Chapter 4

Bernardo found his master in the secret passage and signed he was eager to find out what Guerrero wanted. The mute had noticed whatever had been said had had an effect on his friend, but he couldn't imagine what was being said. Don Alejandro had insisted on escorting Padre Felipe back to the mission. He, too, had wondered what the lieutenant had had to say to Diego.

Diego watched Bernardo's signs intently and then sighed, leaning casually against the wall. "There's not much to say, Bernardo. Lieutenant Guerrero knows Manuel... de la Fuente." Bernardo's eyes went wide with surprise. "He saw the champion swords above the fireplace. Now you know why I didn't want to bring any kind of trophies here. You should have thrown them overboard just like I told you to."

Bernardo narrowed his eyes and shrugged. Diego smiled and put a hand on the mozo's shoulder. "I know you meant no harm. I'm equally to blame because I let my father talk me into putting them on display. I should have known sooner or later someone would know where they are from. But we will figure something out." He paused briefly, studying Bernardo's worried expression.

"As things are the lieutenant remembered Manuel had told him a friend of his named Diego, from California, had won the rapiers back to back. Denying it was me would have been foolish."

Bernardo still looked about wistfully at Diego but then signed a few sequences ending with a Z. "No, he doesn't connect me with Zorro. Our trick in the pueblo the other day worked on him. It's a pity Monastario is still on the conspiracy path. But what I didn't mention yet, Bernardo, is that Guerrero wants to fence with me." The manservant scratched his head, worrying his receding locks. Then he looked at Diego, signed a sword and shrugged.

"I don't know, yet. I can't fight clumsily. He knows Manuel, so he surely has fenced with him. If I beat Manuel for the trophy, I can't pretend I don't know how to fence over here. You know Manuel was one of my toughest opponents in Madrid. It's just good that he agreed to fight in private. I don't need any more witnesses, you know." Diego chuckled briefly and Bernardo nodded his agreement. Then he signed another question.

"No, my friend, I don't know yet when I will set the joust. I will see when it is convenient."

***ZzZ***

"Time is running out, Guerrero," Monastario growled as he paced up and down in the cuartel. "If I can't capture Zorro soon, El Sigilo will have my neck. This de la Vega scion is full of tricks. I know he is Zorro. But I can't prove it."

"Now what makes you so sure it is him? Even if he is as good a fighter as you think he is, he can't be in two places at the same time." Guerrero didn't want to share his knowledge about Diego de la Vega with the capitán for fear he'd only spur on Monastario's obsession. "And I, for my part, have seen Don Diego at the same time as Zorro. There's no way he could appear in the plaza while Zorro was still riding in view unless he is not Zorro."

"You're a fool, Guerrero. I just told you, that man is a trickster. If anyone can pull off a stunt such as that, it is him. Who knows who he had riding in his place? Maybe his deaf and dumb friend helped him. Or his father."

"But the Zorro riding through the plaza was neither the mozo nor Don Alejandro. And it can't have been Don Diego either." Guerrero was getting annoyed with his superior. "And as Padre Felipe stated at the hacienda, he couldn't have been in the library writing a letter if he was still being chased as Zorro by Sergeant Garcia."

"Don't ever underestimate de la Vega, Guerrero," Monastario said.

"Yet you seem to underestimate Zorro all the time, mi capitán," Guerrero replied testily.

"Don't try my patience, Lieutenant," Monastario growled. "But, since you mentioned the padre, you've given me an idea. I believe I can still catch the fox."

Guerrero walked over to lean against the banister. "How?" he asked.

"The good padre has been trying to aid Zorro ever since this whole charade started. Even now he'd rather lie to protect the man than to let him face justice."

"Lie, Capitán? He's a priest."

Monastario glowered at his subordinate. "I don't care if he's a priest. De la Vega, Zorro, whatever you want to call the man, he's got everyone wrapped around his little finger. Even the priest. But, Zorro's weakness is that he cares too much for the people. If I arrest the padre, he'll feel compelled to free him."

"On what grounds would you arrest Padre Felipe?" Guerrero sounded exasperated.

