Chapter 3: E.S.M.
Don Alejandro, Bernardo and Diego exchanged a glance.
"I will take benefit of my visit to the pueblo to interrogate the sergeant, and eventually los tenderos, about Isabella and her uncle. Maybe these initials are just a mere coincidence."
"I hope you will find good news, Son. Don't be late, I remind you of the dinner on this evening."
"I quickly will be back, Father. Bernardo, you come with me."
"Be careful, Diego... And drop your sword here; you will risk attracting attention." Smiled Don Alejandro.
"You're right, Father. What am I thinking of!"
"Maybe you're thinking about Salena." Jokes Don Alejandro which knew pertinently that his son had feelings for the señorita.
He had seen their relationship evolve, but nothing inappropriate in their behaviors was to be noted. Don Alejandro knew that his son had made justice his priority, and no doubt, unwillingly, he was denying his true feelings. Besides, if Salena knew his secret, like his son told him, she didn't show it. Diego felt exposed in front of the affirmation of his father, and felt reddening. Don Alejandro laughed out loud in front of the face of his son and gave him a pat on his back, making him then laugh.
Later, to the pueblo's tavern.
"Ah, Don Diego, I'm reassured. I was afraid you couldn't come."
"Come now, Sergeant, did I ever lack my word?"
"... No..."
"Did you see Doctor Avila?"
"Si, Don Diego. He took care of me... The cut was more important than I thought, but the doctor told me that it won't prevent me from riding or fighting."
"It's comforting to hear you tell, Sergeant."
"Tell me, Don Diego."
"Yes, Sergeant?"
"In your opinion, how could those men have known about the meeting?"
"I ignore it, Sergeant. Maybe the meeting was given away among our friends, or in our hacienda." Answered Diego with gravity.
"For what purpose?"
"Well, Sergeant, I can't answer you... Tell me, did you see Señora De la Cruz recently?"
"The last time I saw her... Well... that I have had some news about her, she was leaving for a journey with her uncle and little Diego."
"Oh... She's gone?"
"Yes, it's a vaquero named Pedro who told me about it. He is working for her since a short time."
"A vaquero? Dona Isabella took up cattle breeding, I didn't know it... On what occasion did this vaquero speak to you?" Asked Diego with interest.
The sergeant turned around, intriguing Diego even more. He looked around him and answered in a whisper, getting closer to him.
"I met Pedro ten days ago as I was on my way to see Cap... Señor Monastario, which wanted to converse with me. He had an important matter to pass on... I even found it strange that he suddenly left for a journey without having told me it..."
"And you didn't say a word to anybody else?"
"No, Don Diego." Answered the sergeant. "I didn't see any interest."
"Excuse my curiosity, but did Pedro tell you about the duration of this journey?"
"No... Why are your questions worrying me?"
"Oh... No doubt that I'm worried too and you are feeling it in my voice... One thing is sure, whatever the governor said, you reacted well earlier."
"You know, Don Diego... There is one thing which bothers me in this story."
"Which one?" Asked Diego.
"A short while before the bandits attacked us; one of them sneezed loudly... You will maybe laugh and tell me that all sneezes sound alike, but this one... It appeared to me strangely familiar."
Diego lifted up the eyebrow, puzzled.
"Somehow we could have believed it to be a warning." He added after a pause.
"Which seems unbelievable, indeed, Sergeant."
But I think I understand your confusion. He kept for himself.
"Don't worry, Sergeant, and let's drink a toast to the return of Capitán Toledano."
"To the capitán!" Garcia went on with cheerfulness.
...
At the foot of the sierra, some kilometers away from here, the bandits were going back to their camp.
"El Chivo, you will get a telling-off. El Lobo won't appreciate your falling back nor your failure."
The goatee man didn't pick up the remark and kept on his way in spite of his interior rage toward this man and El Lobo. When they arrived and dismounted, both men went closer to a cabin in front of which was waiting for them El Lobo. In the same time, the other bandits started to take care of their injured friends who managed to escape.
"Well, well, well, Yago! What a solemn face you're making! Our host would have failed then?" Asked El Lobo.
"Your host has had a hard time." Retorted the goatee man, haughtily.
"Señor! Change your tone with me or else!"
"Why don't you let them go?" Asked the goatee man, clenching his fists with rage.
"You know it well, Señor."
