Chapter 28: A Memorable Reveal
No! It's impossible, I saw him fall... Have I been mistaken myself? He is the devil, the devil.
...
"We heard you're mortally wounded!" One of the peasants in front of him said.
"Do I look like a ghost?" Zorro questioned ironical before pursuing. "I don't know who told you that, but he is greatly wrong." Except if that is intentional... "Amigos, rumors are not at all good to listen to."
"Rumors say that the lancers shot you in a cowardly manner and that you were hit." One of the caballeros here present threw.
Protestors' cries bursted out while the sergeant came out of the cuartel at his turn.
"You make much ado about nothing, Amigos. Am I wounded? Yes." The Fox asserted causing astonishment in the crowd. "But the soldiers are not guilty. The only man responsible is now in jail, and the wound wasn't made by a musket shot."
Calm seemed to come back with this confession.
"My friends, I admire your ardor and your faith in me; but don't be too prompt wanting to do justice yourself without knowing reality."
All of a sudden, a shot resounded. Tornado reared up vividly. Grazed , Zorro didn't have the force to restrain himself and fell backward... To end in the sergeant's arms.
"Gracias, Sergeant, without you I don't know what I would do." The Fox said by wincing.
"De nada." Garcia smiled, but his smile vanished when he noticed this latter's wound .
"You can put me down now." The Fox said ill at ease.
"Put you down? I don't know if it's a good idea... For once, now that I've got you…"
"Sergeant Garcia." Toledano intervened.
"Please excuse me, Señor Zorro." He said by putting him down on the ground.
But as soon as he was on his feet, he staggered before losing consciousness and falling again... in the sergeant's arms.
"You see that it wasn't a good idea." Garcia remarked.
"Sergeant, I think that you better do to carry him again." Toledano asserted while he was trying to control Zorro's horse.
"He is as heavy as Don Diego." He let hear while Arturo managed to calm Tornado.
Avila, who saw everything, forced his way through the crowd. On luck, citizens drew aside on his way to let him pass.
In the same time, some caballeros, helped by vaqueros, took care of overpowering the shooter and led him to the cuartel.
"Bring him in my office." Avila ordered by noticing his wound at a glance when he arrived next to them.
Some minutes later, Zorro came to and moaned while he moved a little.
" Go easy, Don Diego, you were shot."
"What happened? Where am I?" He asked to his speaker whom he didn't recognize.
And for reason... He totally was disorientated and his mind still was muddled. For that matter, he didn't get the appellation.
"You are in Doctor Avila's office. You were hit on your left temple by a shot."
"Doctor Avila?" Zorro interrogated believing that it was him.
"No, or else I wouldn't have told you that you were in his office."
This sentence had the effect of a cold shower and Zorro vividly opened his eyes to find himself face to face with...
"Capitán Toledano!" He exclaimed, surprised.
He lifted his hand to his face... The mask still was in place and he felt a bandage under this one.
"Don't worry, Don Diego, I didn't raise your mask. Only Doctor Avila permitted himself to take care of you, once he was totally alone with you."
"Don Diego?" He repeated with astonishment. "I'm scared that you are on a wrong way."
In spite of this reply, Zorro briefly stiffened to the benefit of Toledano.
I'm afraid that the capitán took benefit of my confusion to trap me. The Fox thought in front of the cunning smile of the officer.
Sighing, he raised a hand to the knot of his mask. He knew that whatever he would tell, the capitán wouldn't believe him. In any case, he was free from now on.
"Keep your mask on, my friend. No one but me is here with you in this room. Outside, the people are waiting for news about you. Doctor Avila recommends that you rest before going back to your home."
"How did you know?" He finally asked.
"Experience, Don Diego, experience... And then... You just brought me the final proof with your question...However, there are still missing pieces, in your record."
Zorro rose, wincing. He was feeling aching in his whole body.
"I would be pleased to answer your questions, but now I have to go home. I said to my father I will do a simple back and forth."
"I don't restrain you." The capitán said by helping him to stand up.
When they went out of Doctor Avila's office, Zorro was cheered up by the crowd and the exchange of a handshake with the capitán was even more. Zorro's freedom was visibly not idle talk. It was under a hail of applause that the Fox went away and calm came back to Los Angeles.
Return to the hacienda was made at a little trot, Tornado refusing to accelerate as if he was feeling the tiredness from his rider. When he arrived at the cavern, his father was definitely waiting for him next to Bernardo. Diego asserted that all went well; although suspicious, Don Alejandro contented himself of this explanation. He returned then in his room while Bernardo helped Diego to dress before going in his. By doing so, the manservant noticed the bandage around his head but didn't ask him any question as he found him tired.