"He's helped to protect an outlaw, and not for the first time."

"But only the comandante can order the arrest," Guerrero interjected.

"Just leave that to me, Lieutenant. Rather check if that idiot of a sergeant drills the men thoroughly. Ándale!"

***ZzZ***

Two days later, Monastario left Comandante de Cordoba's office grinning like a Cheshire cat. He strode over to the stables where Sergeant Garcia was dozing in a chair, holding his siesta.

"Attention!" Monastario called.

Garcia started and scrambled up to salute. "Sí, mi capitán."

"Sergeant Garcia, gather some men and take them to the mission."

"The mission, mi capitán?" Garcia asked.

"Sí. Have you become deaf?"

"No, mi capitán. But what do we want at the mission?"

"You will arrest Padre Felipe for aiding the bandit called Zorro." Monastario's grin lingered.

"Arrest Padre Felipe? Surely you are joking, mi capitán," Garcia gasped.

"Do I look like I'm joking, sergeant?"

"No, mi capitán," Garcia hastened to say, shaking his head vigorously.

"If I hear one more mi capitán I will have you share the padre's cell after you've brought him here," Monastario growled.

"Sí, mi...," Garcia caught himself, saluted and rushed off to gather his men. A short time later, a small group of lancers exited the cuartel, headed to the mission.

***ZzZ***

Diego de la Vega was stepping out of the tavern when Garcia returned with Padre Felipe in chains. He had met up with Lieutenant Guerrero to invite him to the promised joust at the hacienda for the afternoon. His father would be away, which was convenient as he had decided not to tell him everything about the conversation with Guerrero, to keep him from worrying too much. Seeing the padre being brought in as prisoner made Diego's stomach churn. He'd love to call off the joust, but feared it would only serve to make the lieutenant suspicious.

"Sergeant Garcia," Diego called. "What on earth are you bringing Padre Felipe in for?"

"Don Diego," the sergeant replied sadly. "Capitán Monastario ordered his arrest for helping Zorro."

"This is ridiculous, Sergeant," Diego said, but the padre chimed in.

"I wish I could claim to have helped Zorro, Don Diego. I believe the capitán is merely setting up another trap for him. I hope Zorro doesn't fall for it."

"Trap or not, Padre, I cannot let Monastario put you in jail. I will have a talk with him." Diego started to walk towards the garrison but Sergeant Garcia urged his horse into his path.

"Please, Don Diego. Don't. Monastario won't be deterred. He'd only lock you up alongside the padre." Garcia's voice had a pleading tone to it. "I don't think your father would approve of that."

Diego glanced at Padre Felipe who smiled at the young don and nodded reassuringly. "I will be fine, my son. I'm sure everything will turn out for the best."

"If you insist," Diego replied, putting on an air of reluctance. Then he bowed to the padre and turned to head for his horse. Watching Garcia and the others disappear into the cuartel, Diego sighed and joined Bernardo, who pretended being busy with the horse's saddle. Catching his mozo's gaze, Diego nodded towards the garrison.

"You heard?" he whispered. Bernardo confirmed and then shrugged.

"I don't know yet. Let's go home. I will come up with a plan."

***ZzZ***

Around the time of the angelus, Lieutenant Guerrero arrived at the de la Vega hacienda. He was welcomed by Bernardo, who led him into the patio, where everything had been prepared for the upcoming fencing match. Diego had seen to it that no servants would be around to disturb them. Guerrero eyed the champion sword that Bernardo had put out for Diego to handle when he heard footsteps on the patio stairs. Looking up, he saw the young de la Vega strolling down towards him.

"Ah, Lieutenant," Diego greeted, walking up swiftly.

"Don Diego," Guerrero nodded in acknowledgement.

"Can I offer you some refreshments before we start?"

"Gracias, but no. I'm afraid I'm expected back at the cuartel sooner rather than later. As you might know, Capitán Monastario has a very important guest whom he wants me to guard this evening."

"Ah, yes. I've seen the padre being brought in. He believes it's another trap for Zorro."

"I can but confirm this. I just hope Zorro won't fall for it." Guerrero said.