"El Chivo had the occasion to eliminate two officers... He let them alive." Made hear Yago.
"What about the viceroy?" Asked El Lobo.
"He is alive, too."
"The viceroy was well supported. He hadn't incompetent men at his side. The clumsiest swordsman of the pueblo taught you a lesson with a poker... Let me laugh." Enunciated El Chivo disdainfully and shooting Yago a black look.
Feeling insulted, Yago pounced on the man with a goatee. But he was no man to let him be manhandled and gave as good as he got, getting the upper hand on Yago... El Lobo looked at them a while, while a crowd was forming around both men. Encouraging cries for Yago were heard. When a female's cry resounded, the goatee man turned to the cabin, forgetting his opponent who took benefit of it in a cowardly manner.
"Leave her alone!" Exclaimed the goatee man before being hit on his head.
He fell down where Yago kept on hitting him cantankerously.
"Stop, por favor!" Begged the señora in spite of the pain she felt as El Lobo was holding her firmly by his right wrist.
El Lobo looked at her, letting Yago finish giving a beating to his host.
"Yago! Enough. He will have had his count today." Says El Lobo solemn before letting go of the señora.
"No folly, Señora. Don't forget I still have a card in hand." He whispered while she looked at him up and down.
'Free', the señora ran to the goatee man lying on the ground.
"Uncle Rique." She says by leaning to him.
This latter didn't answer, but looked at her a long time, giving a faint smile to see her safe, and at last in better form. The señora helped her uncle to stand up. He winced briefly under the amusing looks of the others bandits... A single one dared to come closer and propose his help.
"Con su permiso, Señora?"
The young woman looked at him and read sincerity in his eyes. Also, she discovered sadness, worry and fear. This man was afraid, not of her, but of El Lobo.
"Gracias, Señor." She retorted.
She allowed him to help the goatee man and hold him on his other side to walk to the cabin. Although groggy, El Chivo recognized the man. He had medical knowledge and had helped his niece just before their capture.
... On this day, to the señora's hacienda, there had been a fight, and if his niece hadn't been wounded by protecting her son, no doubt they could have managed to escape... El Lobo didn't appreciate the gesture of the shooter and had just as soon eliminated him. The señora interested him only if she stayed alive... for the moment. Although vile and cruel, El Lobo had his principles... The wound had got infected, causing fever and delirium. During those days, the little one was entrusted to his grand uncle. Too worried for his niece, he didn't try to escape in spite of his strong determination to leave as soon as possible. And the day before the meeting, the child had been moved next to his mother which was willing to see him. She had not recovered, but she had gone through a dangerous state. It was a great relief for El Lobo and her uncle. That's why this latter appreciated seeing her, just earlier. It had warmed his heart...
"Let him outside!" Ordered El Lobo.
"I have to take care of him." Underlined the man who came to help.
"All right... But take care of him here. Señora, get back in the cabin, your son is calling for you." Affirmed El Lobo while weeping could be heard.
Torn, the señora hesitated.
"Get back to Little Diego. He needs you at his side more than me."
"But, Uncle Enrique."
"Go, Isabella... All will be alright." He affirmed.
With concern, Isabella let her uncle between the hands of the stranger and went back in the cabin.
"Mama!" Cried Little Diego in tears and running to her.
"Mama is here, Diego. All will be alright... All will be alright." She repeated by trying to reassure her.
Outside, El Lobo let the man take care of his patientand went closer to Yago.
"What did he want to say by the clumsiest swordsman of the pueblo teaching you a lesson with a poker? Against whom did you raise your weapon?" Inquired El Lobo.
Yago cleared his throat, ill at ease.
"Answer!" Says El Lobo so gravely that he made him shudder.
"Don Dieg... Don Diego De la Vega." Owned up Yago.
"Diego De la Vega?" Repeated El Lobo before knocking him.
"Idiota! Diego De la Vega belongs to me!" He says while Yago fell on the ground and intriguing 'El Chivo'.
"Nevertheless, for the clumsiest swordsman, he defends himself with relevance... With a poker." Explained Yago before running a thumb over his painful lips.
Enrique suppressed a mocking smile, but his 'doctor' guessed his feeling and made him sign to be more discreet. Enrique understood then that he wasn't the only man forced into the gang.
"And Zorro?" Asked then El Lobo.
"Zorro wasn't there."
I wouldn't swear to it. Thought Enrique.
