Chapter 5
After twenty minutes of searching the area to find tracks to follow, Alejandro ordered his men to gather what belongings were left. "All right, the only trail in the area headed east. Someone find Felipe and let's get a move on."
The vaqueros looked around uncertainly. One by one they shook their heads at Miguel. The lead vaquero bit the bullet and spoke up. "Patron? We…we can't seem to find him…And Emilio is gone."
"What!? He rode off!?" Alejandro angrily threw the reigns across Dulcinea's neck and mounted in a huff. Before he could issue more instructions, he heard a horse approaching fast. He turned his mount to see Mendoza flying across the field to the south of the stream towards the search party.
"Don Alejandro! Wait! Wait! Please!"
Alejandro rode out to meet him, wondering what could possibly have the man so flustered.
"Madre de Dios, Don Alejandro. I've been looking everywhere for you. Don Diego's been kidnapped! I'm so glad I found you!"
"How do you know this Sergeant?"
"My patrol saw him being taken away. They are tracking the banditos now. I am on my way to the garrison to get reinforcements."
"You saw him? Was he all right?" Alejandro practically ripped his head off when he didn't respond. "Answer me, Sergeant! WAS HE ALL RIGHT?!"
"He…he was draped over the back of his horse. I am not sure Don Alejandro, really. We never saw him up close. By the time we did see them, they were half a mile away. They rode over the ridge and they were already out of sight. I ordered my men to keep searching and mark their trail so we can follow. I'm sorry, senor. I wish I had better news."
"You'd better hurry back to the cuartel. We'll meet up with the rest of your patrol."
"Si. Bueno suerte, Don Alejandro."
ZZZ
Diego couldn't decide what was worse: being knocked unconscious or becoming conscious again. He'd never really had the opportunity to reflect on it before since he was usually the one knocking people out in the pueblo. Very rarely was he ever the one knocked out, and even then Tornado was usually responsible.
It seemed he was making up for that today in spades.
They'd brought him to a cave at the far end of Diablo Canyon. He'd been unconscious when they dragged him inside, but he recognized it well enough. Every once in a while he'd taken shelter in the same spot during a storm when the lancers had chased him too far from his typical path home to the hacienda.
What he wouldn't give for Tornado to be with him right now. He sighed and shifted uncomfortably. They'd left him bound and gagged on his stomach. While he was certainly grateful that they hadn't forced him to lie in what would have been a very awkward position on his back, his insides burned with every breath as his bruised chest pressed against the rocky ground. He was fairly certain he had at least one cracked rib, if not two.
Zorro would likely be on holiday for at least a week after this.
He couldn't see his captors as they'd left him facing the back of the cave away from the fire they'd built near the entrance. Perhaps at the very least he could loosen the gag enough to slide it down below his chin and ease his breathing. For the next few minutes he was so focused on his task he didn't hear Jose approach the cave. Jose's voice suddenly filled the enclosed space nearly making Diego turn around.
"I destroyed all the tracks. They won't find us."
Diego worked a little harder at the gag. Dios, please, he prayed, just give me one chance, one opportunity to escape.
"How's the caballero doing?"
"Just fine." Paco muttered, half asleep in the corner. "Should have put that gag on him in the first place." Paco watched as Jose grabbed a canteen and headed for Diego. "What are you doing?"
"He has to drink doesn't he? Well, well, well. You're certainly not going to make this easy for us are you senor? Have a look at this Paco! He's nearly worked the gag free! Allow me." Jose pulled the gag down and didn't miss the deep breath Diego immediately pulled into his lungs.
Paco stood up angrily and walked out of the cave.
"Tsk, tsk. You made him mad," Jose taunted Diego. He roughly pulled Diego's hair and forced the canteen to his lips. Diego accepted the drink gratefully despite the harsh treatment. Who knew when they'd decide he deserved another? He was starting to reconsider allowing his father to give him fencing lessons. It might be worth the aggravation if he could justify riding around Los Angeles armed with a saber. As things stood now, his father would probably never allow him to leave his room, let alone the hacienda, again after this.
Diego almost choked as Jose roughly pulled the canteen away and jerked his head forward. Paco suddenly reappeared carrying more rope, twine, and a short but sturdy stick.
"Tie his feet." Paco took out his knife and began stripping the bark off the stick.
Jose smirked, but followed the order. "Where's he going to go, Paco?"
"I'd rather spend an extra five minutes securing him now than lose ten thousand pesos later if you don't mind."
Diego's eyes widened. "Ten thousand? You're not serious?"
Paco brandished the knife he was holding and paused briefly in his task. "Don't I look serious, senor?"
"The King isn't even worth that much. Certainly no man in the territory is." Not even Zorro, he realized, and would have laughed at the irony if he weren't in such a dangerous situation.
"From what I hear up North, you're related to him. Perhaps the King will offer to pay it for you," Paco answered, his voice heavy with sarcasm. He noted Jose's progress than said, "Connect it to his arms." He also noted the glare he was receiving from Diego as Jose prepared another length of rope.
"Unless you want to be hunted down for murder, I suggest you release me. My father will follow you to the ends –"
"Enough!" Paco threw down his knife and held up the now clean stick. "Do it!" He yelled at Jose.