"Why is that, Lieutenant? Aren't you supposed to want to catch outlaws?" Diego was genuinely curious.

"Sí. But I'm not so sure about this case, Señor. However, if you don't mind, let us begin. I wouldn't want to get in the capitán's bad books just yet."

"Alright, as you wish, Lieutenant." Diego went to take off his chaqueta and rolled up his sleeves. Bernardo handed him the sword he had last used aboard the ship that brought him back to California, before he had been forced to create Zorro.

The two men positioned themselves vis à vis and saluted. Bernardo then dropped a handkerchief, signaling the beginning of the fight. Diego took a defensive stance, determined to let the lieutenant come at him. Maybe this way he could fight without having to use the fox's skills.

Circling slightly, Guerrero offered some testing lunges, which Diego parried effortlessly. A smile began to form on the young don's face as the joust picked up pace with both men lunging and parrying. Guerrero was good with the blade, possibly on par with Monastario, who had been the biggest challenge to Zorro. Diego began enjoying himself and started a series of attacks, which made Guerrero retreat up to the wall before launching a counter attack, which Diego nimbly deflected.

"I can see you live up to Manuel's bragging," Guerrero gasped, catching his breath.

"He's never been known for much modesty," Diego replied, grinning. "En garde?"

"En garde!" Guerrero resumed the fight and the moves became more complex, more intense. He attacked with a feint which Diego managed to catch and counter before bringing some distance between them by retreating. Smiling, he then lunged into another attack, forcing Guerrero to parry, when all of a sudden the patio door opened.

"Diego!" Alejandro's authoritative voice boomed across the patio, startling his son. Guerrero, who had just started a counter attack, detected his opponent's distraction a split second too late and his outstretched sword slashed Diego along his left collarbone. Sucking air into his lungs at the sudden, unexpected pain, Diego's reflexive flick of the sword sent Guerrero's saber flying through the air.

"What is the meaning of this?" Don Alejandro demanded, drawing his own sword as he approached.

"Father, it's nothing. Put that sword away. The lieutenant and I were merely fighting for sport," Diego tried to calm his father.

"For sport? Then why are you wounded?" Alejandro stared at the crimson line coloring his son's white shirt.

"You distracted me and I missed my defence." Diego smiled wryly.

"A thousand apologies, Señor," Guerrero all but stammered. "I never meant to hurt you, Don Diego. I shall send the doctor to look at your wound."

"Nonsense, Lieutenant. It's merely a scratch. Bernardo can deal with it later. Father, Lieutenant Guerrero is a friend of Manuel de la Fuente, as I told you. He asked me for a friendly joust."

"We decided to do it in the privacy of your hacienda, so the capitán won't become even more obsessed with the silly notion that Don Diego could be Zorro. It's too bad he still believes it, even after he's practically seen your son and Zorro next to each other." Guerrero shook his head, laughing. "Are you certain you're alright, Don Diego?"

"Sí, Lieutenant."

"Then, with your permission, I think I'd better return to the cuartel. Buenas noches, Señores."

Alejandro stared at Guerrero as he retrieved his saber and left. Then he rushed to his son's side to convince himself that his son indeed suffered only a scratch. Diego allowed his father's fussing as he sent Bernardo for bandages.

"You're lucky, my son. It's more than a scratch but not much. It's good you were not fighting a duel. Since when do you get distracted so easily?"

"Believe me, it would not have happened had I been Zorro. Zorro is always prepared for surprises. Diego isn't. I thought this was a secure joust which would stay undisturbed. But, as things are, I've got a marvelous idea." Grinning, he nodded for Bernardo to follow him to his room, leaving his father to stand on the patio.

***ZzZ***

The next morning, a sleepy Sergeant Garcia made his way from the tavern back to the cuartel, just ahead of Colonel de Cordoba and Capitán Monastario. Garcia had stood guard all night with Lieutenant Guerrero, but Zorro had not come. On the one hand, he was glad that the masked man had not set foot into the trap. On the other hand, he was almost disappointed that Zorro had not defied all odds once more to free the padre.