The morning after, agitation ruled over the hacienda. In spite of directions to be at rest, Don Alejandro was giving orders for the evening to come and was asking regularly for news from his son at Bernardo and Crescencia.
Avila came at morning's end to see how the convalescents were feeling. To his great surprise, the cicatrization's balm used by Bernardo was more efficient that the one he prescribed.
Señora De la Cruz was declared able to return home.
The injury of Señorita De Castillos, more serious, was given good signs of healing too; however, Salena still remained weak. What reassured nonetheless the doctor was that she wasn't feverish.
Don Alejandro was the livelier of the convalescents, a little too much to his friend's taste that would have preferred seeing him sleeping calmly. So, he sneakily asked Bernardo to increase the dosage of his drug.
As for Diego, he remained the more worrying... Not that his wounds got infected, but his body has been roughly treated and he was now paying the price . It should be said that his new wound, although light, didn't help either. And for that, he slept all day long. When Avila entered in his room, his quietness worried him. He hastened next to him to check his state. He wasn't feverish... In fact, he had not been since last afternoon after his fight with Don Sebastián. The only right point was that he really was recovering.
The rest of the day was suddenly calmer. Don Alejandro fell asleep thanks to the doctor's prescription that Bernardo followed to the letter. He awoke early enough to get ready and order the last little details. When arriving in the sala, he heard Doña Salena, Doña Isabella, Doña Angela and Señor Monastario speaking about Zorro's exploits. The four of them were in the library.
Señor De la Vega noticed the knowing looks between Señorita De Santa Anna and Monastario, and briefly smiled. Checking that all was good for them, he went then to find his son still in his room according to Bernardo.
"Diego, our guests soon will be here... Diego?" He interrogated by discovering the bandage around his head.
First surprised by his father's astonishment, he realized then that he wasn't really aware of his last adventure.
"It's nothing, Father. I hit my head when coming back in my bedroom last evening." He tried.
"Diego!" Alejandro repeated with a threatening voice, believing nothing of his son's explanation.
"Sit down, Father." He said after a long sigh.
This latter wasn't told twice and waited by taking place on a chair. Diego explained him briefly what happened in the pueblo. The old hidalgo stood up with a jump and went closer to him to take off the bandage. It was a solace for him to see that the wound was really light. The bullet grazed him, nothing more... He sighed and flopped on his son's bed.
"Father?"
"I'm fine, Diego." He breathed. "How are you counting to explain this wound to our guests?"
"If I can keep the bandage, I will tell them that I hit my head. Clumsy as I am... By the way, you'll have to know... Zorro is free; he received a full pardon from the viceroy."
"Really?"
"Really... Furthermore, among our guests, some of them doubt about my double identity... They are officials, and if Zorro has to unmask himself..."
"It's in front of the people that he has to do it!" Alejandro ended with seriousness.
"... Yes, but for now, Zorro is not in a state to do it. Maybe he could reveal himself in priority for his... friends."
"And ask them to keep silent until a better time for you?"
"Yes, on a certain point of view, that's it... How is Salena?"
"She is in better condition than you, Son. I just came from seeing her in the library with Doña Isabella, Doña Angela and Señor Monastario. The four of them were talking about Zorro."
Diego raised a brow.
"Doña Angela?" He interrogated.
"Yes. It's true that you didn't meet her. She is General De Santa Anna's sister."
"Oh... She is here?"
"Indeed... Since the lancers freed her from El Lobo. Capitán Toledano must have judged well that she would be sheltered in our family. However, we didn't discuss about it..."
"Is there anything else I should know?" He asked in front of the sudden smile of his father.
"No, nothing important. Do you want me to ask Bernardo to come and help you?"
"Yes, I thank you, Father." He said by observing him going out.
General De Santa Anna's sister in our home? What a surprise! I think I understand the reasoning of the capitán; and after seeing the recent bustle in the hacienda, it's not surprising that he couldn't explain the reason of this choice to my father.
"Bernardo, how are you my friend?" He exclaimed by seeing him coming in.
This one looked at him puzzled.
"I won't be able to get ready alone." Diego explained as he stood up.
...
Ready, Diego went to the sala where his father was with Salena. A beaming smile appeared on his face and he felt his heart accelerate. He went closer to them and caught the hand of his ladylove to kiss it tenderly.
Then the guests arrived. After the usual greetings, each was invited to sit at the table. Dinner was relatively quiet and the usual subjects of conversation were avoided. It was out of the question to talk about the political tensions which exist with Mexico City knowing that Señorita De Santa Anna was there. It would have been tactlessness and a lack of diplomacy... Curiously, the pardon offered to Zorro was also discreet but the Fox was again the center of interest.
