NOTE BY THE ACCOUNT HOLDER: THIS STORY IS NOT MINE!

WRITTEN BY KARLA GREGORY

Chapter Twelve

Diego began by pointing to his chest; at the "M" etched there. "It all starts with a man named Monastario," he began. He then proceeded to tell Padre Ramon about Capitán Enrique Sanchez Monastario and how his ambition to become the richest and most powerful man in California had caused him to abuse the king's laws to raise taxes on the peons who could do nothing to help themselves. The peons who could not pay had their possessions taken or were themselves taken for indenture. Monastario profited throughout. Diego's father was among the few of the landed gentry who could see the injustice to the lower class. The others would not concern themselves when they or their property was not being affected. But Don Alejandro was a man who prided himself on his fairness and honor and he could not idly stand by while a whole class of people was abused. Besides, he could see that Monastario would not stop with the peons. As his power and influence grew, who could say who would be next? But Don Alejandro was also a man who knew Monastario and his men outnumbered him. If he could not rally the other dons to see the danger, there was nothing he could do alone.

"So, Padre, he sent for me. He had hoped that the training I had received here in Spain would enable me to become the catalyst to bring the dons together and do something about Monastario. But while still aboard ship, I found out what the situation was in California and I realized that I could not put my father and the other dons in such danger. If the dons ever attacked Monastario and he defeated them, they would be at his mercy. They would have their lands confiscated and most assuredly they would be executed for treason against the king since Monastario was an officer in the king's army."

"It would seem to be a hopeless situation," said Padre Ramon.

"For a large assault on Monastario, yes. But I had an idea that one man, if he was adroit enough, could outwit Monastario and keep him so off balance that he would become immobilized. So I set myself to be that man. But in order to do so I had to perpetrate a fraud on my father."

Padre Ramon raised his eyebrows in surprise. He knew Diego loved and respected his father. He could not imagine this fraud.

Diego continued. "I had to convince Monastario that I was completely harmless: a scholar interested only in my books, my poetry, and my music. He must never suspect that I knew one end of a sword from another or that I had received a military education at the university. If he believed that, I would be free to act. But in order to fool Monastario, I had to also play the part before my father. My charade had to be complete. The only person who would know my secret was my manservant Bernardo. You may remember him?"

"Yes I do," said the padre. "He was completely devoted to you wasn't he?"

"Without him I am sure I could not have carried off my deception. He pretended to be deaf as well as dumb and so became the eyes and ears behind my back. It was during this time that I told Bernardo of the old saying "That when you could not clothe yourself in the skin of a lion, you put on that of a fox. That day was Zorro born."

"Zorro?" asked Padre Ramon. "Who is Zorro?"

"I am Zorro. By day I was the idle son of a rich haciendado, interested only in the softer, finer things of life. But by night, Padre, by night, I became Zorro the fox, dressed all in black and masked to conceal my identity. I carried a sword and was not afraid to use it."

"To what purpose, my son?" asked a concerned Padre Ramon.

"To stop Monastario in any way that I could. If he imprisoned someone falsely, I released him. If he tried to pull off a scheme to extract more money from the peons I found a way to disrupt it. Oh, the tales I could tell you, Padre!" Diego actually laughed for the first time.

"So you enjoyed playing this Zorro did you? You always were a rogue at heart," the padre said with fondness.

"Well, it was a test of my wits against his and all of my abilities against a whole cuartel of soldiers. As Diego, I was forced to maintain a facade of indifference to what was going on around me. But underneath, both I and Bernardo were watching, listening, and planning so as to stay one step ahead of Monastario. I never felt more alive as when I put my life on the line for those I had sworn to protect and defend. I did rather enjoy testing my skill with the blade against that of Monastario or his men. Monastario, for all of his other faults, is a very accomplished swordsman."

"You actually fought face to face?"

"Yes, but he did not know that it was Diego de la Vega who crossed swords with him. Or that it was I who foiled his plans time after time as Zorro. It was easy to humiliate him in front of his men or the people of the pueblo because of his ego and pride. This made him all the more determined to capture Zorro, and I, of course, obliged him by being a constant thorn in his side. He came to hate Zorro passionately."

"There must have been times when he suspected you were Zorro," said the padre. "You could not be in two places at once and he was bound to notice."

"You are right, Padre. As a matter of fact, after some time, he had put all the facts together. He had me arrested while I was Diego, dressed me in a copy of Zorro's costume and proclaimed me to be Zorro publicly at the Inn. In front of the Viceroy, no less!" said Diego seriously, but with a twinkle in his eyes.