Jose grabbed Diego's feet and forced his legs to bend at the knees and slipped the new loop over his ankles. He pulled the loop tight and then tied another slipknot to the branch securing Diego's arms. Diego grunted as the extra weight from his ankles put an immense amount of pressure on both his wounded arm and his wrists. He was already breathing heavily. The way he was tied now, the harder he pulled his feet and arms apart, the tighter the knots would become. If he tried to relax in the opposite direction, his muscles pained and cramped so badly he had to stop.
Diego grunted again against the pain. It was going to take a minor miracle for him to get out of this alive.
"Paco, enough," Luiz interjected. "He can hardly breathe. We can't get the ransom if he's dead."
Paco let out a heavy, unhappy sigh and grabbed the rope away from Jose. He cut one more piece. He slid the rope under Diego's legs and pulled the ends to tie around his ankles.
"There. Satisfied?"
Diego's knees objected to the sudden mistreatment, but the new position was far less painful. He was even prepared to offer a small measure of thanks when Paco took advantage of the moment and forced the stick he'd cleaned between his teeth. He coughed instinctively, but couldn't turn his head fast enough to maneuver out of Paco's grasp before the bandito secured the stick to his head with the twine.
"Paco!" Luiz was now staring at Diego in open sympathy.
Paco whirled on his friend. "I want that money!" He screamed loudly, causing dust to fall from the ceiling. "We only have to keep him long enough to collect the ransom. But make no mistake, my friend. Nothing is going to stand between those ten thousand pesos and us. Nothing."
Diego held his head up defiantly for a moment before his body couldn't handle the strain any longer. He dropped his head lightly to the ground and silently prayed for a miracle.
ZZZ
Felipe had long ago given up following any tracks Diego's captors had left behind. They had skirted around the ravine and he'd been able to follow for quite some time, but it was obvious now that they'd been brushed over, and the wind cutting across the wide open plain had finished the job.
The future Don suddenly realized that he was near Diablo Canyon. It was the perfect place to hide, he reflected. It was off the main route coming to and from the pueblo, and unless you were a lancer chasing Zorro, hardly anyone had business out this way.
He glanced at the sun and scowled at it in dismay. Noon was only a few hours away. He wondered if Alejandro would take the money to the bridge. His heart told him yes, he'd do anything to save his son, but then his brain reminded him how angry he'd been at Diego yesterday. First there was that incident at the tavern, and then there had been no denying the disappointment on his face when Felipe had arrived at the hacienda with the ransom note.
If only Diego thought it was safe to tell Father the truth.
After Gilberto had died, Felipe had thought for sure Diego was going to tell them the truth in the plaza. He couldn't have been more shocked when Diego announced his intention to adopt him. Felipe had been foolishly relieved at the time. Now, he'd give anything for Don Alejandro to know the truth…If only so he would treat Diego with the respect the man deserved.
He pulled back on the reigns and Emilio paused near the rim of the canyon. Felipe shuddered as he eyed the place Zorro had been buried under a rockslide. He didn't want to think about what would have happened to the family if just one thing had turned out differently that day.
Felipe shook his head to clear his thoughts. He had to stay focused. 'Focus and patience will win every battle,' Diego had told him…He still had so much to learn…
He glanced around as the distinctive sound of a horse whinny bounced off the rocks. Felipe dismounted and, urging Emilio to be quiet, tied the horse's reigns to a branch and started walking around the rim of the canyon. Felipe hid behind a bush as the sound echoed again. He thought the sound was coming from the west end of the canyon, but he couldn't be sure. West, he knew, was where the cave that Zorro and Tornado often used to take shelter before venturing home. What luck if that was indeed where the banditos were holding Diego.
As silent as the Fox himself, Felipe carefully made his way around the next outcropping of rocks and looked down at the entrance to the cave. There, standing like a beacon of hope, was Esperanza tied near three other mounts.
Diego's horse! I've found them!
Felipe jumped up to rush the entrance and almost immediately sank back to the ground behind the bush. What was he thinking? He couldn't go in there alone. There were three of them. Diego was most certainly hurt, so he couldn't count on him to help. He glanced at the pocket watch Diego had given him the day he'd announced the adoption.
They still had several hours before the deadline, and he had the fastest horse in the territory. Except for Tornado, of course. He'd ride back in the direction of the pueblo and get help. It was the only way to ensure Diego's safety with the banditos holed up in that cave. He made it back to Emilio, mounted swiftly, and was off like the wind.
Not twenty minutes later, he ran into the patrol Mendoza had left to search for Don Diego, and to his immense relief, Don Alejandro was with them. He clapped frantically to get their attention.
Alejandro whirled around in his saddle and ordered everyone to a halt once he saw his future son approaching. "Halto!" He rode a few paces to meet Felipe. "What on Earth were you thinking riding off by yourself! I've been worried sick! What if they had found--"
Felipe ignored the older man's rant and started signing chaotically. Hopefully someone in the group would be able to keep up.
Don Alejandro had calmed somewhat when he realized Felipe had something important to tell them, and was now watching Felipe with rapt attention and translating out loud for the rest of the group. "Diego? You found Diego?!"
Felipe nodded excitedly.
"Where?...To the North…the ravine?...No…The canyon? Which one Felipe?"
Felipe held his hands to his head to simulate horns.
"Diablo Canyon?"
Felipe snapped his fingers and pointed, nodding an enthusiastic yes. In a cave, he finished. With a wave of his hand to the others, he turned his horse and set out, not even bothering to see if they were in fact following him.
"To Diablo Canyon!" Alejandro yelled to the men. "Vamos!"