Chapter 15: Within an inch of foolishness.

Stunned, Don Alejandro fell on his knees, feeling guilty. He saw everything and he couldn't do anything as he was busy crossing swords with a bandit.

No. Diego thought forcefully.

"Salena!" He cried out by dismounting off Tornado and running to her side.

However, four armed men blocked his way, forcing him to fight.

Toledano turned his head to the Fox's call and noticed him battling with bandits. A little farther away, he caught sight of Don Alejandro on the ground. The bandit next to him just came to get up and was ready to hit him slyly. Then, the capitán let go of his injured arm, picked up his weapon with his left hand and cleared a way to Señor De la Vega.

Monastario observed El Lobo. This one let fall his weapon. In front of him, the señorita seemed to be frozen. Monastario guessed pain on her contorted face. No sound could come out but her look was betraying her suffering.

"No... Not you, Doña Salena." Whispered El Lobo. "No." He reiterated as she collapsed. "My sweet, open your eyes." He tried vainly to wake her.

"Salena!" Zorro vehemently repeated, always facing the four bandits.

Monastario picked up his weapon and went closer to him.

Noting that the events were slipping out of his control, Don Sebastián made sign to withdraw to his men. He picked up his gun, put it away and took Salena in his arms.

"I won't leave you in the hands of this outlaw nor of De la Vega." He whispered to her.

Seeing him, Zorro felt his heart failing him.

No! He thought.

His forces increased under the effect of anger and he finally managed to unarm one man while a second suddenly fell. One of the two last bandits turned to see who was behind.

"El Chivo." The bandit whispered by recognizing his clothes.

"Stop taking me for a goat." Grumbled the man between his teeth as he started to fight against him.

When Zorro noticed Don Sebastian putting Salena on a horse, he momentarily lost the thread of the fight.

Salena, I must succeed whatever the cost.

Nonetheless, the reality was quickly in his mind when he perceived the blade of his opponent sneaking close to his left arm.

It's not really the moment to be wounded, even more in front of so many witnesses. He realized. Settle down, Diego, settle down!

In a quick motion, he unarmed his opponent while Monastario got rid of his. But it was too late and Don Sebastián was already on the departure.

The tumult stopped and gave way to a heavy silence.

On his side, Toledano arrived in the nick of time to the side of Don Alejandro and had unarmed the man who threatened him. Nevertheless, he noticed the old hidalgo raising his hand to his chest while the silence could be heard.

"Señor De la Vega!" He exclaimed.

Diego's heart skipped a beat when he heard the worried exclamation of the capitán and that he saw his father falling down. Torn between the will to run at his side and the one to pursue Don Sebastián, Zorro suppressed his rage. But so overwhelmed, he didn't think correctly and put his hand on the knot of his mask, ready to undo it.

"Señor." A voice that he knew only too well stopped him, while in the meantime, he felt a hand on his, blocking his move.

"If you do that, he will have won... I don't think that your ladylove, or your father, will appreciate your gesture in this situation... And even less my niece."

Zorro calmed down but didn't make as if willing to move.

"You know, Señor, there is a little boy whom his mother related your exploits against a wicked tyrant... This child, like the people of California, believes in you. Don't deceive them... Besides, I know the locations of their camps and I had the leisure to discover the different traps around. But I have to tell this to the lancers in priority."

Monastario felt the Fox relaxing completely and he took away his hand.

"Gracias, mi Capitán." Zorro said a lump in his throat.

"Don't take a long time going home before the situation becomes complicated for you."

"And for you?" Zorro questioned.

"As I was saying, my information concerning El Lobo's camps should benefit me. In the contrary, I thank you to take care of Isabella and little Diego... I know you will succeed to set them all free."

"I won't fail." Answered Zorro before whistling for Tornado.

Each turned his head toward him and some lancers noticed him.

"It's Zorro." They exclaimed.

"Let him go." Ordered Toledano. "He helped us."

As Zorro galloped away, Monastario collapsed on his knees, no strength left in him. Toledano observed with interest this man whose face was still masked by a scarf. At the same time, Don Alejandro regained consciousness.

"Is everything alright, my friend?" Doctor Avila asked.

"Yes." He answered, nonetheless breathless.

Around him, soldiers and citizens were going round the plaza, helping their friends and leading the brigands to cells. As he stood up, helped by Doctor Avila, Don Alejandro noticed Sergeant Garcia putting a hand on Monastario.

"Sergeant Garcia, let this man go, I answer for him." He said firmly enough.

"Señor De la Vega, don't feel obliged." Said the man still on his knees and raising his head to him.

"Ca... Capitán Monastario." Stammered Garcia as recognizing then his voice.

Oh... I better understand why this man is talented with fencing. Thought Toledano.

"Baboso! How many times should I have to repeat it to you? I am not your capitán anymore!" Monastario grumbled with arrogance.

"It seems that some explanations are necessary." The viceroy said as he went out of his shelter.

"Arturo!" Cried out Raquel, running to kiss him.

Embarrassed, Toledano cleared his throat.

"Everything is alright, my dear?"

"Thank God, you're safe." She said by putting her hand on his shoulders making him then wince. "Arturo?"