Padre Ramon leaned forward, bandages forgotten, on the edge of his seat. "What happened then?" he asked.

"Well, I persuaded the Viceroy to test Monastario's claim by substituting someone else in Zorro's clothing and asking him to still identify Zorro as being me. He was so sure it was me still standing there that when the false Zorro was unmasked it was the last straw for him. He still declared me to be Zorro and demanded satisfaction. He challenged me to a duel."

"In front of everyone?"

Diego nodded.

"How did you get out of it?"

"I didn't. Not knowing what else to do, I fought the duel as Diego would do. I was as clumsy as I knew how to be, but Monastario knew the skill that it took to do so. If I fought as well as I could, as well as Zorro, I would be exposed. If I fought like Diego, I would die. If I won, I signed my death warrant for Zorro was wanted as a criminal and would be executed.

"I chose to continue the fight as Diego and soon the Viceroy, in pity, could not stand it any longer, so he called upon me to stop. In my moment of distraction, Monastario disarmed me and with his sword at my throat tried to force me to confess that I was Zorro."

"What else could you do?"

"I was wondering that myself, when Zorro came to the rescue."

"Zorro!"

"Yes, my faithful friend Bernardo had dressed himself as Zorro and had ridden Tornado, my horse, through the pueblo. As everyone could see, I was in full view and there was Zorro just outside. The soldiers fired their guns and gave chase, but Bernardo got away. I was exonerated and Monastario was humiliated once again. He was still convinced that I was Zorro, but he could never hope to prove his case to the Viceroy now.

"It was then that the Viceroy had Monastario arrested. He had come to investigate the reports of Monastario's misconduct and this incident had been the final straw. Monastario was sent under guard to Monterey and we heard no more of him."

"So that was the end of Zorro?" asked Padre Ramon resuming his work.

"Oh no. We received new commandantes and with each one I held out the hope that Zorro had ridden his last and that I could turn to a more normal life, perhaps get married, have children, all of that. But when we had a good commandante, we would be saddled with a bad magistrado, or an outsider like a man known as the Eagle would plot the overthrow of the Spanish government in California in order to rule it himself. Zorro dealt with each of these with the help of Bernardo.

"This had gone on for perhaps two years when I found out that my father had known who Zorro was for some time. It was a great relief. I had been a great disappointment to him after my return from Spain. It hurt me a great deal when he would show his frustration towards a son he thought was worthless. To once again find favor in the eyes of your father is a great thing, Padre." Diego smiled warmly at the thought.

"After that, he, Bernardo and myself worked together to rid California of injustice wherever we found it. Just before I was brought here, things had really settled down in our part of the world. Capitán Esposito, a simple, honest man was commandante in Los Angeles. Most of the bandidos had been jailed, executed or were afraid to come to Los Angeles because of Zorro." Here Diego flashed a smile. "I was beginning to get bored."

Padre Ramon looked up from his work, incredulous. But then upon reflection, he could well imagine Diego feeling that way. His devil may care attitude was well known at the university. He said, "Do go on."

"My father decided I needed something worthwhile to do instead of being an idle, rich man's son (he winked at the padre) so he sent me and Bernardo to Monterey to conduct some business for him, but his ultimate purpose, and mine, incidentally, was for me to visit a dear, young lady friend of mine, Anna Maria Verdugo." At Padre Ramon's raised eyebrow Diego said, "Yes, Padre, I was contemplating asking her to marry me. But as things can only be when one lives a fairytale life, this wonderful plan was not to be fulfilled. On the road to Monterey, Bernardo and I were beset by an overwhelming number of bandidos. As Diego, I was not wearing a sword and before long Bernardo lay unconscious or dead in a ravine and I was knocked out cold after I attempted to rescue him. I can only pray he is still alive, because I never saw him again."

Diego looked so sad over the loss of his servant that Padre Ramon stopped his ministrations and said a prayer for Bernardo. "Thank you, Padre," said Diego gratefully. "He is more than a servant to me. A truer friend I could never hope to have."

He continued. "When I came to, I found that I had been carried on board a ship bound for Spain! I was only told that I was to be reunited with someone. My captors would not tell me whom. I was kept locked and chained in a small room in the ship, not being able to go above into the sunlight and fresh air. When we reached Spain, I did learn who had ordered me brought here." In a deadly, quiet voice Diego said, "It was Monastario."