a voice somewhere from the crowd. "We need Zorro. Release the Senorita. Release her."

The whole crowd was shouting now. "Release her!" They were pushing forward toward the gallows.

"Lancers!" the alcalde shouted. "Shoot them."

"Alcalde, there are too many, we can't shoot them all," Mendoza said. "We cannot shoot on our own people. And Don Diego is right, Victoria Escalante is innocent. It would be wrong to hang her."

"Shoot them", the alcalde commanded again, but the lancers made no move. They knew they didn't have the chance against the mob even if they wanted to shoot. In part they also agreed with Don Diego and remembered the help from Zorro Diego had reminded them of. When the alcalde realized that he was defeated, he turned round and went to his office. The crowd was cheering when Mendoza freed Victoria from her manacles and Don Diego led her from the gallows to the tavern.