"It's just a scratch that the doctor will see after having taken care of my opponent." He said by indicating him with a nod.

Monastario, held up by the sergeant, came closer.

"Why help this brigand?" She asked haughtily.

Enrique finally removed the scarf which was covering his face.

"He is not a brigand." Sustained Garcia. "He is the capitán... I mean, Señor Enrique Sanchez Monastario." He corrected him.

Monastario? Would he be the former commandante? Realized Raquel by staring at him.

"We will be better to discuss this inside." The governor intervened.

"If I could accompany you in order to take care of the injured." Avila suggested.

"I don't see any inconveniences." Underlined Don Esteban.

"Don Alejandro, you come too. This heat is not good for your health, if I can permit." Toledano added.

"And what are we doing about the fugitives?" He interrogated.

"We're not going to let them run away for long, but rushing is not good either... It is my opinion that Zorro will follow their traces."

Diego, be careful. Thought Don Alejandro.

"What is the use of knowing that this outlaw will chase after them?" The governor questioned. "It's not for a desperado to make the law." He continued.

"If the man under the mask is wise, he will see that he can do anything." Don Alejandro argued.

"We're losing time debating the Fox." Monastario remarked. "Besides, I know the locations of their hideouts." He added in a low voice.

"Follow me." The viceroy said by leading the way to the barracks. "Constancia?"

"Yes, Father."

"The talk will be military. Go to the tavern with your friends."

"Si." She answered, obliged.

Señora Toledano would have well added something, but in front of her husband's look, she changed her mind.

"Señoritas." She said to call them.

Constancia and Leonar followed her to the tavern.

"Sergeant Garcia, Corporal Reyes." Toledano called.

"Si, Capitán."

"Go along and look after them."

"Si, mi Capitán." Saluted Garcia by making clap his boots before obeying.

"Aren't you afraid that they will take advantage of the situation to have a drink?" Monastario interrogated.

"In this instance, Señor, it's the soldier's duty which predominates." The governor argued.

Yes, but knowing the liking of the sergeant for drink, Señor Monastario is not wrong. Toledano was careful not to add.

Sometime after, in the commandante's office, as the doctor treated the former capitán.

"Señor Monastario, could you explain to us how you got involved in this matter?"

"Maybe I discovered too much in the past. This man, along with other bandits, burst in on my niece's home... After having fought a time, I was obliged to capitulate... El Lobo forced me to take up arms against you, Viceroy."

"Why having obeyed him?"

"I would have preferred to die rather than being affronted." He said with rage. "But if I wouldn't have obeyed, they would have died."

"They?" Interrogated the governor.

"My niece, Doña Isabella De la Cruz, and her son, Diego."

"Diego?" The viceroy repeated with surprise.

"Si."

"Don Alejandro, how did you know that it was Señor Monastario in spite of his scarf?" Toledano interrogated.

"I recognized his voice when he thanked the Fox." He explained.

"It was you at the De la Vegas?" Asked then Arturo.

"Indeed, Señor." Smiled Monastario.

"I saw you talking with the Fox a little time before... Why haven't you restrained him?" Toledano inquired.

"Zorro and I still have scores to settle." He retorted haughtily. "But I learnt to act honorably partly thanks to him... Whether he wanted it or not, I am indebted to him for my life."

By listening to the words of Monastario, Don Alejandro held back his anger with difficulty as well as his resentment; however, he remained more than astonished by the end of the sentence.

"This man, Don Sebastian De Otsoa, what is his plan?" The governor asked.

"El Lobo is in contact with Santa Anna. He wanted him to buy California. Santa Anna wanted to test the man by proposing a deal. To get rid of you, Viceroy, and eliminate Zorro, which one of his close friends persuaded will be trouble, a threat, in his conquest. That against which, he would have obtained Los Angeles... El Lobo accepted, but insidiously, he abducted Santa Anna's loved one, obliging him to renegotiate the deal."

"How do you know all this?" Toledano interrogated.

"One of Santa Anna's henchmen is an old acquaintance of mine. He asked me to discreetly investigate on a certain Don De Otsoa. When I learnt all this, I succeed to convince my friend that Zorro could help Santa Anna to find his loved one, but that he must abandon his violent plan of invasion. And the day when I wanted to inform Sergeant Garcia about my discovery, as he was in charge to the cuartel, I was... Abducted, I will say."

"So, Don Sebastián would have an asset in his sleeve against Santa Anna."

"Yes. And if the people of California want to believe in tomorrow, we must trust the Fox."

"And it's you who is saying this!" Exclaimed Don Alejandro.

Monastario winced; the exclamation of Don Alejandro was justified.

"Señor De la Vega, one day your life was in his hands and you trusted him." He tried in spite of it.

"He was fighting against your injustices." Retorted the old hidalgo.

"Don Alejandro, my friend, don't lose your temper." Doctor Avila said to him. "You should go home and rest."

"And leave Salena in the clutches of Don Sebastián?"

"Don Alejandro." The viceroy intervened. "We won't leave her a long time... Señor Monastario, could you tell us about his hideout."

"Of course."

Monastario went to take a map and indicated what he knew, beginning with the location of the camps while Doctor Avila treated then Toledano.