Doña Angela was really eager to learn more about him; what little she heard didn't permit her to have an idea about the man who must be the Fox. They listened to the story of the sergeant that Monastario was correcting time to time, Diego keeping himself from bringing details that no one but Zorro could have knowledge.
De la Vega, you could help us." Monastario suddenly said, mischievous, astonishing each and making smile Toledano.
"Me?" The young don exclaimed. "It will be difficult for all these adventures. But I can confirm what happened to the mission during the days I was there. Padre Felipe could also probate what you said."
Felipe missed to choke and took a drink again to refresh his irritated throat. Then, clearing his voice, and thanking Diego with a nod, he related his version of events, making Monastario blush of shame. However, the young don flew to his help by relating how this latter saved him from the bandit named El Diablo.
Señorita De Santa Anna didn't know what to think about the relationship being between those two men. The diverse stories from the beginning of the evening pushed her to believe that they were enemies, but this last story was going to the contrary of that idea. This relation was beyond hostility and friendship. Both men were rivals on a lot of fronts and a sort of respect seemed to unite them.
Then, the talk changed of topic thanks to Alejandro who asked the governor how was the new vintage.
When the dinner ended, each was invited to enjoy the coolness of the summer evening. Once outside, it was again a question of Zorro, and this time the subject of his pardon was approached.
"Do you believe that he will unmask himself?" The governor finally asked after ten minutes of discussion.
"Señores, Señora, Señoritas, buenas noches." A voice, that everyone knew, saluted.
"Zorro!" The general exclamation sounded when they discovered him next to the gate leading to the exit.
"What are you doing here?" Garcia questioned.
By where did he pass? Didn't he follow us in the yard? Monastario wondered.
"I wanted to thank the viceroy for his pardon, and as I didn't find him in the pueblo, I wondered where he could be. I badly knew where to look."
He has some nerve. The governor thought.
Diego? You choose well your time, Son. Alejandro thought by observing him.
Zorro came in the yard.
"Viceroy, I thank you wholeheartedly for your pardon." He said by bowing in front of him.
"What will you do now? "The latter asked him.
Zorro raised and, watching Salena, went closer to her determinedly.
"Señorita, seeing you in a good health could only appease my heart." He said by kissing her hand.
"Señor." She said by stepping back.
Does she play the game? Monastario wondered.
Diego, what are you playing? She interrogated herself.
"You haunted my nights since our roads have crossed." He explained with ardor by kneeling down in front of her.
But what is he doing? Alejandro astonished.
"Our too short meetings only increased the love I feel for you."
"Come now, Señor." She said ill at ease.
"Señorita, don't be ashamed of your beauty." He said as he stood up and catching her two hands. "As I'm from now on a free man, I ask you humbly. Señorita De Castillos, will you marry me?"
Witnesses of the scene were daze by this bold demand.
"Alas, Señor, I can't return your feelings. My heart has been stolen by another man." She admitted while her heart was pounding wildly.
Diego, are you serious?
"Oh... Could I know the name of the lucky man, as if I can't have you as a wife, I want to be sure that this man, this caballero I assume, will be worthy of you."
"..."
"Don't be afraid, Señorita, you can speak freely."
"Don Diego De la Vega." She breathed by smiling and with emotions.
"... Did Señor De la Vega make his proposal?" He interrogated by hiding a smile.
"No." She admitted, confused.
"Señor, beware of your words!" Don Alejandro said in the same time.
"Please, excuse me, Señor De la Vega." He said before pursuing. "So, I ask you now, sweet Salena, do you want to you marry me?" He asked by taking off his mask and kneeling down in front of her, provoking various reactions of surprise among his entourage.
"I despaired that you would never ask me." She whispered with agitation before throwing into his arms. "Yes, Diego. I do." She asserted while she brought her lips closer to his.
Her answer escaped to everyone except Don Alejandro whom proudly smiled.
The more amused of all remaining was Bernardo to whom Diego confided his project.
"I won't be able to get ready alone." Diego explained as he stood up. "Moreover, I think that I will need Zorro's costume after dinner. Reassure yourself, I have no will to go the pueblo nor to fight. Our dear Monastario deserves to know the truth before anyone else. Even if I have to admit that he already knows. However, he never had the evidence."
Bernardo opened wide his eyes... Did he understand well what his friend had in mind? Doubtful, he drew a mask with the tip of his fingers on his face and was doing like to take it off, adding people around him.
"That's exact, Bernardo, I intend to unmask myself tonight and then... There is Salena."
Bernardo seemed to be lost a moment, then a smile appeared on his face and he gave a friendly clap on his back without thinking.
"Bernardo." Diego moaned.
The manservant stepped backward, blushing with shame.
To this memory, Bernardo lost his smile. He hurt him and was still feeling guilty about it.