Crossing the plaza, Garcia turned when he heard the comandante behind him gasp. Before he had completed his turn, his eyes lit up as he recognized a familiar black shadow holding de Cordoba at gunpoint.

"Make no sudden moves, capitán, or your comandante gets a bullet in his gut." Zorro's voice was menacing and even Monastario didn't dare to make any rash movements. He just took a step back and turned towards Zorro, who was pressing a pistol into de Cordoba's midriff. "Remove your firearm and throw it in the well."

Monastario grudgingly complied. "What do you want, Zorro?"

"It's good that you ask, Capitán. I want to trade Padre Felipe's freedom for the colonel's life. Sergeant Garcia, would you be so kind to also drop your pistol into the well." As the sergeant complied, Zorro slowly directed his hostage towards the other side of the well. "Gracias, Sergeant. Now go into the cuartel and have Lieutenant Guerrero bring out Padre Felipe. And have him leave his pistol and sword inside the cuartel!"

Garcia hastened to follow Zorro's instructions. All the while Monastario's hand itched to draw his saber but a warning glance from Zorro, accompanied by the pistol being pressed harder into de Cordoba's ribs, made the capitán abandon his thoughts. A few minutes later, Guerrero appeared, making a show of being unarmed. He was followed by Padre Felipe and Sergeant Garcia.

"Stop right there, Sergeant," Zorro ordered. "Now get back in the cuartel and bar the gates."

The sergeant hurried to obey and soon the heavy bar sliding in place could be heard. By now, a handsome group of citizens had gathered in the plaza, keeping a respectful distance to the center.

"Padre Felipe, please go to your friend where you are safe." Zorro turned towards Guerrero. "Lieutenant, as soon as the padre has reached a safe haven I will release the comandante into your custody. And we, Monastario, shall settle once and for all what I think of your methods to get a hold of me. I will give you a chance in a fair fight. If you win, you'll hang me. If I win, you leave California for good. This land is not big enough for both of us."

"I promise you, Señor Zorro, tonight we shall see what color your blood runs. Maybe we won't need a hanging after all," Monastario sneered.

"Padre," Zorro said, nodding towards the priest, who started walking past them.

"Please, Señor Zorro, don't sacrifice yourself for me. You are still needed in California."

"Don't worry, Padre," Zorro said reassuringly, flashing the priest his famous smile. "Colonel, join the lieutenant and keep still. This fight is just between the capitán and myself. En garde!" Zorro shoved the bewildered officer towards his lieutenant and drew his sword in one smooth move, tossing his pistol aside after letting it discharge harmlessly into the air.

Monastario copied his stance and drew his saber. The men began circling each other, each one looking for an opening in the other's defence. With a low growl, Monastario suddenly charged at Zorro and kicked off the fiercest sword fight the citizens of Los Angeles could remember.

Sword and saber clashed violently as each man parried the onslaught of the other. Some spectators would later swear they saw sparks flying. Zorro backed Monastario up against the well only to be pushed back by a flurry of attacks by the capitán. After a few intense minutes, it showed that Zorro had the better stamina. The trademark smile appeared on the masked face and he began toying with the capitán.

After sidestepping a vicious lunge again, Zorro circled around quickly, his blade moving fast as lightning on the seat of Monastario's trousers. A couple of spectators spontaneously shouted olé, which infuriated the humiliated capitán even more. Zorro smiled, seeing that he had his adversary exactly where he wanted him. Concentrating on Monastario's next lunge, Zorro retreated only partially, allowing the capitán's blade to slice his shirt in a near identical spot as Guerrero's saber had the previous day.

It was a close call to make, considering that Monastario, unlike Guerrero, had been aiming to kill. It took every bit of Zorro's skill to only allow the blade to tear through the fabric exactly where he wanted it to. Gasping as if he'd been hit, Zorro quickly retreated, clasping his sword hand briefly across the allegedly injured shoulder.

Monastario's eyes lit up and he shouted out his delight. With renewed confidence, he feinted and attacked again, but this time his thrust was met full force by Zorro and Monastario's saber went flying across the plaza in two pieces. Stunned, the capitán stared at his broken saber and Zorro's blade marked his shoulder with another Z.