"Zorro must even so doubt of something. This is now six months that he prevents my men to act..."
"Zorro only shows up when his people are in danger!" Made remarked Enrique in spite of himself, making them react. "And if your men weren't cheap junk bandits, the fight would have been certainly shortened." He added by provocation.
"Señor..." Whispered the man at his side with fear.
"If you hadn't sneezed the big sergeant wouldn't have noticed us." Grumbled Yago.
"You put my nose in a rose whose fragrance was strong." Argued Enrique by raising his voice.
"Yago! That's enough now." Intervened El Lobo before Yago rushes at his 'guest' again. "Señor Monastario could still be useful... Zorro is here for the people, he... I heard told that he helped the governor; no doubt that by aiming at the viceroy he won't stand idly by..."
"The viceroy is well guarded..." Commented Monastario.
"You had the occasion to take revenge on him."
"Revenge doesn't bring anything good, Señor... I made the bitter experience of it." He winced by raising a little.
"You say that Zorro is here for the people." Repeated again El Lobo. "So, I can eliminate the señora and her son."
"Their absences will quickly be noticed, not mine." Declared Monastario.
"El Zorro would have some acquaintances with Señora De la Cruz?" Asked El Lobo.
"I ignore it." Affirmed Monastario knowing that staying silent could be even more badly interpreted.
"I thought having understood that you wanted revenge of the Fox."
"It's still the case!" Answers Monastario haughtily.
I'm terribly sorry, Don Diego, I have to end my mission for the well being of Isabella and the one of little Diego.
"Permit me one more chance to lure the Fox. No doubt that the viceroy is not important enough to his eyes."
"Do you have an idea about a more attractive ...prey?"
"I must verify... And your men need fencing lessons. Zorro will eat them for breakfast!"
"With a sword, no doubt..." Smiles El Lobo. "Rest, Señor Monastario, and tomorrow you will give some fencing lessons." He laughed then. "Yago, come with me."
Yago and El Lobo went away, letting Monastario with his 'doctor.'
"Señor, thank you for your care."
"You're welcome."
"You don't appreciate El Lobo, do you?"
"El Lobo is thirsty for power."
"Do you know what he reproaches to the young De la Vega?" Asked Monastario.
"He is jealous. Diego De la Vega is often seen in town at the side of a señorita... It seems that there is nothing between them. Yet they give the impression to be on a cloud each time... Besides, I hear tell that six months ago, a group of bandits attacked the young De la Vega. This adventure would have brought them closer to the great displeasure of Don... of El Lobo." He corrected in a whisper.
"You know who he is?" Whispered Monastario.
The man nodded affirmatively.
"Since when did he get a hold on you?"
"One more day than you... According to Yago, the young De la Vega often took El Lobo down a peg. Putting him in place more than once."
"Why hasn't he challenged him to a duel?" Questioned Monastario witty.
"At each quarrel Sergeant Garcia was present, and the faults were proved... He could have finish in cell more than once. Paradoxically, the young De la Vega often pleaded his cause... But on their last altercation, El Lobo would have launched at Don Diego, a dagger in hand; but Don Diego would have dodged the attack and El Lobo would have ended in a cart full of manure."
"Ouch... How humiliating." Smiled Monastario while he noticed that Yago turned toward him with a machiavellian smile, but El Lobo called him to order.
"I have the impression that my days are numbered." He sighed.
Let's hope that Diego got the message. He thought then.
Yes, when he entered in the hacienda he had seen his target, but he had noticed the officer at his side. That's why he had advanced without hesitating. The officer had cheered him up by acting that way. He was a good fencer, and the joust had been very pleasant. A fight without restraint... But the end of it had bothered him; he had felt obliged to do more. Fortunately, at that time, they found themselves in numerical inferiority. He then took benefit of it and voluntarily left another hint for the De la Vegas. One time, he imagined him in the Fox's place leaving his stamp on his vest of officer. Likewise, the look exchanged with Don Diego was voluntarily sustained.
A chance that Yago was knocked out at this time. He realized.
"Señor, if you can, go reassure the señora... Say to her that her uncle is fine and that he will feel better after a night of sleep."
"Si, Señor... If I can, I will tell her." Smiled the 'doctor' before moving away.
Monastario looked him and settled back like he could. He knew that he had at least one night of respite. He had to find a solution to lure the fox without, as far as possible, making innocent victims.
