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

WRITTEN BY KARLA GREGORY

Chapter Fourteen

The padre set about making himself ready to go out. He needed to make sure the safe house he had in mind was readied for Diego. It had not been used in quite a while. He also had to obtain some clothing for Diego. Getting him to the house without being seen is where the difficulty lay. In his opinion, Diego would not be strong enough to travel for several days and every day he stayed in the Padre's meditation room increased the likelihood of discovery. But it could not be helped. Pablo came in to take the breakfast tray away and was told he would not be needed the rest of the day as the padre had some visits to make.

Leaving a note where Diego would see it, his first stop was a shop to buy some clothes. He brought them back and left them where the young man would find them. Then he went out again.

The safe house was out of town a little distance; well off the main road. Its chief advantage was a fairly large courtyard in the back surrounded by a high wall. The padre was certain that Diego would want to exercise to regain his strength and along with that could come fencing exercises. He wanted no one to be able to see that. Too many questions would be asked.

He went to the local farmers for some food and wine, which he carried to the house. It was not large, but it had room for two beds and some tables and chairs. It was a bit dusty inside, but otherwise in good shape. He aired out some linen and made up both of the beds with the freshened bedding. He made sure the well out back was in good shape and that the cistern held plenty of water. He placed some additional clothing for Diego in a chest of drawers near the bed. Finally he felt he had done as much as he could for now and decided to get back to the university. It would be getting dark by the time he got there.

As he closed the house and walked back to the university, he thought of Diego who had shouldered the burden of ensuring justice in a wild land such as California. Corruption in government and in the dispensing of justice was so commonplace that he had not really given it any conscious thought, even here in Spain. It was part of the fabric of life. But there was young Diego, with his father and a servant trying to right the wrongs that they saw.

Perhaps the way they went about it was not the accepted way, but where had that gotten anyone? Pleas for justice had fallen on deaf ears more than once even from instances in Padre Ramon's own life. But unlike Diego, he had accepted it and gone on.

Diego had learned about honor and integrity from his father, but he also thought Diego must have been born with an innate sense of justice as well. All the time he was at the university, he excelled at everything he tried, but never once, to his knowledge, had Diego stepped on anyone unfairly in order to gain advantage for himself as so many of his fellow students had done.

In many instances he had taken up for those who could not defend themselves. This had not made him popular among some of the elite. Perhaps it was that his innate sense of what was right reminded them of just how flawed they really were. He was the looking glass that reflected their true selves back at them.

And at the same time, Diego was mischievous to a fault. Padre Ramon laughed to himself as he went along the road as he remembered some of the pranks pulled by Diego, not only on fellow students, but even on the padre himself. No one else had dared to do such a thing before, but perhaps that is why the padre found himself drawn to the young man's company. His chess games with Diego were always challenging and after the first month or so, it became a rare thing whenever he beat Diego. Perhaps they could get in a few games while he was convalescing.

Padre Ramon found himself at the university just before dark. As he made his way to his building, he noticed that there were guards posted at strategic points around the perimeter of the university grounds. Approaching one of the guards he inquired as to their presence.

"There is an escaped criminal loose, Padre," the guard said. It is said he is a spy (at this word the padre's heart began beating hard). He is suspected to be hiding in the university somewhere. A search is being conducted."

After a few more questions, he found out that the south side of the university was being searched first. The church buildings had not yet been searched. But they would be, of that he had no doubt. As he walked to his rooms, he met Pablo and told him to bring him a large evening meal. He would eat in his room tonight as he was tired after his long walk.

As he entered his meditation room, he was disturbed to find the pallet gone and all the bedding put away. Where could Diego be? If he had been found, Pablo would have been beside himself with excitement, but he had said nothing. Suddenly, out of a shadow Diego appeared.

"Good evening, Padre," he said. "I hope you had a pleasant day."

"Don't do that!" gasped Padre Ramon jumping. "You have scared me out of ten years! What happened?" He indicated the floor where the pallet had been.

"I woke up some time late this afternoon," said Diego. "As I looked out of the window, I saw Monastario posting guards all around the university. I knew that if they began a building by building search they would eventually end up here and I did not want them to find any evidence here that would incriminate you. So I put on the clothing you had left for me and put the bedding away. I have been waiting and watching ever since."

"The clothes fit pretty well, I'd say, Diego, and ordinarily I would say you should not be out of bed yet, but you are right. They are conducting a search for you. They have started on the other side of the university and so we have time yet before they will get here. Pablo is going to bring some food up here for me. We shall eat and lay our plans to get you out of here and to a safe house I have outside of town."

It was only a few minutes later that Padre Ramon heard the clank of dishes. "It's only Pablo. Keep out of sight until I can send him on his way." Soon the padre was back with the dishes, which he placed on the table.

Walking over to Diego he placed his hand on his forehead. "Ah, much better. I would say the fever is almost gone. One more dose of medicine tonight and you will be rid of it. Come, let us eat."

While he and Diego ate, he described where the safe house was. Diego was familiar with the roads in that area because he used to go riding out that way, most often in a carriage with a señorita or two. Padre Ramon said that was good because Diego might have to go there by himself. If the search of this building was made, the padre had to be found here as usual or arouse suspicions. He could not help Diego if he was in jail.

"Zorro would get you out," was Diego's heartfelt reply.

"Yes, my son, but who would get Zorro out next? I'm afraid I'm not built for it!" he said as he indicated his girth. They both laughed.

When they stopped, they heard steps coming up the hall. "That is probably Pablo coming back for the dishes. Vanish like Zorro again, please." He turned to meet Pablo. Diego stood in the shadows as Pablo picked up the dishes and remarked in worried tones that they were searching the building next door and would soon be searching this one. Sending him on his way, Padre Ramon said, "You heard?"

"Yes, I heard," replied Diego. "I need to leave now before they surround the place with guards." He peeked out of the window between the shutters. "Good, it is getting very dark and the moon is being covered by clouds tonight. Blow out those candles and I will be away."

"How will you get past those guards, my son? They have guns as well as swords."

"Yes they do, but they do not know Zorro. Only Monastario and Escobar know him and they are much to preoccupied searching for me to think about him. I thank you for being thoughtful enough to bring me dark clothing. It makes this much easier."

"Wait. Would a dark cloak help? I have one in the other room that I can give you."

After he went and got it he found Diego with one of the padre's bandas in his hand. The cloth was black and Diego was working on it with his knife. Before he knew it, Zorro stood before him. Diego had fashioned a mask from the banda material and had tied it on. Taking the black cloak from the padre, he put it on with a flourish.

"Except for not having a hat, it is much like my old costume," said Zorro smiling. "Ah, but you can't have everything."

Padre Ramon was overcome by the transformation. It extended beyond just the costume. It was the persona that enveloped Diego. It was as if Diego was not there even though he was.

"Padre," Zorro said softly. "If you don't close your mouth, flies will get in," and he smiled such a smile as Padre Ramon knew he would never forget. He closed his mouth. "All right, now blow out the candles and I will be away from here. Do not come to the safe house for two days just to make sure no suspicion attaches to you." With that Zorro was out of the window and gone. By the time Padre Ramon got to the window and looked out, Zorro was nowhere to be seen.