"It would seem you have lost, Capitán. I give you two days to leave, before I will find and kill you." Zorro spoke with a vehemence the people had rarely heard from him. Monastario's contrite look was short lived however, as he noticed the hole in Zorro's shirt and a crimson line underneath it. Despite himself, Monastario grinned.

"If I don't kill you first. I got you now, de la Vega. You've been wounded. By my blade. You can't talk yourself out of this one."

Flashing a smile, Zorro whistled for his stallion and mounted Tornado in full flight. The crowd parted in awe and anxiousness and Zorro reared his black steed at the edge of the plaza.

"For the last time, Monastario, you are mistaken. De la Vega and I are not the same. You've got forty-eight hours to leave. Adios, my friends!" Saluting the people with his sword, Zorro turned Tornado and raced his horse out of town, heading in the direction opposite the de la Vega hacienda.

The plaza lay in stunned silence for a few long moments. Then life returned to it full force. The people cheered and Monastario shouted for his lancers to ride out to the de la Vega rancho. Sergeant Garcia hastened to open the cuartel gates again, way too slow for the capitán's liking. It took several minutes before a posse including Monastario, Guerrero, Garcia and even the colonel could fight its way through the crowd that now had gathered in front of the gates.

***ZzZ***

Diego de la Vega was just moving a pawn on a staged game of chess with his father when the thundering noise of rapidly approaching horses announced the showdown. Exchanging a reassuring look with his father and Bernardo, Diego set down his pawn on the board just as the patio gate flew open and in poured the soldiers led by Monastario.

"There you are," Monastario snarled, walking up to the young de la Vega, who jumped up from his seat in surprise.

"What is the meaning of this intrusion, Colonel?" Alejandro addressed the commandante.

"I will show you the meaning of this, old man," Monastario sneered before de Cordoba could open his mouth. "I demand that your son take off his shirt."

"What? This is an imposition! My son will do no such thing!"

"I believe it would be better if he complied, Don Alejandro," de Cordoba took over the conversation, stepping in front of his capitán. "You see, Zorro has just paid us a visit, freed the padre and defeated Capitán Monastario with the sword."

"So I can see," Alejandro said, unable to hide his glee when he nodded at the Z on Monastario's uniform.

"Capitán Monastario in return managed to wound the bandit. You are aware he accuses your son of being the outlaw. If he can prove he bears no wound on his torso he will ultimately prove my capitán is wrong."

"This is outrageous! My son doesn't have to prove his innocence. If anything, Monastario should have to prove his guilt!" Alejandro's fury was only half acted.

"Father, there's no need to defy the comandante's wish. I will show that I don't bear any fresh wounds on me." Diego stepped up and unbuttoned his shirt.

"No, son. They have no right..." Alejandro aborted his words as his son rigorously shook his head.

"Let's get it over with," Diego said, shrugging out of his shirt and revealing a bandage on his left shoulder.

"Ha!" Monastario shouted in triumph, closing the distance to Diego to yank down the bandage revealing the sword cut. "This is it, Comandante. Here's your proof. De la Vega is Zorro! Arrest him!"

"Colonel de Cordoba," Lieutenant Guerrero stepped up to his superior. "This old wound only proves Diego de la Vega can't be Zorro. I, myself, inflicted this wound on him yesterday in a friendly joust. There are no fresh cuts and if you look closely, you will see it's not a recent wound."

De Cordoba stepped up to Diego, scrutinizing the slash. Nodding, he then retreated. "Lieutenant Guerrero is right. This is no wound that has been inflicted in the last thirty minutes. My humble apologies, Don Diego, Don Alejandro." With a bow and a movement of his head, the colonel ordered his lancers to leave.

"It is not you who needs to apologize, Comandante," Alejandro replied. Diego had a hard time to keep a straight face at Monastario's stunned muteness. As if in a trance, the capitán left the patio ahead of the lancers. Sergeant Garcia was the last soldier to leave. He smiled happily at his friend.

"I knew you could not be this Zorro, Don Diego," he said cheerfully and followed his lancers with a little wave of his hand.